26 June, 2024
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) has announced a 3-year sponsorship package for the Aboriginal Cultural Showcase, held at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Rapidly gaining a national and international reputation for discovering emerging artists, the Aboriginal Cultural Showcase has been sponsored by NSWALC since 2016.
“It is so important that NSWALC supports and promotes Aboriginal culture and cultural events, such as the Aboriginal Cultural Showcase,” NSWALC Chairperson Raymond Kelly said. “Through song, Aboriginal people have told stories for tens of thousands of years about their connection to identity, culture and Country. It is truth-telling as its finest and sends a powerful message of strength, spirit and survival.”
Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council is the organiser of the Aboriginal Cultural Showcase, which is quickly becoming a major platform for emerging artists.
“The Aboriginal Cultural Showcase was originally established in 2008 to respond to a gap, identified by Aboriginal musicians, in the support available for Aboriginal talent within the Festival”, said Tamworth LALC Chairperson Daisy Cutmore.
“We are extremely proud to provide a space for Aboriginal musicians of all levels of experience, to play on a stage in the heart of the Country Music Festival.
“Each year we are proud to support talented musicians from school age through to established industry icons, and provide development opportunities for local young people in roles including the Showcase MC. Last year, Loren Ryan, a Tamworth musician who began as a regular Showcase musician, playing on our stage from age 14, became the Toyota Star Maker. We are proud to be part of her story and are confident that the Showcase is providing an important stepping stone in the development of other young musicians.”
Chairperson Kelly said the Aboriginal Cultural Showcase has become a premier cultural event for Aboriginal peoples in NSW. He praised Tamworth LALC for putting on such a high quality event.
“They are a shining example of the great things Local Aboriginal Land Councils across NSW are doing”, Chairperson Kelly said.
“To have our own space and have mob front and centre in the heart of Tamworth, Australia’s music capital during the Country Music Festival, is particularly empowering. The Festival is one of Australia’s biggest music events and a top 10 country music festival globally which attracts more than 40,000 people.”
The next Aboriginal Cultural Showcase will be held on 22 – 24 January 2025.
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