Boomerang Fest launches crowdfunding campaign

PRESS RELEASE:

Australia Council for the Arts recently reported that:

·         92% of Australians agree that Indigenous arts are an important part of Australia’s culture

·         64% of Australians have a strong or growing interest in Indigenous arts

·         24% of Australians attended Indigenous arts in the previous year

(Source Australia Council for the Arts, 2015)

Boomerang offers the solution to this discrepancy between people interested in engaging, and not knowing how to access Aboriginal culture.

Bluesfest, as Boomerang’s only non-government partner, invites you to join them as leaders in positive change in our local, state, and national cultural landscape.

“The Boomerang precinct at Bluesfest is all about cherishing culture and ending the disparity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australia.  This Intergenerational exchange will allow our loyal audiences a unique hands-on engagement and experience while allowing the Boomerang Festival to build audiences and find support as a future stand-alone festival” - Peter Noble, Festival Director, Bluesfest

Without adequate funding, Boomerang must raise funds to grow into the stand alone festival, and a major contributor to the North NSW cultural landscape, tourism and economy, as well as a landmark event for Australia. 

NSW has the largest population of Aboriginal Australians than any other state in the country, and less fiscal support than other regions in the country. Ownership & pro-activeness with art & culture is key to empowerment and inclusion in our diverse society.

On Friday 4^th December 2015, Boomerang Festival is launching a Crowd Funding Campaign, where for 90 days, we will be raising money to contribute to the quality programming of the 2016 precinct, and investing the festival’s growth for future years.

Crowd funding packages range from $100 to $7,000, all offering wonderful cultural gifts and experiences, thanks to the generous support of organisations including:

-          Bluesfest

-          Harvest Café

-          Arakwal Aborignal Corporation

-          The Farm

-          The Three Blue Ducks

-          Clayton Donavon & The Jaaning Tree

-          Australian Good Food Guide

-          The Music

-          Virgin Australia

-          The Byron @ Byron Resort & Spa

Interested investors can donate at http://igg.me/at/boomerangfestival

Bluesfest has also invited the Boomerang Festival to provide a First peoples experience like no other, including Talks and Ideas, Workshops, Traditional Healing practices and Dance. It aims to attract and increase community support for the important cultural initiative for the Northern Rivers and Australia, in order for it to grow back into an independent, stand-alone festival.

See below for a snapshot of the Boomerang program:

DANCE GROUPS:

RAKO DANCERS - Rotuman, Fijian and Pacific Islands

JANNAWI DANCERS – Darug, NSW/Arnhem Land, NT

EXCELSIOR – North & Central Queensland

MALU KIAI MURA BUAI DANCE TROUPE – Boigu Island,

GOING WANHURR AND EAST JOURNEY – Dhalinbuy NT

ARAKWAL DANCERS – Byron Bay, NSW 

TALKS & IDEAS:

ARCHIE ROACH – Gundijtmara/ Bundjalung: ‘25 years of Charcoal Lane’

TENZIN CHOEGYAL – Tibet: ‘Music making of the displaced’

GETANO BANN – Torres Strait: ‘Issues affecting island communities’

SHARI SEBBENS (Darwin) & NAKKIAH LUI (Torres Strait)

‘The New Black Voice’: Australians from all backgrounds discuss their diverse opinions on the national landscape and the future cultural fabric of Australia

HEALING:

TE KOPERE HEALING PROGRAM – New Zealand

With more to be announced!