Initiative to support artists connect with new audiences and bring creative content to regional communities

nbn, as Sydney Festival’s first ever Regional Partner, is creating pop-up community events in five regional locations across Australia this year that will screen a recording of Bangarra Dance Theatre’s performance Spirit: a retrospective 2021. The performance will premiere tonight at the 2021 Sydney Festival.

Performances are planned to be screened at community pop-up events over coming months¹ in:

• Bangalow and Batemans Bay in New South Wales
• Stradbroke Island in Queensland
• Ballarat in Victoria; and
• A location in the Northern Territory soon to be announced.

Spirit: a retrospective 2021 celebrates the unbroken connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the land and invites audiences to connect with stories and songlines from across the nation with a collection of work from across the Bangarra Dance Theatre’s rich history.

nbn is actively engaged to help support the digital capability of regional Australia through a range of community initiatives and activities. These initial community pop-up events are part of a broader commitment to engage and collaborate with the arts sector to help develop innovative approaches for making use of retail broadband services over the nbn™ network. This will enable the delivery by internet providers and organisations such as the Sydney Festival of cultural content to new audiences across the country, including in regional and remote locations.

NBN Co Chief Development Officer – Regional and Remote, Gavin Williams said:

“We are thrilled to be involved in this bold celebration of arts and culture as Sydney Festival’s first ever Regional Partner. Spirit: a retrospective 2021 showcases some of Australia’s finest performers and hosting these pop-up community events provides an opportunity for regional Australians in Bangalow and Batemans Bay (NSW), Stradbroke Island (QLD) , Ballarat (VIC) and a soon to be announced destination in the Northern Territory to experience one of the Sydney Festival’s leading acts without needing to leave their home town. This partnership underpins nbn’s support and commitment to Australia’s creative sector and we look forward to helping to connect Australians in regional and rural areas with incredible creative content and cultural performances via their broadband services over the nbn™ network.”

Sydney Festival Director, Wesley Enoch said:

"I’m excited that Sydney Festival is collaborating with nbn as they help take the Festival to parts of regional Australia. The performance of Spirit is an incredibly evocative work from one of our country’s most renowned performing arts companies. For people in Bangalow, Batemans Bay, Stradbroke Island, Ballarat and a soon to be announced location in the Northern Territory to have access to a filmed performance of this extraordinary piece is something to be celebrated.”

Notes to editor: