Sydney Festival’s reconciliation action plan launch on this Friday 26th July.

Lieven Bertels

Sydney Festival’s Reconciliation Action Plan Launch

Sydney Festival’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is being launched at Sydney Town Hall by Reconciliation Australia’s Karen Mundine, General Manager Communications and Strategic Directions, on Friday 26 July at 9.15am.

Sydney Festival Director, Lieven Bertels, said that Sydney Festival recognises that Sydney is a complex and exuberant city of cultural contrasts and social diversity.  Sydney’s Indigenous heritage and contemporary culture lie deeply within Sydney’s identity, and are key to an enlightened and progressive festival.

Christopher Tooher, Sydney Festival Executive Director said “We have been developing our RAP since 2011. During that time, the Festival has listened to and engaged with many Indigenous peoples and organisations.  Together we have acknowledged the enormous contributions Australia’s first peoples have made to this country.  By fostering a sustainable and progressive platform for future Indigenous stories, engagement and employment, Sydney Festival will be able to accurately reflect its place in contemporary society.

“A review of programming at the Festival recommended ways Indigenous projects could flourish, with the aim of leaving a blueprint upon which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and arts workers could build future projects” he said.

In launching the RAP, Karen Mundine said “Sydney Festival’s RAP is an exciting and creative addition to the nearly 400 RAP organisations all playing their part in creating respectful relationships and opportunities that contribute to reconciliation.”

Sydney Festival’s vision for reconciliation is to formally and informally engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities, and to positively contribute to closing the gap between Indigenous and other Australians. The Festival will do this by committing to four key areas:

• respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures

• offering employment opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

• offering development and presentation opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and artsworkers

• building cultural awareness and understanding among our staff, stakeholders and audiences of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories

Christopher Tooher said “The plan highlights Sydney Festival’s recognition of the importance of reconciliation, and I am confident that our RAP will work towards providing the same prospects for Indigenous Australians as for other Australians.”

Karen Mundine said “The ability of the Sydney Festival to value and promote the contemporary art and ideas of Australia’s first peoples while also devising innovative approaches to employment opportunities can touch both our hearts and our heads, and enrich our nation. We are thrilled to have the Sydney Festival as part of the RAP community and look forward to working with this significant cultural organisation.”

For interviews or further information contact Mary Stielow, Publicity Manager, 02 8248 6523 or 0416 452 773 mary.stielow@sydneyfestival.org.au