The Red Centre is gearing up for a colourful transformation as a Festival in Light descends bringing with it top Australian performances, light installations, workshops and a line-up of contemporary speakers.
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The full program for Parrtjima 2021 has been revealed with the free Alice Springs event just around the corner.
In its sixth year, Parrtjima is bursting with talent.
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.
Spread across three venues - Alice Springs Desert Park, Araluen Arts Centre and Todd Mall - every aspect of the April event is woven into the 2021 theme 'Future Kultcha' - which is the "timeless oral way of learning, the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next that has taken place amongst Aboriginal peoples for eons," according to event organisers.
"Enabling young guest curators such as Electric Fields and Rhyan Clapham, aka Dobby, to play a part in this year's program gives a distinct voice of the next generation and their connection to the ancient footprints of their ancestors," 2021 Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts said.
"When you combine the masters with the emerging, you see a sense of a holistic culture and knowledge that is relevant to everyone in the 21st century."
Critically-acclaimed speakers include award-winning writer Bruce Pascoe, artists Jungala Kriss and Raymond Walters Japanangka, and Professor Marcia Langton AM.
Creative Director of the National Indigenous Fashion Awards, Nina Fitzgerald will be hosting a fabric and textiles workshop, Rayleen Brown will be leading a bushfood tasting, and the Northern Territory's first Aboriginal qualified skateboard instructor Nicky Hayes, will be taking a deck painting workshop.
Northern Territory Major Events Company chief executive Tim Watsford said the 2021 Parrtjima program is five star and guaranteed to attract crowds from all over Australia.
"The 2021 program signifies a coming-of-age for the event as it enters its sixth year," he said.
"We are thrilled with the program's offerings, including everything from impressive new large-scale light installations and musical performances to workshops, talks, films, and of course, our unmissable light show against the MacDonnell Ranges at Alice Springs Desert Park."
Parrtjima returns to Alice Springs from April 9-18, also showcasing films including 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.
To find out more or register for the Desert Park festival site and Araluen Arts Centre program elements, go to www.parrtjima.com.au.
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