AboutÂ
Desert Festival is our annual signature event, that showcases arts, culture and community each September. Desert Festival is a multi arts festival showcasing local and regional arts and content. It is the only local event that provides a multi-disciplinary platform for Central Australian artists from diverse cultural backgrounds across all artforms.
Desert Festival has grown into a well known, loved and diverse festival in Mparntwe / Alice Springs, and continues to hold its place as a leading shoulder season festival that benefits and celebrates the arts, tourism and the local business community.
In addition to seeding well known, independent festivals and events, Desert Festival also successfully partners with local sector peers and businesses, such as Music NT, 8CCC, ABC Alice Springs, Triptic, Desert Knowledge, Alice Springs Town Council, AS Print, Bendigo Bank, Megafauna Central Alice Springs, Alice Springs Airport, local accommodation providers, hotels, and other businesses.
The festival has a long history of diverse local activations, bringing unlikely venues and locations to life and setting precedents for how public space can be alternatively utilised.
We are an important festival because we are multi arts oriented and support all sectors of the community, showcasing art forms and mediums from all sectors of the community, and playing a vital role in centering and celebrating diverse voices such as First Nations, LGBTQI, disability, women and CALD communities.
Through collaboration and partnerships, we are able to maximise community connection to the arts, support incubation of new works, promote artists and artistic opportunities and co-ordinate professional development opportunities for the local arts sector.
