First weekend of Parrtjima a resounding success, more ahead

Parrtjima – A Festival in Light saw a record-breaking number of attendances over opening weekend as visitors flocked to the Red Centre.

Opening night of the annual 10-day Red Centre festival, which features light installations, artworks, performances, interactive workshops, music, film and talks, recorded a record 4000 attendances. Across the weekend the festival attracted nearly 9000 attendances.

The event has already attracted national media coverage, including on Channel 7’s Sunrise and 9 News.

Highlights of opening weekend included a vibrant performance by East Arnhem surf-rock band King Stingray and the funk and soul sounds of Emma Donovan and The Putbacks. Up-and-coming stars Ray Ray McKenzie and Tilly Tjala Thomas also took to the stage.

Workshops were full, with keen visitors learning about pottery from the acclaimed Hermannsburg Potters, screen printing from the funky House of Darwin, and seed jewellery making from the talented Ikuntji Artists.

Guests have also been enjoying a range of exclusive tours, including many interstate visitors on travel packages designed to bring people to the Red Centre. They included an Araluen Arts Centre tour, a Merne bushfoods tour and a nocturnal tour at Alice Springs Desert Park.

Tourism Central Australia CEO Danial Rochford said Parrtjima has kicked off the region’s peak tourism season with a “bang”.

“Strong visitation to the Red Centre has been recorded, which is great for our tourism industry after what has been a difficult two years as a result of the pandemic. There is a real buzz in our community and it’s great to see our town busy,” he said.

All this is taking place against the stunning backdrop of the MacDonnell Ranges lightshow and the large-scale light installations developed from the work of Aboriginal artists.

The program over the next few days includes workshops on watercolours, dance and earring painting, sand drawing and boomerang demonstrations, and panel talks with Aboriginal artists, performers and experts. Spaces for the talks are available on the door.

Parrtjima is a free 10-night festival of Aboriginal culture. It ends on 17 April 2022. Register for free at www.parrtjima.com.au.