More than 500 performances will dazzle and delight audiences in Townsville as the North Australian Festival of Arts takes over the city from tomorrow.
The highly anticipated arts event is expected to draw thousands of visitors across four weeks of non-stop thrills, including brand new music festival Tropic Sounds and the return of outrageous cabaret artist Bernie Dieter.
NAFA is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland and features on the It’s Live! In Queensland events calendar.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said NAFA was one of the country’s leading arts festivals.
“NAFA is bringing hundreds of events to our city this year, with a new hub at Jezzine Barracks supporting some of the country’s best performers and entertainers, including performances by Boy & Bear and Dragon,” Cr Hill said.
“There is something for everyone, from families wanting to give their children a taste of circus under the big top to arts aficionados looking forward to world-class cabaret.
“Townsville City Council is proud to present NAFA, giving locals an arts and culture festival right in our own backyard.
“There’s no place on earth with a winter as beautiful as ours, so there’s no better time to explore the city and enjoy the hundreds of arts events on offer for the next month. Take this chance to invite your friends and family to join us in Townsville as we make the most of NAFA 2022.”
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said Queensland Government support would ensure the festival would continue to grow and evolve.
“Our four-year investment of $150,000 per annum is helping to build NAFA into a key cultural tourism event, delivering important economic and social outcomes and ensuring the region is well positioned to leverage the future opportunity of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics,” Minister Enoch said.
“It’s great to see the many events on offer this year, including the local premiere of Dancenorth’s Wayfinder, an exhibition program at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, a program of First Nations artists and writers, along with music, comedy and performance by local artists.
“Supporting cultural events such as NAFA is helping to deliver the key priorities of the Queensland Government’s 10-year roadmap Creative Together, and its vision to renew and transform the state through creativity, by activating local places, including sharing our stories, celebrating storytellers and elevating First Nations arts,” Ms Enoch said.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said NAFA had grown into a significant festival since its inception three years ago.
“NAFA has become a big success in Townsville since it began in 2019. It originated from the Commonwealth Games Townsville Festival 2018 and has become a hugely successful event,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“It’s fantastic to see NAFA continue to grow with more arts, culture and entertainment experiences for 2022.”
NAFA runs from tomorrow, 10 June to 10 July 2022.
