COME, CREATE, CELEBRATE AT CORROBOREE SYDNEY

The nation’s largest national Indigenous arts and culture festival, Corroboree Sydney, will return in November with over 100 artists performing during an eleven day program which invites people of all ages and cultures to come, create and celebrate.

The event was launched earlier this week at Dawes Point in Sydney by Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Andrew Stoner who was joined by Corroboree Sydney’s Artistic Director Hetti Perkins, GO Foundation Founder Michael O’Loughlin, Musician Jess Beck and Charles Madden from the Corroboree Sydney Council of Elders.

“Corroboree Sydney is a fantastic celebration of our nation’s Indigenous culture and the NSW Government is a proud supporter of the event,” Mr Stoner said.

“Events such as Corroboree Sydney help promote Indigenous culture and are an important part of the NSW Government’s Major Events strategy and our target of doubling overnight visitor expenditure by 2020,” he said.

Highlights of the 2014 festival program include:

• Gurung Parade: Meaning ‘child’ in the Sydney Eora language, the Gurung Parade marks the start of the festival with a procession of 3,000 schoolchildren walking from Hyde Park to the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. The children create their own handmade Waratahs to carry during the parade, as a way of sharing and understanding local Eora culture and practice.
• Firelight Ceremony: Corroboree Sydney Council of Elders will light the Firelight that burns throughout the festival during a public ceremony on the western promenade of Circular Quay, outside the MCA.
• Black Arts Markets: Showcasing the works of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander artists and a providing chance to meet the makers.
• Homeground: A free two-day outdoor event at the Sydney Opera House featuring Dan Sultan, Digging Roots, Richard J Frankland, The Charcoal Club and more.
• Bangarra Dance Theatre 25th Anniversary: Special performance by Bangarra Dance Theatre on the Sydney Opera House western forecourt to mark their 25th anniversary.

The festival line-up includes an education program designed specifically for teachers and their students. In addition, the Festival features many free family events including a paper canoe making workshop at the Australian National Maritime Museum (29 - 30 November), a Sunday Family Fun Day at the MCA (30 November), and painting, weaving and craft workshops at The Rocks Boatshed (22 – 23 November).

Corroboree Sydney will be held from 20 November to 30 November, 2014. For more information and to view the festival program please visitwww.corroboreesydney.com.au