Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this page may contain the images, names and words of people who are now deceased.
Marramarra is a Wiradjuri word meaning ‘make, create, do’.
The two Marramarra projects unearthed and showcased Aboriginal visual arts, performance and culture from the Central West of NSW.
Below: “Yamma Dummarung”, which is the Wiradjuri word for ‘welcome’ in the Condobolin language group in Central Western NSW. ‘Wiradjuri Welcome’ is a track created by the team at Desert Pea Media, alongside Indigenous artists Roy Peterson (Condobolin) and Bruce Carr (Wellington) for Marramarra 2011.
Marramarra (2011)
Arts OutWest embarked on an ambitious project in 2011 to showcase Aboriginal Arts in the region and bring communities of the Central West together in celebration. Encompassing visual arts, dance, performance, music and media, four months of workshops culminated in an Aboriginal Arts event held at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC).
Free workshops open to all Aboriginal people across the Central West were be held March-June in Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, Orange, Dubbo, Parkes, Bathurst, Wellington and Cowra. The workshops were aimed at gathering and polishing work – across dance, visual arts, film and music – for sharing at the July gathering.
Marramarra Bulla (2012)
Bulla is a Wiradjuri word meaning ‘two’. Marramarra Bulla, held Saturday 17 November 2012 in Parkes, was Arts OutWest’s second major regional showcase of Aboriginal arts and culture.
Activities on the day included a free community breakfast in Cooke Park, performances of film, music and dance in the Little Theatre, a visual arts exhibition over three days in the Coventry Room and free family workshops in Traditional basket weaving, Wiradjuri language, DJing, Traditional toolmaking and Cultural dance.
Download the Marramarra Bulla catalogue
Marramarra = Make, Create, Do. Bulla = Two
Strategic area: Aboriginal arts development
Locations: Bathurst, Condobolin, Cowra, Dubbo, Forbes, Lake Cargelligo, Lithgow, Orange, Parkes, Peak Hill, Wellington with showcase events in Bathurst (2011) and Parkes (2012)
When: 2011, 2012
Funded by:
2011: Arts NSW, FACHSIA, NSW Department of Transport, Bathurst Regional Council, Better Futures (NSW government), Office of the Arts (Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet), NSW Department of Transport, Bathurst Regional Council, Western Plains Regional Development through Better Futures, Arts OutWest Young Consultants program through Better Futures and TAFE ArtStart
2012: Arts NSW, NorthParkes, Office of the Arts (Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet), NorthParkes (Rio Tinto).
The Aboriginal arts development program is funded by The Australian Government though AVAIS (Aboriginal Visual Arts Industry Support) through the Office for the Arts, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Arts OutWest team: (Tracey Callinan, Tedd Budd (2011), Aleshia Lonsdale, Maryanne Jaques, Anna Evans (2012), Christine McMillan)
Partnering with:
2011: Business Enterprise Centre, Desert Pea Media, BMEC
Creative team and paid artists:
2011: Toby Finlayson (Desert Pea Media), Jo Clancy, Sean Cassidy, Samara Finlayson, Bruce Carr
2012: Angela Prior, Jo Clancy, Ralph Naden, DJ Corey Lonsdale, David Maynard, Dave Towney, Samara Finlayson
Featured artists:
2011: Aleshia Lonsdale (Tirikee), Desert Pea Media, Roy Peterson, Bruce Carr, Otis Williams, Josh Simpson, Jim Beale (Kalmadyne Goombrydge), Wagambirra Dancers, Cowra and Condobolin dancers, Bowen Primary School, Kerrianne Cox and Darryl Parsons, BMEC Aboriginal Performing Arts Program with Genoa Gela and Alison Plevey, Raymond Boney, Bev Coe, Joedie Davis, Eddy Harris, Lindsay Kirby, students at Lake Cargelligo TAFE, Kevin Cooper, John Clarke, SUZANNE DUNSTAN, TANYA THERESE HARRIS, Jennifer Kirby, Joshua Smith, Tony Londsdale, Kaite Lousick, PJ McNeil, GAIL NADEN, DAVID ‘GAAGANG’ NEWTON, Lyn Nichols, NATHAN REID, Nyree Reynolds, IRENE RIDGEWAY, GLORIA ROGERS (DINDIMA), TOM SLOANE, SCOTT ‘SAUCE’ TOWNEY, SCOTT TURNBULL, Su Williams, JOSH SIMPSON.
2012: Dindima and googar Dancers (Condobolin), Wagambirra Dance Group (Cowra), Ralph Naden, Jim Beale (Kalmadyne Goombrydge), lewis burns, Kevin Cooper, John Clarke, Bev Coe, Joedie Davis, Tirikee (Aleshia Lonsdale), Guubbaay (Tony Lonsdale), Scott McMillan, Gail Naden, Lynette Nichols, Nyree Reynolds, Dindima (Aunty Gloria Rogers), Irene Ridgeway, Bob Sutor, Scott ‘Sauce’ Towney, Raymond Thorpe, Scott Turnbull, Wahi-Win Migay group (Orange), Otis Williams.
Thanks also to: Peter White, Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Parkes Shire Council, Dr Anita Heiss , ABC Open, Business Enterprise Centre, Brian Reiri at Girrawaa Creative Work Centre, Lake Cargelligo TAFE, Orana Arts; Regional Arts NSW, OCTEC; Local Aboriginal Lands Councils, Heather Blackley, Parkes Wiradjuri Language Group.
Image credits: Main Peter Gumpert from Marramarra in 2011. First gallery: Marramarra. Peter Gumpert. Second Gallery: Marramarra Bulla. Otis Williams, Arts OutWest.