Free festival bolsters events strategy

The state government has announced a free six-day festival in collaboration with Perth Festival to celebrate Western Australian Indigenous culture and natural biodiversity in early October.

EverNow would be comprised of three events running from October 4 to 9, including a ‘reimagining’ of Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak, which was featured at Perth Festival in 2017 and 2019, and attracted a combined 300,000 people.

Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak will involve the trees at Kings Park being lit up using three-dimensional projections, animation, sound and lighting effects to tell Aboriginal stories.

EverNow would also feature live performances of Noongar song and dance called Song Circle at Supreme Court Gardens, and a ‘dreamscape’ immersive event called Fire Gardens at Government House Gardens.

The free festival is set to run for two years, with the option to become an annual event.

Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said EverNow was about celebrating the heritage of WA by creating a unique experience that would attract tourists.

“What this festival will do initially is attract people from around the state and then build into a world-class international event,” Ms Saffioti said.

"We want to make sure there is a reason to visit Western Australia every month and every season, and that means building a strong calendar of events that offer something for everyone.”

Premier Roger Cook said EverNow would boost tourism in WA and strengthen the state’s economy.

"Events such as EverNow contribute significant jobs for local workers and boost the State's economy, while supporting a range of Western Australian businesses,” Mr Cook said.

He said Tourism WA had created a unique product with EverNow as the festival aimed to celebrate the unique Indigenous cultural heritage of Perth.

“There’s nothing more unique than the Indigenous cultural presence of our Noongar people here in the south-west of Western Australia,” Mr Cook said.

“EverNow will be an opportunity for everyone to immerse themselves in our unique Noongar culture and take the opportunity to celebrate all things Western Australia.”

Song Circle would be hosted at Supreme Court Gardens. Photo: Court McAllister

Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said major events make a huge difference in attracting intrastate, interstate and international travellers to Perth.

He said events such as EverNow would reenergise tourism by attracting more airlines to launch direct routes to WA.

“We welcome the vision for tourism outlined by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti today, and particularly the focus on facilitating investment in new tourism accommodation and attractions,” Mr Hall said.

Later this year, Tourism WA is expected to launch the Western Australian Visitor Economy Strategy 2023-2033, or ‘WAVES’.

The ten-year plan is set to be comprised of sub-strategies including an events strategy, set to be launched in the coming weeks.

Ms Saffioti said EverNow was part of the events strategy, which would attract sporting, cultural and entertainment events to WA.

“Our events strategy is very clear: to create and develop homegrown events that are uniquely Western Australian that continue throughout the calendar year to make sure we continually attract people from interstate and overseas,” Ms Saffioti said.

“The second part is to continue to attract the blockbuster events like UFC, like Coldplay, like international football.”

The state government’s WAVES plan would also include the Cruise Tourism Strategic Plan launched on July 19 by Ms Saffioti, and the Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan launched in 2021.

Government House Gardens is set to open its doors for Fire Gardens. Photo: Andrew Beveridge