This year, Parrtjima ran over ten nights from 5-14 April and saw its highest-ever visitation, despite moving to an April timeslot – a traditionally quieter time for tourism in Alice Springs.
More than 25,000 people took in the sights and sounds of the festival, enjoying stunning light installations and a packed Knowledge Program with big-name inclusions like Baker Boy, Mojo Juju, Bruce Pascoe and Thomas Mayor. Record numbers at this year’s festival represent a 25 per cent increase from 2018.
Returning in April 2020, Parrtjima is continuously evolving and will feature a suite of new lighting installations, performances, talks and ideas across its festival precincts at Alice Springs Desert Park and in Alice Springs CBD.
Tim Watsford, General Manager, NT Major Events Company, said it was fantastic to see Parrtjima to continue to grow and cement itself as one of the nation’s premiere lighting and cultural festivals.
“Parrtjima has gone from strength to strength, and it was fantastic to see this year’s festival draw its biggest numbers yet.
“It is a festival like no other and it is extremely rewarding to see it enlighten and enrich the lives of all who experience it. It provides a platform to so many talented artists in Central Australia, as well as an unforgettable experience for locals and visitors alike,” he said.
The only First Nations light festival of its kind in the world, Parrtjima this year celebrated the theme of Language Expressions and proudly shone a light on the beauty and complexities of Central Australia’s vast network of languages.
Bespoke lighting installations and a packed program of talks, performances, workshops and films transformed Alice Springs Desert Park and Alice Springs CBD into an immersive outdoor gallery of light and sound.
This year Parrtjima was curated by Rhoda Roberts AO and was produced by creative consultants AGB Events.
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