Category: Events

Indigenous Business Month 2025

Annually, the founders of Indigenous Business Month set the scene for the annual theme. In 2025, 33 Creative brainstormed the theme and contextual narrative around Strength through Collaboration, led campaign content design, managed event production, and curated Indigenous procurement across all elements, from venue to trophies for what was the 11th annual Indigenous Business Month community led movement across the Country.

Our ongoing aim is to deliver a compelling awards program celebrating Indigenous business excellence, amplifying stories of collaboration, and ensuring Indigenous-led suppliers and partners are central to event execution and communications.

IBM theme banner - Strength Through Collaboration
What we delivered
  • A high-profile awards event at Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney
  • An updated website for www.indigenousbusinessmonth.com.au
  • Partnered with Corporate Sponsors across various funding tiers to facilitate the event
  • Campaign collateral (graphics, business resources, media releases) aligned to theme
  • Photography and story assets showcasing winners’ journeys
  • Facilitated media interviews and exposure of award winners on a national level as well as community activations through social media on Instagram, Facebook and Linked In.
  • Coordination between Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership, Iscariot Media, sponsors, judges and nominees in event planning, travel and accommodation.

 

Outcome highlights
Why it matters

Rather than just celebrate success, the event modelled how partnership, reciprocity and shared purpose can strengthen Indigenous business ecosystems. It’s a blueprint for future programs where action backs the message and it judged and celebrated Indigenous Businesses and their contributions, amongst peers.

The team at 33 Creative are proud to have supported another year of Indigenous Business Month and encourage all of our friends to contribute to the conversation online #IndigBizMonth, visit the website and engage the services of Indigenous Businesses local to you across any area of industry.

IAG RAP Launch

The Brief

IAG held an event celebrating the launch of its stretch Reconciliation Action Plan. The event was held at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, with approximately 60 people in attendance and 150 people watching the event’s livestream.

33 Creative was engaged in producing the event’s audio visual component, filming the livestream, and creating a video highlight reel of the event.

video

The Approach

To capture the significance of IAG’s RAP, a video was created showcasing the event’s highlights and interviewing attendees on the importance of reconciliation and their hopes for what the Reconciliation Action Plan will achieve.

We collaborated with DPLR in the filming of the panel discussion, which was livestreamed to approximately 150 people.

Following the panel discussion, the attendees participated in cultural activity workshops, which included painting, weaving and a presentation on tools and artefacts. 

The video was released on July 1st in tandem with the launch of IAG’s Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan.

Special thanks to IAG for having us be a part of this momentous occasion and to DPLR for your collaboration and hard work.

Waru – NITV Staff celebrate 12 years of NITV

33 Creative were engaged to deliver Waru (meaning ‘Fire’), a two day end of year gathering, for NITV staff.

The brief was to elevate the gathering from previous internal delivery in SBS studios for past years, and add value to the staff experience so that is was a collaborative and meaningful two days.

NITV Staff gather at Bangarra

The Approach

To capture the significance of IAG’s RAP, a video was created showcasing the event’s highlights and interviewing attendees on the importance of reconciliation and their hopes for what the Reconciliation Action Plan will achieve.

We collaborated with DPLR in the filming of the panel discussion, which was livestreamed to approximately 150 people.

Following the panel discussion, the attendees participated in cultural activity workshops, which included painting, weaving and a presentation on tools and artefacts. 

The video was released on July 1st in tandem with the launch of IAG’s Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan.

Special thanks to IAG for having us be a part of this momentous occasion and to DPLR for your collaboration and hard work.

NITV staff enjoy a Keynote presentation at Bangarra

33 Creative developed a special surprise performance from First Nations drag queen, Ms Josie. Writing and delivering the “12 years of NITV” to celebrate 12 years since NITV launch on free to air across the nation. The performance was timed to hit at 12pm on the 12th of Dec 12 years from the launch.

To close off the two days a reception event enabled the staff to mingle and reflect on the gathering framed by the harbour view.

Thank you to the amazing First Nations suppliers that contributed to the successful event.

First Nations drag queen, Ms Josie

We look forward to continuing to support NITV into 2025.

Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa:
First Nations Land and Water Management Forum

27-29 August 2024 saw our events team bring to life Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa, First Nations Land and Water Management Forum on Larrakia Nation in Darwin.

The culmination of a year’s working with the National Indigenous Australians Agency to bring the largest gathering of First Nations Rangers and supporting organisations together with a focus on sharing knowledge and practices to keep land and water Country strong by preserving the unique resources through the effective management of Country.

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Attendees at the First Nations Land and Water Management Forum

33 Creative were proud to deliver the three day forum at the Darwin Convention Centre with On Country experiences delivered by Larrakia Nation. An Interactive Marketplace full of local and national organisations that support the sector as well as producing a gala night with local performances, fabulous food and the First Nations Night Market which was a huge success for the First Nations businesses that participated.

