Two of many highlights of this year’s festival are the Drumley Walk and Elders Arts Dinner
This year’s Murri Arts Festival will be held on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 May at the Centre, Beaudesert with a multitude of events jam-packed into the two days.
Two of many highlights of this year’s festival are the Drumley Walk and Elders Arts Dinner being held on the Friday night and the actual launch of the Walk itself on the Saturday morning.
The dinner has an incredible line-up of talent - The Jaran Dancers, William Barton and David Page, all of which are masters in their fields; the first of whom will perform the welcome dance. Lorraine Iselin will be another special guest.
One of the world’s leading didjeridoo players William Barton, who has played with some of the world’s greatest orchestras, is another special guest and he is joined by David Page, the multi-award winning musician and actor who still has many of his family living in Beaudesert area.
One of the other fascinating Murri Arts events guaranteed to engage the Scenic Rim Community is the ‘Rim Community Arts Project’ which is an exploration of the stories of the region through painting and poetry.
Over the two days, indigenous painters and non-indigenous writers will craft a cross-cultural conversation which should not be missed.
Marisol Da Silva’s ‘Jingi Wahlu: How are you’ will make a welcome return to the Centre for the Festival.
It is photographic exhibition with the residents of Beaudesert where locals share their experiences of health and well-being through images, conversations and stories.
At 11am on both the Friday and the Saturday, Marita Tomlinson is facilitating ‘Grandmothers Stories’ which is a community storytelling project sharing yarns, experiences and the lives of women in the Scenic Rim.
An Indigenous culture workshop will take place at 2pm on Friday 4 May with the very talented Graham Blanco from Jaran Dance, who will talk about cultural heritage, look at significant artifacts and provide an introduction to important cultural traditions.
The actual launch of The Drumley Walk will take place on the Saturday morning.
It is an annual walking pilgrimage to honour Aboriginal Elders of yesteryear, for their resilience and courage to keep living on their traditional lands.
Walkers are invited to join the festivities of the start and pay a small fee to join a 4km or a 17km walk.
A bus returns walkers to the Centre at the end of each of these walks.
Following the launch, an Elders’ Morning Tea will take place at 10am. Everyone is invited to join local elders where coffee, tea and light refreshments will be served.
Saturday also sees Bryant Wells, owner and head chef of Tukka, West End demonstrating his celebrity chef cooking skills at 1pm and 2.30pm.
On Friday at 10am & 12 noon and then again on Saturday at 10am, 12 noon and 2pm, new engaging and entertaining indigenous short films from the National Film and Sound Archive will hit the screen.
Apart from the Dinner and the Walk, all activities are free.
More details of this year Murri Arts Festival can be obtained by going to www.liveatthecentre.com.au, quick links and then clicking on Murri Arts.