SBS and Koorie Heritage Trust announce three-year partnership to celebrate First Nations cultures and communities

SBS and the Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT) have announced a new three-year partnership that will support a series of flagship cultural events, creating meaningful opportunities for Australians to connect, celebrate and deepen their understanding of First Nations cultures, creativity and community.

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to elevating First Nations voices, supporting First Nations artists and businesses, creating opportunities for cultural exchange, including fostering a deeper cultural understanding through community and employee engagement.

As part of the partnership, SBS will sponsor several of KHT’s key annual events taking place at Federation Square, including the NAIDOC Week First Peoples Art and Design Market on Friday 10 July, the Koorie Krismas First Peoples Art and Design Market in December, and the Mabo Day Concert in June. The NAIDOC Week market is one of a number of community events SBS will be involved in across the country during NAIDOC Week.

SBS Director of First Nations, Tanya Denning-Orman said: “The Koorie Heritage Trust creates opportunities for people to experience and celebrate First Nations cultures, creativity and community, and we’re proud to be reaching more Australians through this new partnership.

“As two organisations with a home at Federation Square in the heart of Naarm, it makes sense for us to come together around a shared commitment to championing First Nations cultures. Together we can amplify these important events, celebrate First Nations artists, businesses and communities and create more opportunities for Australians to connect with the stories, perspectives and cultures they showcase. This partnership will also help foster a deeper cultural understanding across our own organisation.”

CEO of Koori Heritage Trust, Tom Mosby said: “The Koorie Heritage Trust is proud to partner with SBS to celebrate and showcase the extraordinary creativity, culture and resilience of First Peoples. At KHT, we believe culture is strongest when it is shared.

“Through partnerships like this, we can create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, designers and cultural practitioners, while inviting all Australians to engage with the world’s oldest continuing living cultures in meaningful and respectful ways. We are grateful to SBS for their ongoing support and for sharing our vision of celebrating First Peoples culture, fostering understanding and creating spaces where community can come together through art, culture and storytelling.”

Through the partnership, SBS will provide event support, promotional opportunities and in-kind services, helping to extend the reach and impact of these important community celebrations.

SBS will also have an on-the-ground presence at each event, engaging with audiences and amplifying the celebrations, helping connect more Australians with one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures. KHT will deliver cultural programming and opportunities for SBS employees and audiences to deepen their understanding of First Nations cultures through cultural learning experiences and engagement.

For more information about KHT’s NAIDOC Week First Peoples Art & Design Market and other upcoming KHT events, visit kht.org.au.

To discover SBS and NITV’s NAIDOC Week programming and stories celebrating First Nations voices, cultures and perspectives, visit the NAIDOC Week hub on SBS On Demand.

ENDS

For further information and interview requests please contact:

Jessica Parry | Jessica.parry@sbs.com.au | 0428 767 836

Emma Blong | emma.blong@sbs.com.au | 0421 008 517

For a PDF of this media release, click here.