Modern and sophisticated meeting venues, distinctive experiences and iconic landscapes make Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) one of the world’s most inspiring business events destinations.
However, it’s the way in which business events delegates can connect to the 65,000-year-old Aboriginal culture that showcases how the NT is true to its positioning, ‘different in every sense for business events’.
Rebecca McCaig, director of Northern Territory Business Events, said: “We know that our cultural experiences and corporate social responsibility-oriented activities have a profound impact on delegates. From meaningful ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremonies by traditional landowners through to cultural performances, workshops and engagement with community organisations, the NT offers a connection to country that lasts long after delegates return home.”
Workshops and learnings
Interactive experiences such as dot-painting classes, didgeridoo lessons and cultural insight workshops enable delegates to engage on a personal level with the Aboriginal culture.
Maruku Arts which is based at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, is a not-for-profit art and craft organisation, owned and operated by the traditional landowners, the Anangu People. Maruku Arts offer unique dot-painting style workshops for business events groups – an Aboriginal artist talks about the stories behind their unique desert art form, explaining the techniques and symbols, then inviting attendees to create their own special artwork.
Anine Leakey from A9 Event Design participated in a Maruku Arts dot-painting workshop:
“It was such a special experience to join the dot painting workshop with Maruku Arts. Learning some of the local language and the meaning of the symbols from the artists was a privilege and being able to sit quietly engrossed in our own artwork was a surprisingly relaxing and rewarding experience. I highly recommend this as an activity where participants learn a little more about the Anangu people and Indigenous art.”
Further north in the town of Katherine, the Top Didj Cultural Experience, also delivers learnings about Aboriginal culture across music, art and traditional artifacts, as well as insights into the Aboriginal way of life living in the traditional way in the Australian outback.
Art experiences unlike anywhere else
Aboriginal art is ubiquitous in the NT but not only in the many galleries which have world-renowned reputations – it is also possible to visit the largest collection of ancient rock art in the world. Stunning rock shelters that span thousands of years provide truly unique insights into the aboriginal way of life across the centuries.
In the NT outback town of Alice Springs, business event planners can arrange for their events to coincide with staging of the annual Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, which showcases Aboriginal art and culture. Parrtjima runs for 10 days and is the only authentic Aboriginal light festival of its kind in the world. It features interactive light installations, musical performances, workshops, talks and nightly projections on a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges. Parrtjima will be staged 7-16 April, 2023.
Culturally inspired delegate gifts for business events
In Darwin, Aboriginal Bush Traders provides a cultural hub – the 100% not-for-profit organisation is committed to selling ethically sourced and sustainable products that directly support local Aboriginal communities. Encompassing a retail shop, gallery and café, the range includes carvings, weavings and paintings, bushfood pantry items, medicines, fashion and beauty products, many ideal as delegate and VIP speaker gifts. The gallery space hosts four exhibitions a year.
Creative culture
In Darwin, The Youth Mill is a programme development and facilitation service that provides young people with a range of up-skilling activities from creative arts and recreation to the development of practical skills and employment pathways. Young performers from The Youth Mill deliver meaningful ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremonies as well as music and dance performances for conferences and incentives, often combining traditional and contemporary culture in a totally new way.
Out in the natural environment at various locations across Darwin, Saltwater Cultural Tours teach about traditional First Nations practices, the connection to land and the history of the area. They offer full day and half day ‘Out on Country’ programmes escorted by a traditional owner and custodian of the land. Activities on offer include traditional spear-throwing and fire-making and they also deliver didgeridoo-playing workshops.
For information on culture and business events in the NT, visit www.ntbusinessevents.com.au
