Celebrating NAIDOC in the City

Sydney’s annual showcase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures returns to Hyde Park this July with a range of family-friendly activities, performances, live music, dance, food and art.

Now in its 12th year, NAIDOC in the City will run from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 8 July and is an opportunity for families to come together on Gadigal land and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

The event will feature performances by Cindy Drummond, Renegades of Munk, Chill Cheney and emerging artist Amelia Brown, as well as traditional games, a dance circle for performances and workshops, learning spaces and market stalls.

“We are proud to live in a country that is home to the world’s oldest continuing living culture,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.

“We value the importance of First Nations peoples and their culture, and NAIDOC in the City is an opportunity for everyone to experience some of that rich and vibrant culture through dance, art and food.”

NAIDOC in the City is part of NAIDOC Week which runs from 2 to 9 July, and as part of its support, the City of Sydney will install around 500 street banners across the city featuring a new artwork by Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr artist, Kim Healy.

Jagun, the new visual identity for the NAIDOC Week celebrations in the city, is a multi-dimensional artwork that pays respect to Country while celebrating culture.

Combining traditional and contemporary styles, Healey created Jagun using paint and graphic design to capture elements of the changing landscape within Country. The celebratory colour palette enhances the storytelling of the artwork, with the elements of landscape, water, animals and culture at the forefront of the design. The artwork aims to evoke a sense of place that welcomes you to enjoy and explore the diversity of Country and cultures.

NAIDOC Week was established in the 1920s and grew from the first political groups seeking rights for Indigenous people as an annual celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The theme of NAIDOC Week 2023 is ‘For Our Elders’ – paying homage to Elders who have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place for communities and families.

The City of Sydney is working with leading Aboriginal arts and media organisation, Gadigal Information Service, on the 2023 program which includes:

A celebratory program of talented First Nations artists from many nations including prolific storytellers to contemporary music artists.

Learn more about ancient songlines, their enduring survival and inherent connection to First Nations people.

The heart of NAIDOC in the City celebrations, this cultural dance space is where visitors can come to experience, heal and unearth connection to Country. The Dangura Ring will open the festival with a Welcome to Country ceremony.

A space for children and their families, with toys, games and activities to keep the young (and young at heart) entertained.

Another family-friendly space offering visitors of all ages the chance to try their hand at traditional games and activities from various First Nations communities and peoples.

Local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses will be offering a range of authentic art, craft, produce and contemporary delicacies.

For more information go to whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For media enquiries or images, contact Elaine Kelly. Phone 0477 362 550 or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore contact Zoe Delamare. Phone 0477 263 615 or email [email protected]