Qld Government backs Laura Quinkan Dance Festival

Published Tuesday, 10 March, 2020 at 11:26 AM

Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

The Premier has announced $400,000 in funding towards Australia’s longest running Aboriginal cultural festival.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival, held every two years, showcases the culture of the Aboriginal people of Cape York through song and dance, attracting thousands of visitors from across Australia and overseas.

“This year in Queensland, we’re celebrating the Year of Indigenous Tourism and what better way to highlight this than by once again supporting one of Australia’s best indigenous festivals,” the Premier said.

“The three-day festival allows the wider community to witness and gain insight into this unique ancient culture and I’m pleased to see it continue to grow.”

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui welcomed the announcement and said the festival would be held from 3–5 July 2020.

“The Laura Quinkan Dance Festival is a wonderful event that ensures traditional dance and cultural practice are shared and preserved for future generations,” Ms Lui said.

“In addition to this new funding, the Palaszczuk Government, through Arts Queensland, supports the festival as part of the landmark Backing Indigenous Arts initiative which aims to create a sustainable First Nations arts industry and showcase the unique art of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to the world.”

Mr Lui said the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival has helped support the region’s economy through tourism which supports jobs.

“Almost half a million visitors to Queensland took part in First Nations experiences in 2018-2019,” Ms Lui said.

“The festival involves communities from the Torres Strait, Cape York and Townsville, all uniting as one in celebration of culture through song, dance and art, and provides an opportunity for tourists from across Australia and the world to experience a truly unique Indigenous experience,” she said.

The Laura Quinkan Dance Festival will be delivered by the Traditional Owners and Ang Gnarra Aboriginal Corporation in 2020.

The Queensland Government has supported the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival since 1993 through Arts Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland.

ENDS 

Media contact:

Zoe Russell – 0439 982 347