The iconic 3.5-metre-tall puppet Little Amal will make its debut at the Adelaide Festival today, thanks to an additional $2.3 million invested by the Malinauskas Labor Government in the state’s premier arts festival.

The puppet of a 10-year old Syrian refugee girl has become a global symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees.

She arrived in Elder Park this morning and made her way to the Adelaide Festival Plaza for an official welcome event.

At 5pm, Little Amal will travel down Rundle Mall. She will also visit Semaphore Beach on Saturday (16 March) at 11am and make her way across the footbridge with Port Adelaide fans to Adelaide Oval at 2.30pm on Sunday (17 March) before the match.

Since 2021, Little Amal has travelled to 15 countries, visited 90 cities and been welcomed by two million people on the street and by tens of millions online, drawing attention to the significant numbers of children fleeing war, violence and persecution globally.

Securing the Australian premiere of such an iconic and globally significant artwork is testament to South Australia’s reputation as the Festival State and the Malinauskas Government will continue to invest in cementing that reputation.

The State Government has invested an additional $2.3 million from the state’s Major Events Fund to bolster the Adelaide Festival’s program through to 2026.

Little Amal’s journey at Adelaide Festival will feature three days of free celebrations from today until Sunday (March 17).

For more information visit: https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/little-amal-in-adelaide/

Quotes

Attributable to Andrea Michaels

I am delighted to welcome Little Amal to Adelaide.

Securing the Australian premiere of Little Amal is testament to South Australia’s reputation as the heart of the arts in Australia and the Malinauskas Government will continue to invest in cementing that legacy.

My family became refugees following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and Little Amal’s journey symbolises not only a shared human experience of millions of people across the globe but also the way that artists and festivals can help change society for the better, inspire us all and bring us together as a community.

Attributable to Leon Bignell, Chair of the SA Major Events Attraction Committee

When I first heard the story of Little Amal I knew getting her to Australia for the very first time was a priority because, through art, she can provoke goodwill and help us all reflect on Australia’s humanity and strong bonds with refugees from around the world.

When I look at Little Amal I see the Vietnamese refugee I sat next to at school when I was 12 years old. Tony was covered in severe scarring from a napalm attack. I see our former Governor Hieu Van Le, I see those who fled Europe post WWII and came here to make SA a more prosperous place.

I’m sure all Australians who cross paths with Little Amal will be touched by her story and, at the same time, this investment in the arts is helping to grow our visitor economy.

Attributable to Ruth Mackenzie CBE, Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival

Little Amal's remarkable journey brings into focus the heartbreaking stories of children escaping the horrors of war, violence, and persecution. In welcoming her to Adelaide Festival, we celebrate not just transformative art but also recognise its potential as a force for positive change.