Garma Festival returns in 2021 to excite and inspire

Media release - The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP - Minister for Indigenous Australians

The annual Garma Festival on Yolngu country in North East Arnhem Land returns in 2021, and the Australian Government is proud to be providing $816,000 to support the delivery of this nationally significant event for the next two years.

The Yothu Yindi Foundation are putting strict COVID safety measures in place to protect the health and safety of those on site and allow the event to proceed.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said Garma brings together cultural leaders, senior officials, deep thinkers, and exceptional artists to share, listen and learn.

“Garma is a unique event where people from across Australia come in the spirit of togetherness to share culture and discuss and debate the most profound issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Minister Wyatt said.

“It is a big undertaking and this funding will ensure Garma remains a premier celebration of Indigenous cultural, artistic and ceremonial expression.

“It will provide training and employment opportunities for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the financial stability required to plan an event of this scale and scope in a very remote location.

“Garma provides an immersive and culturally safe environment to engage in a meaningful way on a range of issues and for people to come away inspired and better informed.

“As well as preserving and promoting culture through amazing displays of dance, music, art and culture, Garma facilitates the discussions that help set priorities and that lead to better decision making at the local, regional and national level.

“I left the last Garma Festival enthused and excited for the changing way Governments are working with Indigenous Australians.

“Since then, we have made meaningful progress by agreeing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap that will provide greater transparency and accountability for all parties responsible for improving the lives of Indigenous Australians.

“And substantive progress has been made on an Indigenous Voice, giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a greater say in policies and laws that affect them, again informed by some of the discussions held at Garma.

“Garma in 2021 will provide another opportunity to keep pressing ahead with our priority reforms to deepen formal partnerships and transform the way Governments work to be more responsive and include more Indigenous knowledge in the process.”

The Garma Festival runs from Friday 30 July to Monday 2 August 2021, with changed arrangements for attendance and a limit on numbers to keep people safe. Event information and tickets will soon be available on the Yothu Yindi Foundation website: https://www.yyf.com.au/