What: opening of the 2014 Melbourne Festival with a Tanderrum ceremony, only the second of such an event since 1835.

“Presented by Melbourne Festival, ILBIJERRI Theatre Company in association with The Bardas Family Foundation.

TANDERRUM is the traditional ceremony of the Kulin nations. It is a welcoming festival of song, dance, trading and cultural exchange. This is an essential and vital part of Kulin ritual.

For the opening night of the Melbourne Festival, the five nations of the Eastern Kulin will come together to open the festival and welcome local and international artists to perform on country. Fusing music, performance and storytelling with cultural traditions that stretch back over 40,000 years TANDERRUM celebrates the proud and living culture of the land’s traditional owners.

In early 2013, Melbourne Festival approached ILBIJERRI to facilitate the creation of a new ceremony that will engage audiences in a meaningful exchange with the traditional landowners of Melbourne. With this ceremony we are hoping to begin a journey of genuine partnership with the Kulin nations taking their rightful place as the leaders of this cultural exchange.” – Ilbijerri Theatre

All photos by Bindi Cole.

When: 6 pm, 10 October 2014

Where: Federation Square, Melbourne CBD, Victoria (AU)

How much: free