This is the time of year that Canberra truly shines thanks to the Enlighten Festival, a week-long event that brings the city to life with illuminated buildings, music, science, food vans and art installations which are all scattered throughout the Parliamentary Triangle and selected venues across the town.
Enlighten 2024's program delivers a strong First Nations presence with musicians such as Thelma Plum and Briggs featuring alongside a heavy line up of Indigenous local and regional talent.
Friday evening saw crowds gathering for a chance to see talented songstress Thelma Plum which was soon followed by Vincent Namatjira's Australia in Colour exhibition and accompanying Indigenous All Stars projection both displays moved and captivated audiences of all ages.
Mr Namatjira, the great grandson of Albert Namatjira, has a talent for portraying the politics of history, power and leadership from a witty contemporary Aboriginal perspective.
The multi-sensory and immersive event also offered a smorgasbord of food and interactive experiences for visitors to explore ranging from science yarns with much loved Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan, VR experiences, stories under the stars, science demonstrations and a fun run if you are that way inclined – there are even eighties aerobics classes taking place in Old Parliament House.
The 2024 Enlighten Festival has been a collaborative effort between two of Canberra major arts venues the National Gallery of Australia and the Canberra Theatre Centre and the coordinators have truly left no stones unturned when it came to planning this event and it is events such as this that add further value to an already fast growing reputation that is seeing Canberra grow to becoming one of our most progressive and culturally friendly cities.
Saturday's highlights included Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung singer Gem Casser-Daley and Jay Minning of the Desert Star band, Traditional Owners who have travelled all the way from the Tjuntiuntjara Community in Western Australia to perform at Enlighten and launch their upcoming documentary Gravel Road In Newtown, Sydney.
There is plenty more in store for next weekend with several stages for punters to catch talented musicians, it is worth noting that the host of the stage that has drawn the biggest crowds thus far is proud Wiradjuri singer Tahalianna Soward-Mahanga, Canberra's answer to Taylor Swift.
Ms Soward-Mahanga's infectious smile and enthusiasm manages to draw in audience engagement and hype up excitement in between performances, adding to her stage prowess she is a brilliant singer having appeared in the final rounds of The Voice in 2022.
Ms Soward-Mahanga is supporting Yorta Yorta man Senator Briggs on Saturday 9th March, this is one event to mark in the diary. Also not to miss is local legend and Ngunnawal custodian Alinta Barlow who is performing at various times throughout the program alongside Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara guitarist-composer Jeremy Whisky, Dan Sultan and Wallabindi.
Next weekend alongside Enlighten's regular art and light menagerie you can also catch the opening of Canberra's Balloon Spectacular and Symphony in the Park.
