SPONSORSHIP PROPOSAL PACKAGE

Photo credit: Heidi Morris

2022
THERE ARE FEW OPPORTUNITIES IN AUSTR ALIA WHERE
ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL PEOPLE CAN SIT DOWN,
C H AT A N D C E L E B R AT E T H E P O S I T I V E A S P E C T S O F R E M O T E
COMMUNIT Y LIFE, TOGETHER.

T H E R E A R E F E W P L A C E S N A T I O N A L LY W H E R E P E O P L E C A N C A M P
U N D E R T H E S TA R S , E N J OY E V E R Y T H I N G F R O M A B O R I G I N A L
ROCK BANDS TO A GAME OF AFL, OR JOIN IN A TRADITIONAL
D A N C E C E R E M O N Y.

THIS PLACE IS
BARUNGA, AND THIS
OPPORTUNITY
IS THE ANNUAL
BARUNGA FESTIVAL.

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BARUNGA FESTIVAL OVERVIEW
The Barunga Festival is an iconic event on the national festival calendar with a long and proud tradition of celebrating the best of remote
Indigenous Australia. This much-loved Territory festival attracts a 4000-strong audience of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from
all over the world who descend upon the small remote community to camp and take part in a program of music, sport, traditional arts and
cultural activities over the 3-day long weekend in June each year, welcomed by the traditional owners.
Due to its longevity and the proclamation of the famous ‘Barunga Statement’, the Festival has secured an important place in our nation’s
character and history. It has grown into one of the premier events in the country, offering a unique opportunity to share and experience the
pride and strength of Aboriginal culture.
Skinnyfish Music presents the festival in collaboration with the Bagala Traditional Owners and the Barunga Festival Committee. With growing
national and international interest in the Barunga Festival, we believe there is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to partner with this
important remote Indigenous community event.

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BARUNGA FESTIVAL:
KEY FEATURES
MUSIC, SPORT AND C U LT U R E ARE THE THREE MOST
P O W E R F U L D R I V E R S O F C O M M U N I T Y PA R T I C I PAT I O N A N D
ENGAGEMENT IN THE BUSH, AND THE 3 PILLARS UPON WHICH
T H E FE S T I VA L I S BA S E D. BA R U N G A FE S T I VA L A N D FE S T I VA L
COMMIT TEE HOPE TO SEE MORE OF THESE I N I T I AT I V E S
AT F U T U R E F E S T I VA L S .

MUSIC
Music is such a big part of community life, bringing together artists,
performers, song men and song women to share stories and culture with
the audience through song and dance. Traditional meets contemporary
music across two stages over three nights at the festival. Nationally
acclaimed musicians perform alongside emerging artists from the bush
at Barunga Festival. The festival treats its audiences to workshops,
acoustic performances, surprise acts and back to-back community
bands on center stage.

THE 2021 EVENT TED A HUGE LINE UP INCLUDING:

Yilila, Mambali, Ripple Effect Band, Lonely Boys, Manuel Dhurrkay,
Future Saltwater, Johnno Yunupingu, Olive Knight, Tjupi Band,
Wildfire Munwurrk, Justine Clarke, Nawardeken Band, Lucky Oceans,
Archer and Darwin Symphony Orchestra.

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Photo credit: AFLNT - Tymunna Clements
SPORT
Sport has always been an important part of remote community life
and it forms the backbone of the Barunga Festival program.
Over 40 teams from across the NT and from as far as the East
Photo credit: AFLNT - Tymunna Clements
Kimberley, Central Australia and Victoria come to participate in
Australian Rules football, basketball and softball competitions. The
football program now extends to young women and gives young
players an opportunity to shine in front of large audiences. Basketball
is keenly contested with men’s and women’s teams. Softball is also
very popular at Barunga and is often
a family affair with mothers, daughters and grandmothers all playing
on the same team.

CULTURE
Sharing traditional Indigenous culture with family, friends and visitors
to the community lies at the heart of Barunga Festival. The Festival
maintains ancient rites, customs and skills, engages a broad spectrum
of the community and offers a platform for passing knowledge and
experience on to the next generation. The traditional cultural program
presents many ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities for audiences to engage
in traditional dance, spear throwing, didgeridoo playing and making,
damper making, weaving, storytelling. Barunga Junior Guides – a Barunga
School initiative - sees students design and lead tours of the community
and surrounding bush.

5
Photo credit: Heidi Morris
BEST PRACTICE MODEL:
COMMUNITY FESTIVALS
B A R U N G A F E S T I V A L I S P R O U D LY L E A D I N G T H E W A Y W I T H A
B E S T PR AC T I CE M O D E L FO R R E M OT E CO M M U N I T Y FE S T I VA L S
A R O U N D T H E C O U N T R Y.

Barunga festival has successfully implemented multiple policies including

a healthy food policy for all food vendors; an alcohol and smoke free
policy; and has a comprehensive event management plan. Incorporating
a non-volunteer policy also encourages local employment. The Festival
management is currently developing programs that will compliment
national school curriculum.

