Australia’s premiere First Nations celebration, YIRRAMBOI, is working toward to strengthening links with regional artists and audience, with a focus towards First Peoples creatives and projects in Shepparton, Echuca, Mildura and Swan Hill.
This will provide more opportunities for participation in arts, cultural and creative activities to improve health and build social connection. The newly funded projects will assist with access and inclusion so everybody’s stories can be shared and hopefully be a part of YIRRAMBOI First Nations Festival in 2021.
“YIRRAMBOI is a one-of-a-kind celebration of the longest living Cultures in existence so we really want as many of our First Peoples communities to be involved as possible,” said Caroline Martin, Creative Director, YIRRAMBOI.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of YIRRAMBOI shown by VicHealth through these grants to enable our talented and creative First Peoples from regional Victoria to be included,” she said.
VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio says creative projects like YIRRAMBOI are designed to increase access for communities to encourage more people participate in and benefit from the arts, cultural and creative sectors.
“Regular arts and cultural engagement mean better health outcomes, but unfortunately opportunities to engage in arts, cultural and creative experiences are not evenly distributed. Many people in our community face significant and complex barriers to participation,” he said.
“In the midst of coronavirus, it is more important than ever to support our community to feel socially connected and included. We are proud of these new partnerships that can ensure cultural, physical and systematic barriers to good health are addressed and diminished so more Victorians live healthier lives,” said Dr Demaio.
Meaning “Tomorrow” in the shared local languages of the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung peoples, YIRRAMBOI is a celebration of the diversity and continuous evolution of the longest living cultures in the World.
It features a unique and exciting program of free and low-cost events spanning genres and art forms including music, dance, theatre, film, exhibitions, markets, fashion parades, family-friendly events, talks and symposiums. To view 2019 Festival highlights, click here!
YIRRAMBOI will return from 6 – 16 May 2021. For more information, visit: www.yirramboi.net.au To learn more about VicHealth, visit: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: YIRRAMBOI Presents at Whitehart Bar 2019 (supplied)