The full program for this year’s Parrtjima – A Festival in Light has been revealed, with a slew of world-class artists, musicians and speakers to showcase their talents at the iconic Alice Springs event.
2021 will see a new show for the MacDonnell Ranges, large-scale light installations, artworks, performances, interactive workshops, music, films and talks added to the program as part of this year’s theme ‘Future Kultcha’.
This year’s event will take place across three venues – Alice Springs Desert Park, Araluen Arts Centre and Todd Mall.
Joining previously announced acts Electric Fields and Casey Donovan on the music program this year is an all-star line-up of Australian artists including Miiesha, MusicNT’s Divas, Jimblah, Bow and Arrow, Dobby, OKA, Ziggy Ramo and Shellie Morris.
In addition, event attendees will be able to listen to a range of critically-acclaimed speakers as part of the talks program. They include award-winning writer Bruce Pascoe, artists Jungala Kriss and Raymond Walters Japanangka, and Professor Marcia Langton AM, to name a few.
Other 2021 program highlights include a fabric and textiles workshop hosted by National Indigenous Fashion Awards Director Nina Fitzgerald, bushfood tastings, a wooden carvings masterclass, painting workshops, metal sculpture workshops and more.
Children’s activities and live music provided by local DJs will also feature on the nightly program, and the Araluen Arts Centre will host a film program and Araluen Curator Tours. Films include 1950s classic Jedda, coming-of-age comedy Bran Nue Dae featuring Jessica Mauboy and Aboriginal Rules, a documentary on the role Aussie Rules plays in a remote Territory community.
Parrtjima is the only authentic Aboriginal light festival of its kind, showcasing the oldest continuous culture on earth through the newest technology. The packed program runs alongside nightly light shows on the 300-million-year-old natural canvas of the MacDonnell Ranges.
Parrtjima is delivered by the Territory Labor Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) and produced by Creative Directors AGB Events.
Parrtjima returns to Alice Springs from 9-18 April 2021.
