Alice Springs light festival Parrtjima will return from 12-21 April 2024, with a new outlook and new events delivery partner.
The festival previously partnered with Anthony Bastic’s AGB Events since its launch in 2016. While the new events delivery partner has yet to be announced, organisers said in a statement they had a “proven track record in creating bold and creative experiences”.
Suzana Bishop, CEO of Northern Territory Major Events Company, said the festival will continue to share important stories of First Nations people on Arrernte country with the world.
Parrtjima has recently been showcased in Canberra as part of Facing North, an event featuring a delegation of Territory government, industry and business people showcasing the Territory to Commonwealth.
Parrtjima’s Grounded installation, featuring an animated sequence of Indigenous artworks, was projected onto the floor of Parliament House.
“It’s exciting to have taken Parrtjima from one figurative heart of Australia to another, showcasing the strength, beauty and richness of Aboriginal culture to the country’s decision makers at Facing North,” Bishop said.
Bishop said this year’s event generated a total expenditure stimulus of $9.2 million, with $6.8 million of that being new money brought into the region.
“The event contributed to over 15,689 visitor nights, benefiting Alice Springs and other parts of the NT,” she said. “Additionally, more than a quarter of attendees came from interstate or overseas, underlining the festival’s growing international appeal.”
Rhoda Roberts will return as Parrtjima Curator with the 2024 theme set to highlight the importance of interconnectedness in Aboriginal cultures.
“Everything is living in Aboriginal culture and in the old ways, the approach was one of sharing and working together,” Roberts said.
“Our ancestors were living under strict social structures and belief systems where everything was interrelated from the land and waterways to our sky country.
“Along with resilience that’s tinged with laughter, interconnectedness blankets the wisdom of generations that we are reminded to experience and absorb.”
