AGB Events brings Parrtjima festival to life
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The United Nations declared 2019 to be the International Year of Indigenous Languages and AGB Events highlighted an element of this theme in each of the installations they brought to life.
Parrtjima is set against the backdrop of the 300 million year old MacDonnell Ranges in Australia’s Northern Territory. AGB Events engaged the regular First Nations consultant, Rhoda Roberts AO to curate the festival for a third year. Parrtjima celebrates new ways artists can push the boundaries of how indigenous art is presented, while staying true to the ancient philosophy of connection and country. The results are visually mesmerising, thought-provoking, and create a cultural experience unique in the world.
The Northern Territory Government reported that this year’s Parrtjima was a huge success, attracting 25,623 attendees over 10 nights – a 25 per cent increase on last year’s event.
“We specialise in creating and producing events that cross cultures and that celebrate creativity and technology,” said Anthony Bastic, CEO and founder of AGB Events. “As such, it was wonderful to work with Rhoda Roberts, who is full of hugely imaginative ideas – and to turn her vision into a reality.
“AGB’s experience in curating and producing Vivid Light Sydney, now the world’s largest light festival, allowed us to design the world’s first Indigenous light festival.
“Of course, there were huge challenges involved – but that’s what made the project so exciting and so rewarding,” continued Bastic. “We have to temper our imaginations with what we know technology can deliver – like illuminating two kilometres of mountain range, which involved creating a light show of enormous scale.
Held across two event precincts over 10 nights, the free event included a public programme of interactive workshops, music, films and talks.
(Jim Evans)
