The Koorie Engagement Action Group (KEAG) has received funding for the development of a soundscape by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians for people to listen to at the conclusion of the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony 2021.
Local musicians DeborahN and Peter Lovett will collaborate on the reflective soundscape which will be free to download.
The $3million State wide funding provided through the Victorian Music Industry Recovery Program will back 133 Victorian music businesses and artists.
Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said the funding would support almost 5000 jobs across the music industry which has been hard hit by the pandemic.
“I am delighted that a $5,500 allocation will allow Ballarat’s Survival Day Dawn ceremony to be further enhanced through the talents of local indigenous artists,” she said.
It was hoped that in 2021 attendees could participate in a reflective walk together, but due to COVID-19 the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony is being presented in a virtual format.
However, the soundscape will provide an opportunity after the event for people across Ballarat to reflect on January 26, which can be a difficult day for many in the community.
The Survival Day Dawn Ceremony commemorates Sovereign First Peoples who fought in the frontier wars and those who died in widespread massacres across Australia during colonisation, which began on January 26, 1788.
The January 26 Survival Day Dawn Ceremony is aimed at bringing community together on a meaningful, healing and respectful journey.
KEAG co-chair, Cr Belinda Coates, said the soundscape was a fitting addition to the Survival Day Ceremony and encouraged Ballarat residents to tune into the livestream, download the soundscape and reflect at home, or on their own walk.
The link to the music soundscape will be posted on the KEAG Facebook page, @KEAGBallarat via the following link: https://bit.ly/2VZXBsA
The 2021 Survival Day Dawn Ceremony will be livestreamed from 5.30am at Viewpoint, opening the event to a virtual worldwide audience. Follow the Koorie Engagement Action Group for updates @KEAGBallarat
