Australias's Northern Territory shines three times brighter
Light festivals and art installations are illuminating destinations all around the world however, Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) is establishing itself as one of the most sought after to experience these immersive, profound and multi-sensory experiences in technicolour. The NT currently showcases its iconic landmarks and 65,000 year old living culture through Field of Light in Uluru and Parrtjima - A Festival in Light, in Alice Springs – both of which transform their vast landscapes into vibrant outdoor galleries. The NT will continue to amaze and astound with a third installation that stimulates the senses in the Territory’s capital city, Darwin with the introduction of Bruce Munro: Tropical Light. Located in the Territory’s three key regions, the creative application of lighting technology on dramatic landscapes provides added impetus for leisure visitors, as well as business events groups, to consider going to the NT.
Darwin – Tropical Light
In Darwin, a world-first lighting display by artist Bruce Munro will open in early November, with eight illuminated, large-scale sculptures by local artists installed across the Darwin CBD and Waterfront, over a 2.5-kilometre art trail. The illuminated sculptures will in part reflect Bruce Munro’s personal experience from extensive travels of the Top End and Darwin’s natural beauty, spectacular sunsets, welcoming locals and the NT’s distinctive wildlife.
The ‘Bruce Munro: Tropical Light’ city-wide exhibition will run from 1 November 2019 until 30 April 2020 and is anticipated to attract leisure visitors and business events groups during the Top End’s tropical summer season. While dedicated tours and viewing opportunity packages will be available, the free exhibition can also be experienced via a self-guided path throughout the city.
‘Bruce Munro: Tropical Light’ will add to the Northern Territory’s reputation for unique events and attractions.
Alice Springs – Parrtjima (pronounced Par-Chee-Ma)
Parrtjima – A festival in Light, takes place in Alice Springs every year in April and is the only authentic First Nations festival of its kind, showcasing the oldest continuous cultures on earth through the newest technology – all on a 300-million-year-old natural canvas. Creative director Rhoda Roberts curates the festival which connects thousands of visitors to Alice Springs – the home of the Arrernte of Mparntwe. Highlighting just how major events and festivals can make a significant difference to the local community, interstate visitation to Parrtjima in 2019 contributed over $1.8 million to the Alice Springs economy.
The 10-day festival is staged across two Alice Springs precincts, in the town’s Todd Mall in the CBD and at Alice Springs Desert Park, approximately 10 minutes’ drive away. At Desert Park, a two kilometre stretch of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges provides an extraordinary “canvas” for much of the light show. ‘Parrtjima – A Festival in Light’ will be held in Alice Springs again in 2020, running from Friday 3 April to Sunday 12 April, with an even more inspiring program set to be revealed.
Uluru – Field of Light
Further south, the globally-acclaimed installation ‘Field of Light’ at Uluru, also created by artist Bruce Munro, has mesmerised leisure and business events visitors and will continue to do so following a recent announcement it has been extended indefinitely at Uluru. The exhibition is fittingly named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku or ‘looking at lots of beautiful lights’ in local Pitjantjatjara language and is overwhelming in size covering 62,500 square meters.
The incredible display features more than 50,000 slender stems, topped with frosted-glass spheres, placed on the desert sands. Totally solar-powered, they provide an immersive experience via illuminated pathways and a captivating vision when “flowering” into colour, under the darkness of night.
Rebecca McCaig, Director of Northern Territory Business Events, spoke about how the three distinctive light experiences in the Northern Territory have enhanced the NT’s reputation as a location for meaningful business events.
“We know that business events visitors are inspired by our destinations, which provide a range of different sensory experiences to enhance their events, and are subsequently motivated to stage their business events in the Northern Territory,” she said.
“Whether in Darwin, Alice Springs or Uluru, meaningful experiences at our light festivals not only deliver successful business outcomes, they also provide invaluable interaction with our culture and our stunning natural assets encouraging return visitation whether it be for business or leisure.”
The Northern Territory Government has provided a total of $9.33 million towards attracting more national and international business events to the Territory through its Turbocharging Tourism investments.
“Turbocharging Tourism underpins our NT Business Events Support Fund, which offers financial assistance of AUD$100 per delegate to organisations at the consideration or bidding stage of planning their business events. The fund demonstrates our commitment to increasing the number of business events being staged in the NT which have the potential to deliver significant flow-on benefits and legacies to our destination.” she said.