Boomerang festival on a mission to raise $800,000

Organisers of the Boomerang Indigenous Arts and Culture Festival are on a mission to raise up to $800,000 to secure the event’s long-term future.

The festival was launched in 2013 only to be hit with funding cuts.

And while it has a temporary home at Bluesfest, the festival needs the $800,00 to become a stand-alone event, with a minimum of $200,000 each time it is held at Bluesfest.

Festival director Rhoda Roberts and Boomerang’s principle support Peter Noble say their ultimate goal is to make Boomerang ‘the foremost Indigenous arts and culture festival in the world’.

The next fundraising event will be a photographic exhibition at Photo Fox Den in Lismore, which will feature images from previous festivals.

Hosted and curated by Ben Knight and Jo-Anne Driessens, as part of the Boomerang Presents series, some of the country’s best photographers will unite to present an incredible display of the best shots captured during Boomerang at Bluesfest in April 2016.

The photographers who have donated their works for the event are Natalie Grono, Tao Jones, Kirra Pendergast, Orlando Sydney, and Joseph Mayers.

In addition, Ben and Jo-Anne are taking portraits of some our local region’s deadliest Indigenous people, all who do great work in their field and contribute positively to the community.

These special portraits will be on display at the event also.

There will be a silent auction on launch night, with all proceeds going to Boomerang Festival.  The launch night will also feature live music by Triple J unearthed artist Pat Tierney, who is currently on a massive national tour, plus guests can enjoy complimentary canapes, and drinks generously supplied by Yogi Beer, Byron Bay Wild Cider and Stone & Wood Brewery.

The exhibition will then run until 20 November, where set prices will be applied, and again all proceeds to Boomerang.