National Reconciliation Week 2020: In This Together

Overview

National Reconciliation Week happens every year, with the purpose of educating all Australians about our shared history and celebrate the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The (very fitting) theme this year? In This Together. Running from May 27 to June 3, the festival's dates signify two important milestones in our reconciliation: the 1967 referendum and the Mabo decision, which saw the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples land rights. This year, the program will centre on ideas of moving forward as a nation and working toward a shared future. Of course, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the week-long program will look a little different.

It'll launch with an Acknowledgement of Country from 12pm on Wednesday, May 27, with Australians paying their respects via social media. Then, a panel discussion hosted by Larissa Behrendt (Speaking Out) will take place on Thursday, May 28 from 12–1pm. She'll be joined by parliament members Ken Wyatt and Linda Burney, plus Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine and University of Wollongong Lecturer Summer May Finlay to discuss the historic bridge walks of 2000 and the role of reconciliation since then. For more information and to stream, check out the Facebook event here.

Also on the bill is a Virtual Indigenous Film Festival and an hour-long concert, featuring Busby Marou, Alice Skye and Jimblah and hosted by Christine Anu, no less. It'll go down at 9.05pm on Friday, May 29 and you can tune in via ABC Radio or head to Reconciliation Australia, ABC Sydney or ABC Australia Facebook pages.

The National Gallery of Victoria will be hosting its own events to celebrate Reconciliation Week, including an introduction to Indigenous art, a look at the artworks of Destiny Deacon, and 'Curating Indigenous Art', which is a collaboration between the NGV, ACMI, Koori Heritage Trust and Deakin University.

Sydney's AGNSW currently has an interview with artist Gail Mabo you can watch as part of its Together in Art series. The Sydney Opera House has a five-day program lined up, too, including recorded concerts, talks, dance performances, Badu Gili and the First Nations Arts Awards 2020. Red Room Poetry is hosting its annual Poetry in First Languages.

Images: Badu Gili, Sydney Opera House; Regalla (2013) by Reko Rennie, NGV courtesy of blackartprojects.