25 Years of Merrepen FestivalThis year the 25th Merrepen Arts and Sports Festival will be marked with a range of special celebrations and the community will come alive with colourful displays. An exciting new range of screen printed fabrics will be launched on Saturday morning and will be on sale over the weekend. An exhibition of fine art prints will be on display in the art centre. Films set in the community will be shown in the Council Chambers and the Saturday night concert will celebrate strong women.

art sale and auctionThe Art Sale which will take place at 10.30am on Sunday June 3, followed by the art auction at 12noon.

Each painting has a price tag attached. To purchase a painting you just tear off the the bottom part of the tag and give it to the cashier. Once you have torn the tag the painting is considered sold to you, so choose carefully. If you accidentally tear off a tag just let the cashier know straight away.

The famous art auction on Sunday Morning is a once a year opportunity to buy a great work of art at a great price. The work of local artists Gracie Kumbi, Phillip Wilson, Marita Sambono, Patricia McTaggart AM and Geraldine Ungunmerr will be available in the auction and the art sale. As well there will be an auction of some younger artists works.

programfriday 1 june8.00am: SportingCarnivalbegins with teams from around the region

competing in football, softball and basketball

saturday 2 june SportingCarnival continues throughout the day and

10amMerrepenArtsCentreExhibitionandsaleofLimitedEditionPrintsopens10am:Artsalepaintingsavailableforviewingonlyallday10am:Launchofnewrangeofscreenprintedfabrics11am&2.15pm:Multiculturaldancing12noon: ‘Fi’WeavingWorkshops run by the local ladies

1.30pm: Firemakingcompetition3.00pm&4.30pm: LocalFilms6.00pm: Mass in St Francis Xavier Church

7.00pm:Sisters&FriendsConcert- Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier, Leah Flanagan & The Emu Sistes plus dance performance from Djilpin Dancers.

sunday 3 june8.00am: SportingCarnival continues throughout the day

10.00am: TheOfficialOpening of the Art Festival

10.30am: ArtSale begins. Purchase your favourite work

11am&1pm:Multiculturaldancing12noon: ArtAuction will begin at midday

2.00pm: ‘Fi’WeavingWorkshops run by the local ladies

All afternoon Sporting Grand Finals

Arts & Sports Festival

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June 1 – 3, 2012nauiyu community

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about the merrepen arts and sports festivalMerrepen Arts and Sports Festival is fast becoming one of Australia’s premier Aboriginal cultural festivals with visitors traveling from all over Australia to visit this extraordinarily beautiful region of the Top End and its fine art works and culture.

things to remember• No alcohol is permitted to be brought into the Nauiyu Community • No permits are required to enter the Community• Limited food and drinks will be available• Bring a chair, blanket or bean bag to enjoy the Saturday night Concert • Bring warm clothing just in case• Very limited facilities for EFTPOS ‘cash out’ please come prepared• Art works can be purchased with cash, visa, bankcard, mastercard or EFTPOS

contact detailsMerrepenArts,CultureandLanguageAboriginalCorporation(MACLAC)Ph 08 8978 2533Fax 08 8978 2766www.merrepenfestival.com.au

local accommodation Camping is not available in the community but there are a number of tourist parks throughout the area offering a full range of accommodation options.

Banyan Farm Tourist Park (08) 8978 2461Mango Farm Tourist Park (08) 8978 2464Perry’s on the Daly Tourist Park (08) 8978 2452Daly River Roadhouse (08) 8978 2418Woolianna on the Daly Tourist Park (08) 8978 2478Sinclair’s Fisherman’s Retreat (08) 8978 2267Nancar Hideout 0427 014 714

how to get thereMerrepen is located at the Nauiyu Aboriginal Community on the banks of the magnificent Daly River famous for its billabongs, barramundi and abundant supply of bush tucker. It’s only 240kms south west of Darwin on sealed roads. Drive south from Darwin on the Stuart Highway to Adelaide River (110kms) and turn right onto Dorat Road, just after the bridge in Adelaide River (where the horserace track is). Drive along Dorat Road for approximatley 30 kms then turn right onto the Daly River Road. Follow this road all the way to the Merrepen Art Centre at Nauiyu.

1. Deborah Conway, Leah Flanagan, the Emu Sisters – Sisters and Friends

2. Fi Tours & WorkshopLearn the techniques of dilly bag weaving as the local ladies of Nauiyu share some of their weaving knowledge and culture. Lasting approximately one and a half hours, ‘fi’ weaving tours start at mid-day on Saturday June 2 and 2pm Sunday June 3.

Numbers are limited and the tours are popular. Cost $50, bookings can be made before the festival via Tel: 0448 329 933 Email: tourism@aboriginalbushtraders.com or at Lyons Cottage, cnr Knuckey Street and The Esplanade Darwin

“We chose to call this tour Fi because this word fits the weaving process. Translated directly it means nothingness or emptiness, and can also describe how you can create something out of nothing.”

Patricia ‘Marfurra’McTaggart AM

3. Art Auction &4. Art Sale The artists of Nauiyu are renowned for their decorative representations of local flora and fauna. The opportunity to purchase these beautiful, decorative and colourful art works directly from the art centre has always been a key attraction of the Festival. The iconic Merrepen Art Sale 10am and Art Auction mid-day Sunday allow visitors to choose from a wide range of work by established and emerging artists.

6.Bush Tucker TastingThe Daly River Region is famous for its plentiful supply of bush tucker. Visitors to the festival on Saturday will have a rare opportunity to taste some of the local delicacies cooked in a traditional earth oven.

8. SportsSporting Carnivalbegins with teams from around the region competing in football, softball and basketball. This competition will run all day Saturday and Sunday.

2. Fire Making CompetitionFire making was an essential survival skill for Aboriginal people. Learn about the skills involved in fire making when at 1.30 on Saturday contestants test their skills in making a fire using traditional, locally collected materials.

5. Dance DisplaysMulticultural dance displays are a popular feature of the festival program. Two dance displays will take place each day with an African and a Pacific Islander dance troupe entertaining with lively authentic dance performances and colourful costumes.

The Merrepen Festival Concert is always a unique event. Under the stars on the banks of the mighty Daly River, it brings together artists who have stories to share and powerful voices to tell them. This year women’s voices are joined and supported by their families and friends.

The evening will begin with a traditional dance performance from the renowned Djilpin Dancers from Beswick Community.

The Emu Sisters are back at Merrepen by popular demand. Five women from Wadeye, they sing in language, and know how to get their audience up on their feet and dancing.

Local favourite Leah Flanagan is fast building herself a serious reputation at home and abroad. As she dances and sings her way into your heart Leah gives a taste of her life, and an invitation to a feast—of love and passion, sadness and joy.

The headline act features the distinctive and iconic voice of the ever popular Deborah Conway, the Melbourne-born singer who has been described as “a beacon of creative independence, tough and talented, beautiful and unafraid, with that fearfully large mouth and a voice to rip the roof off.” Deborah will perform with her partner Willy Zygier.

7. Local filmsTales of the Daly - Nauiyu Nambiyu directed by Indigenous film maker Steve McGregor, which tells a traditional local story, will be shown in the Council Chambers at 3pm and 4.30pm on Saturday.

Daly River

to Daly River Road

to ConcertHousing

Workshop Big Rivers CDEP

Civil Yard

Health Centre

Sports Hall Netball

Airstrip

St Francis Xavier Mass

Sports Oval

Shop

Council Chambers

Concert Parking

Concert 7pm Saturday

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Ticket box open from 5pm

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Box Office open from 10am

Art Centre

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