About The Experience
What sets the Karijini Experience apart from other regional events and festivals is its unique setting and strong sense of place, combined with a growing recognition for the authenticity of its Aboriginal cultural content.
Many Aboriginal people and language groups are represented from diverse backgrounds from all corners of Australia and we believe it will gain a reputation as being a celebration of reconciliation: a fusion of many cultures sharing in the beauty of our culture and country. The program features renowned artists, high quality emerging performers and grassroots experiences with local Traditional Owners. The Karijini Experience offers a mostly free program with a range of ticketed experiences.
HISTORY
The Karijini Experience began in 2013 with the inaugural Karijini Dinner Experience created by a small team that wanted to activate the Karijini National Park.
In the subsequent years it has grown from a culinary event under the stars attended by 75 people to a thriving annual multi arts and cultural event with a focus on celebrating local Aboriginal culture.
In 2016 The Nintirri Centre Inc. assumed overall event management responsibility. The aim was to ensure the long-term sustainability of what is fast becoming a major regional event.
In 2019, it attracted 2,045 visitors, featured 98 artists, held 57 individual events, representing 16 Aboriginal language groups and was supported by 32 partners and sponsors.
From 2022, the event was passed over to the Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC) as the traditional owners of the land. Nintirri stepped back after the 2021 event with the subsequent appointment of a professional event management company, CMS Events. The change provides new impetus for the event and greater recognition of the Banjima People.
Vision & Purpose
To be a cultural catalyst for connecting community and raising the profile of Karijini National Park and the surrounding Inland Pilbara. To develop and deliver an uplifting, authentic celebration that offers the opportunity for people to come together and be enriched through connecting to this country and its people.
In doing this, the event delivers a number of social, cultural and economic impacts that enhance and promote the Inland Pilbara including the following:
Social
Celebration of environmental protection, connection and culture; opportunities for capacity building and community development in the delivery of the event; and driving social and multicultural inclusion and engagement.
Economic
Generation of excitement around the potential for growth in tourism and the resultant benefits that economic diversification will achieve. This includes engagement of the key stakeholders into a discussion on how we build tourism in the Pilbara, as well as driving recognition and promotion of the importance of tourism to the small and medium-sized businesses in the Inland Pilbara; support and promotion of existing, developing and potential tourism product in the region; and the economic flow-through that occurs in hosting a major event in the Inland Pilbara, including overall increased tourism visitation as a result of raising the profile of the Inland Pilbara as a destination.
Cultural
A platform from which to celebrate the history and heritage of the Inland Pilbara; provision for the maintenance and expression of traditional Indigenous culture; and expression of contemporary arts and culture in a remote region of Western Australia.