18 May Big Rivers Creative Industry Summit 2021

Posted at 04:33h in Entrepreneurship, Events by
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The first Big Rivers Creative Industry Summit was held at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre in Katherine on Friday, May 14, 2021. 

Over 100 guests including creative practitioners and entrepreneurs, youth, and industry organisations attended from across the region for an immersive one-day experience that showcased the diversity and talent of the creative industries of the Big Rivers Region and beyond. 

The summit event included a special guest speaker awarded photographer and drone pilot A. Professor Wayne Quilliam, travelled from Melbourne to share 40 years’ experience capturing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture across the country. Wayne encouraged everyone to “use the talents you have to share your journey.”

Bábbarra Women’s Centre from Maningrida, Arnhem Land attended as guest speakers. “This was their first-ever panel to discuss the 34 years journey of Bábbarra Women’s centre celebrating their world trip to Paris in 2019 and their most successful collaboration with Kip&Co” Jessica Phillips, Manager, Bábbarra Women’s Centre.

The Big Rivers Creative Industry Summit was produced by Katherine based not for profit organisation Circulanation. Circulanation CEO Tanya Egerton commented, “the aim of the event was to boost the creative and entrepreneurial energy of the Territory’s creative industries, with a focus on the Big Rivers Region.”
Guests took part in workshops and yarning circles to map-out emerging business opportunities and found themselves in a rapid brainstorming session where they were challenged to consider what the future holds for the creative industries in the region.


The Big Rivers Creative Industry Summit was underpinned by support from the Northern Territory Government. Regional Executive Director for the Department of Chief Ministers and Cabinet and Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre Board Member Jake Quinlivan commented on the success of the event, “ It was inspiring to hear about all the amazing work that is going on in the Big Rivers Region”

“The cultural, social, and economic benefits that come from our creative industries have the potential for scalable impact if its potential can be maximised within the global creative economy. Investment in capacity building and dedicated infrastructure such as the proposed textile hub in Katherine would accelerate growth and ensure a vibrant and thriving creative industry for the future,” comments Mr Quinlivan.