Marra Wanggan wearable art performance with Ashweeni Mason at Giiyong Festival 2024. This year’s festival will be held on 22 November. Photo: David Rogers Photography.
Twofold Aboriginal Corporation (Twofold) near Eden has been working hard to reach its goal this year of becoming lead producer of southeast NSW’s largest Aboriginal arts and cultural event, the Giiyong Festival.
Since the first Giiyong Festival in 2018, South East Arts has been the lead producer, working in close partnership with Twofold and Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC).
Alison Simpson, co-CEO of Twofold, said the festival was originally held as a one-off event. “Because of its success and how much people wanted it, it became an annual event which led to South East Arts securing multi-year funding for the festival.”
Ms Simpson said it was always the intention that Twofold would work with South East Arts and Eden LALC to become lead producer.
Giiyong Festival has become a much-anticipated celebration of Aboriginal culture through music, dance, ideas, art and food. Each year it attracts thousands of visitors to Jigamy, between Pambula and Eden, on Thaua Country.
Ms Simpson said that over the past seven years, staff at Twofold who expressed interest in a certain aspect of running the festival, such as staging or logistics, were able to work alongside the team from South East Arts and the festival crew with skills and expertise in that particular area, so building Twofold’s capacity to become lead producer.
Djaadjawan and Deua River Dancers at Giiyong Festival 2024. Photo: Kate Doust Howarth.
Ms Simpson said the biggest lesson for her was learning how much was involved in running a festival like Giiyong.
“There is so much that goes on behind the scenes, logistically,” she said. “There are multiple lists of things to do to pull off an event like Giiyong, plus all the other things to think of like safety, traffic management and crowd control.”
Giiyong Festival receives funding from the NSW Government through Create NSW and Aboriginal Affairs NSW. This year it has been assisted by Creative Australia, the Australian Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body. Giiyong Festival also receives grants from NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Destination NSW.
On 27 June Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said Giiyong was one of 61 successful recipients from the Minns Labor Government’s 2025/26 Regional Event fund. Other successful recipients in the Bega electorate were the EAT Festival, the Merimbula Jazz Festival, Sculpture for Clyde, Crank It Up Batemans Bay and WinterSun Festival.
The funding goes a long way, helping to further build staff capacity, paying contractors and artists, and supporting the economical sustainability of established Aboriginal businesses that provide services to the festival.
Dancers from Eden and Pambula schools at Giiyong Festival 2024. Photo: David Rogers Photography.
Funding also comes from sponsors, ticket sales and donations. Twofold is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, so all donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
Ms Simpson said it would be great to have a multi-year corporate sponsorship. Ongoing corporate support would enable the team to plan ahead with certainty.
She said Giiyong Festival was something the community wanted and needed.
“It isn’t just fun, education and entertainment,” she said. “There is also a healing aspect for our community; there is a deeper meaning. We want to continue the festival for so many reasons, but the healing aspect is our number one priority.”
Taking over the full responsibility is an historic milestone for Twofold and the festival. “We are incredibly proud to be stepping into this role,” Ms Simpson said. “Having the festival totally in the hands of Aboriginal people is exciting for us.
“It has been a journey over the years, but we are excited to be at the point we are,” Ms Simpson said.
The next Giiyong Festival takes place at Jigamy, between Pambula and Eden, on Saturday 22 November. More details can be found at giiyong.com.au