6
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES
BA R U N G A FE S T I VA L S U PP O R T S T H E D E V E LO PM E N T
OF MICRO BUSINESSES FOR LOCAL INDIGENOUS
P E O P L E , A S W E L L A S T R A I N I N G A N D E M P L O Y M E N T.

Art stalls, tour guiding, festival cleaning & maintenance, basket weaving,
bush medicine and didgeridoo making workshops – the list of small
business participation and development grows each year.

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BARUNGA FESTIVAL:
MARKETING REACH
B A R U N G A F E S T I VA L G A I N S N AT I O N A L M E D I A R E C O G N I T I O N
E A C H Y E A R T H R O U G H A S T R O N G R E L AT I O N S H I P W I T H M E D I A
O U T L E T S A C R O S S T H E C O U N T R Y, A T A R G E T E D A D V E R T I S I N G
A N D M A R K E T I N G C A M PA I G N , A N D A H U G E P U S H I N T O T H E
SOCIAL MEDIA SPHERE.

TV
ABC National, ABC Local and SBS are awarded the opportunity who
attend Barunga and tap into festival news and the rich source of colourful
stories emanating from the event.

DIGITAL MEDIA
The Barunga Festival website is an important vehicle of communication for
news and program updates, sponsorship information and links, and is cross
promoted through online event guides and partner’s websites nationally.

RADIO
ABC Radio National, ABC Local, Triple J, Double J, TEABBA Radio, RRR,
Larrakia Radio, Gove FM and several community radio stations host live
broadcasts from Barunga as well as conducting interviews with festival
organisers, talent and participants.

8
SOCIAL MEDIA
The Festival’s Facebook page enjoys a following of over 16,000 providing
an effective platform to convey sponsors’ logos and messages. The
Festival is actively engaged in advertising and marketing via social media.

PRINT MEDIA
The AU Review, Herald Sun, The Australian, Pedestrian, The Advertiser
as well as other major newspapers, regional publications, industry and in-
flight magazines across all states have their eyes on the Festival with an
impressive list of articles published. Event posters and flyers are printed
and distributed extensively throughout Darwin, Katherine and other areas
of the NT, alongside festival advertising in various local publications.

There were 71 items of news coverage Australia wide with an

6,500,000 Estimated audience. You can check out all the news
article links here

Click HERE for a comprehensive Media Report.

9
“This is the kind of festival that changes the way
you see ythe world forever.“
JOHN BUTLER
ARIA AWARD WINNER
“The meaning of the word Barunga is ‘a happy place
for families to live’, and that’s exactly what we
want for the festival, a happy place for people to
come and enjoy themselves”
JAMIE AHFAT
BARUNGA COMMUNITY MEMBER & DIDGERwIDOO MAKER
“This year’s Barunga Festival was the most positive
and inspiring event I think I’ve ever been to. The
generosity and willingness of Indigenous people to
share their culture mad the whole event a truly
amazing experience“
KRIS KEOH
NT NEWS
“Barunga....an absolute experience of a lifetime.“
DAVID ALBERT
ALBERTS PUBLISHING, APRA
“A rare insight into a a part of the country and
Indigenous culture that so few of us would otherwise
ever get to experience first-hand.“
DAMIAN TROTTER
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING
“Without doubt, Barunga is one of the most humbling
experiences I’ve had. Aboriginal communities from
across the Territory sharing common camp with those
of us from much further afield Not a lot of common
language, but great warmth and welcome. Barunga is
what I think a festival should be - sport, art, music,
dance and sharing of stories and culture.“
DEAN ORMSTON
HEAD OF MEMBER SERVICES GROUP, APRA AMCOS
Photo credit: Heidi Morris
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FESTIVAL ATTENDEES
Barunga Festival (11
(2 -- 513August
June 2021)
2019)

Attendances Visitor Origins Event as the Primary Purpose of Travel

OTHER NT OT H E R N T
LO C A L R E S I DE N TS
TOTAL RESIDENTS
ATTE N D E E S RESIDENTS 61.5% T O TA L 9 6 3
8 .1 % (993)
(130)
3,900
OV E R S E AS
161 803 T O TA L 2 0

U N I QU E 0 20
I N D I V I D UA L S

1,615 I N T E R STAT E
T O TA L 3 8 1
PP VISITORS
I N T E R S TAT E OUTSIDE

3
N U M BE R 29.2% 20 3 61 REGION
OF E V E N T (472) OV E R S E A S DAY
DAYS 1.2%
(20)
TRIPPERS
1,364
OV E R N I G H T
STAY

Direct Visitor Nights Advocacy (NPS) Community Pride

AVERAGE
The event created an
opportunity to spend quality
time with family/friends
20.0% 70.7% 4.6

+77.8 The event makes me feel that

the Territory is an accepting
and inclusive place
18.4% 75.2% 4.6

INTRASTATE INTERSTATE OVERSEAS My visit to this event has

TOTAL
VISITORS VISITORS VISITORS enhanced my perception of
Katherine
15.9% 75.0% 4.6

This event makes you want

N IG H TS
IN H OST 2,237 2,448 140 4,825
to re-visit Katherine and
recommend the region to 12.5% 75.0% 4.5
REGI ON NPS 11.1% 83.3% others

Attending the Barunga Festival

N IG H TS
IN OTH E R
has enhanced my perception
of Katherine as a good area to 28.6% 49.0% 4.2
PA RTS OF 0 1,876 0 1,876 live, visit and do business.

