MEDIA RELEASE

"NPA Cultural Festival Unites"

Every second year, Northern Cape York is aflame with colour, culture, song and dance when the region’s cultural festival torch is lit, signifying peace and unity.

Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council proudly is host to the 2024 NPA Cultural Festival –– a free event for local families and tourists, to be held 11-13 July. The festival will be celebrated around the five unique communities of Northern Peninsula Area – Seisia, New Mapoon, Bamaga, Umagico and Injinoo - with dance and music performed at Yusia Ginau Memorial Oval in Bamaga.

Traditional dance troupes from Torres Strait Islands and Cape York, including Lockhart River, Coen, Aurukun, Napranum and Old Mapoon will travel far and wide to join this year’s festival – with a theme of United Cultures = Strong Future: “Let’s Dance”.

Together with cultural food, art exhibitions, traditional workshops, history tours, craft markets and more – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers, musicians and performers will take to the stage sharing their story-telling of united cultures.

Festival performers include musician Mitch Tambo, a proud Gamilaraay man of northern NSW. Celebrated as one of Australia’s most unique and dynamic First Nations entertainers, he has earned recognition as “the new voice of our generation” with powerful renditions of iconic songs, like ‘You’re the Voice’. Mitch blends traditional Aboriginal sounds and language with contemporary beats and production. A string of #1 songs on iTunes World Music Charts, Mitch has top hits in Australia, the UK, US and Europe - and passionately supports various social causes.

Sean Choolburra is a charismatic, vibrant and captivating comedian who has carved a niche as one of Australia’s most popular indigenous entertainers on stage and television. Weaving a unique blend of pop culture, dance, didgeridoo, comedy and hip hop, Sean never fails to captivate audiences of all ages. Sean’s ancestors are Gu-Gu-Yalanji of the Far North, Kalkadoon in western Queensland, Kandju of Cape York and Bwgcolman from Townsville and Palm Island. He has performed in Australia, UK, Canada, Japan and New Zealand for over 15 years.

The festival is coordinated with Northern Peninsula communities by the NPA Art Centre, to promote, preserve, empower, harness and capture the artistic creative talents of local artists that showcases the rich cultural diversity that is the NPA.

The Northern Peninsula Area covers the top of Cape York Peninsula and is the most northerly region of the Australian Mainland bordering the Torres Strait Islands, and Papua New Guinea, to the north.

NPA Cultural Festival visitors can reach Bamaga by road from Cairns, Cooktown and Weipa or fly to Bamaga Airport from Cairns or Horn Island. In tourist season (May to Oct) a daily ferry travels to Seisia from Horn Island and Thursday Island.

More info: https://www.nparc.qld.gov.au/cultural-festival

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Media enquiries:

E: Kerrie.hall@nparc.qld.gov.au / M: 0461 320149

Communications & Media Coordinator.

Festival enquiries:

E: dev.lengjel@nparc.qld.gov.au / M: 0493 091 542

NPA Art Centre Manager