Reconciliation Week is a time to listen and learn with open minds and hearts, to support First Nations artists, businesses and causes, to encourage truth-telling, embrace change, and to carry the spirit, learning and actions of this week forward into our daily lives.  

Sydney Festival continues its long-term commitment to platform Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander voices and creative works. We believe storytelling and the arts to be the most powerful mechanism for reconciliation there is.  

We also continue to wholeheartedly support the Uluru Statement from the Heart. 

Where to get involved

Here are just some of the many arts events to get involved in during Reconciliation Week across Greater Sydney: 

• Legs on the Wall presents: Now and Ever, a collaboration between creatives from Bangarra and Legs on the Wall featuring an aerial performance and live music from William Barton. 29 May at 12.30pm, Sydney CBD 
  
  
• Weaving Connections weaving workshop with Murrawarri artist - Dr Virginia Keft. 30 may at 12.45pm, Rhyde. 
  
  
• Sing with Barayagal Choir: learn and sing this year's Voices for Reconciliation's anthem, Warumpi Band's 'Blackfella/Whitefella'. 30 May at 6pm, Greensquare. 
  
  
• Weaving Stories, Gai-Mariagal workshop. 30 May at 1pm, Mona Vale.
  
  
• Koojay Corroborree: Traditional contemporary dance on the sands of Cogee Beach. 31 May at 11am, Coogee. 
  
  
• Eric Avery in the Watchtower: Indigenous violinist and dancer Eric Avery does an intimate performance in a unique location. 31 May at 6pm, La Perouse.  
  
  
• Mount Druitt Reconciliation Walk and Gathering, with family-friendly entertainment, stalls, Dreamtime stories and art. 1 June at 10am, Mount Druitt. 
  
  
• Bondi Beach Book Swap: Learn about Indigenous culture, buy or sell books and raise money for the Indigenous Literary Foundation. 1 June at 2.30pm, Bondi. 
  
  
• Southerland Shire Council Reconciliation Week Picnic, with yarning circles, native tea making, food and medicines walk and free native plants. 2 June at 11am, Menai. 
  
  
• Film screening of Lionel - The Story of Aboriginal Boxer Lionel Rose. A fascinating documentary chronicling the extraordinary rise and fall of Australia's first boxing world champion. 5 June at 6.30pm, Gordon.  

"Now more than ever it is time to learn from the lessons of the past and accept that without the full engagement of First Nations peoples in the life of this country, Australia is forever diminished. 

And now more than ever it will take each of us who can see the benefits and opportunities of making space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our ways of being, knowing and doing, to advocate for and defend those rights against those who would limit or take them away." 

– Karen Mundine, Bundjalung woman, Reconciliation Australia CEO and Sydney Festival Board Member 

Read the full statement on Reconciliation Australia website. 

Image from Big Name, No Blankets, Sydney Festival 2023, which told the story of the Warumpi Band.  

Photo by Jacquie Manning.