NT DETRACTOR PASSIVE PROMOTER Attending the Barunga Festival

has enhanced my community
pride for Katherine.
23.2% 58.9% 4.4

VIS I TOR
N IG H TS I N 2,237 4,324 140 6,701 It is important for the NT
2.2% 93.5%
T HE N T
15 P ROMOT ERS Government to support events
like Barunga Festival
4.8
FOR EVERY 1 DET RAC TOR
Agree Strongly Agree
Source: Data for this research project was collected by Barunga Festival

11
FESTIVAL ATTENDEES
Barunga Festival (11 - 13 June 2021)

Total Expenditure Stimulus Economic & Tourism Benefit

ATTENDANCES
Barunga Festival attracted 3,900
attendees of which 75.0% were female,
Direct In-scope 23.3% were male, and 1.7% prefer
spending impact
to self-describe. Overall, the event
on Katherine
attracted 27.7% of attendees in the
Direct In-scope 55.64 age category.
$822K spending impact
on the Northern
NT $1.2M $326K Territory
IN-SCOPE VISITORS
Barunga Festival was responsible for
$363K bringing 1,364 primary purpose visitors
In-scope Non-In- to the Katherine Region. With the
Spending Scope
Spending majority from intrastate (963 visitors)
Impact
Impact
2021/22 2021/22
TOURISM IMPACTS
Barunga Festival generated 6,701 direct
visitor nights to the Northern Territory,
Lifecycle Stage Gender where 4,825 of these nights were in the
Katherine Region.
2.9%
5.0% Young person
Prefer not
to say
living at home
with parents
23. 3% 75 .0 % COMMUNITY PRIDE
1.7% Prefer to self-describe. The festival evoked community pride in
Single or couple local residents with the highest level
Living alone of agreement being recorded for the
– children have
or sharing –
Age
left home statement ‘it is important for the NT
20.7% 24.3% no children
Government to support events like
27.7%
Barunga Festival’ (4.8 out of 5).
23.4% 24.5%
22.3% 22.3%
Single
parent with
8.6% GROSS EXPENDITURE
children at STIMULUS
home 22.9%
15.7% Overall, the event stimulated the
Couple living Northern Territory economy by just
together – no 4.3%
over $1.5M, with $1.2M of this generated
Couple with
children at
children 0.0% by in-scope visitors.
home
15-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

12
 BARUNGA FESTIVAL
SPONSORSHIP TIERS
W E A R E CO M M I T T E D T O W O R K I N G W I T H PA R T N E R S W H O S H A R E T H E VA LU E S
OF THE BAGAL A COUNCIL , BARUNGA COMMUNIT Y AND SKINNYFISH MUSIC.

PLATINUM - $20,000 GOLD - $10,000 SILVER - $5,000 OCHRE - $2,500

· Invitation to speak at opening
ceremony;
· Photo opportunity with VIP
delegation; Information booth
area with infrastructure;
· 20 x MC mentions from main
stage;
· 20 x social media mentions;
· 20 x guest tickets
LOGO PL ACEMENT:
· Screen credit on main stage
— individual screen
· Flyer & posters
· Press releases
· Sponsors banner at main
stage
· Official reports
· Festival e-mail signature
· Festival website with
hyperlink
· Photo opportunity with VIP · Photo opportunity with VIP · Information booth area;;
delegation; delegation; · 2 x guest tickets
· Information booth area with · Information booth area; LOGO PL ACEMENT:
infrastructure; · 5 x MC mentions from · Sponsors banner at main
· 10 x MC mentions from main stage; stage
main stage; · 5 x social media mentions; · Official reports
· 10 x social media mentions; · 5 x guest tickets · Festival e-mail signature
· 10 x guest tickets · Festival website with
LOGO PL ACEMENT:
LOGO PL ACEMENT: · Screen credit on main stage hyperlink
· Screen credit on main stage ­— shared screen
­— individual screen · Flyer & posters
· Flyer & posters · Press releases
· Press releases · Sponsors banner at main
· Sponsors banner at main stage
stage · Official reports
· Official reports · Festival e-mail signature
· Festival e-mail signature · Festival website with
· Festival website with hyperlink
hyperlink

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I T I S O N LY W I T H T H E S U P P O R T O F O U R
P A R T N E R S A N D S P O N S O R S T H AT B A R U N G A
FE S T I VA L I S S U C H A N E N O R M O U S S U CC E SS E AC H
AND EVERY YEAR.

To discuss a partnership or anything else with Barunga Festival,

please contact:

BRAD FIREBRACE, FESTIVAL COORDINATOR

P: 08 8941 8066 E: info@barungafestival.com.au

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W W W.BARUNGAFESTIVAL .COM. AU