 

Interactive Marketplace at the First Nations Land and Water management Forum

 

Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa (Strong Country), 2024 by Trent ‘Bundirrik’ Lee

Our event artwork was created by the super talented Trent ‘Bundirrik’ Lee. Trent is a Larrakia artist who has spent a lifetime learning from his father and family to paint, carve and tell the stories of his people. At around 7 years of age, he was taught by his father to paint in his traditional method. As his skills progressed, he learnt how to carve, creating cultural artefacts, tools, spears, boomerangs and other carving like birds, turtles and stingrays just to name a few. His craft has continued to evolve and you can see if creation on surfboards, footballs, records, and has created street art.

Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa (Strong Country), 2024 by Trent ‘Bundirrik’ Lee

Dangkal Gwo’yal-wa depicts the wise owl with impectable eyesight, keeping an eye on country, water ways and people – connecting us with our spiritual energy. Lee includes referenced to the Larrakia community and connection to Country and dramatic gradient of sky hues linking all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Peoples.

The four circles present the significant themes of the 2024 First Nations Land and Water Management Forum, supporting organisations to build capability and foster partnership while building understanding of Indigenous land and water management priorities across the nation; Learning from old ways (Culture); Embracing the new ways (Technology); Learning from each other (Collaboration) and Looking forward to our future (Strategic). The feathers on top of owl show all rangers coming together, the most important aspect of the Forum, the choices made to become a ranger, and nurture a strong Country.

Performer at the First Nations Land and Water Management Forum

The three-day forum included a Gala dinner that featured local produce in the fine dining menu from the wonderful team at the Darwin Convention Centre. Our talented musicians and outstanding line up of entertainment was delivered by The Youth Mill Performing Arts Company, a local First Nations performing arts group that nurtures Young First Nations talent and empowers Indigenous artists by intertwining traditional heritage with contemporary expression.

Gala Dinner at the First Nations Land and Water Management Forum

NSWALC Rock for Land Rights Concert

33 Creative has a long-standing relationship with the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, having last produced their 2019 NSWALC Land Rights Ball. NSWALC looked to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the NSW Land Rights Act with a concert and community event.  They chose to host the event on Burramattagal Country, Parramatta Park, (Parramatta) a major urban centre of NSW.

The space chosen for the event posed some challenges, including the site’s layout and lack of amenities. The natural amphitheatre of the space lent itself more to large crowd capacity concerts, so setting up a festival site with stalls and activations took some planning, that we are proud to say we achieved.

We, together with NSWALC, set ourselves a few objectives:  

Festival stalls – our goal was to host 20 stall holders, the criteria being First Nations owned businesses and organisations or, support services from across NSW.   

Supply Chain – we wanted to engage First Nations businesses in all areas of the event supply chain. We engaged food vendors, catering and water suppliers, florist and crew from First Nations Communities.  

33 Creative were engaged as the Event Producer. In this role we took on the responsibility of:  

Event management – As one of 33 Creative’s main business arms, we take pride in delivering to plan, developing creative ideas and pivoting when circumstances require it. Budget management, scheduling, and producing creative content to name a few tasks. 

Talent engagement and management – This is a specialty of 33 Creatives and we delivered an impressive concert line-up that included; Thelma Plum, Roger Knox, Nooky, Stiff Gins & Microwave Jenny.  

Production Management – we worked alongside The CWK to engage the best production suppliers for our purpose and budget.  

Stall holder procurement – this was an important part of the festival, showcasing First Nations businesses and organisations. Procurement took time and a lot of networking but paid off with an incredible showcasing of creative talents.  

Thelma Plum performs at the NSWALC Rock for Land Rights Concert

Our many years of combined production experience meant a smooth delivery of all event elements despite various challenges, like, working in an outdoor heritage venue, multiple stakeholders with varying priorities and the weather.  

Our ability and concern for pivoting in times of uncertainty makes sure we get the best possible outcome, always.  

Understanding our venue restrictions saw us engage a new marquee supplier that provided light weight marquees making for a quicker bump in and reducing impact on venue grounds, without compromising on safety and aesthetic impression.    

Curating a show is not just a skill but also a passion for 33 Creative. It belongs to our core vision of ‘opening hearts and minds through story telling’.    

The opening of the day was marked by a smoking ceremony  by Muggera in the centre of the event space. This moment gave space for community to cleanse themselves in smoke and the misty weather.  

The concert concentrated on a theme of healing and celebration,  portrayed through artist choices and their set lists.    

The event activations were very popular, the weaving in the wellbeing tent, again signifying the communities need for and commitment to healing.  

This was a stand-alone event, but we look forward to supporting NSWALC again in the future as needed.

Celebrating Wellbeing: Launching Yardhura Walani 

33 Creative had the honour of being engaged by the Australian National University (ANU) to assist with the launch event for the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research. This collaboration underscores the mutual respect and shared values between the Centre and 33 Creative.

The primary objective of the event was to celebrate the establishment of the Centre and extend gratitude to the stakeholders who contributed to its development. Held at the Kambri Gallery within ANU, the launch also introduced the Centre’s new name, Yardhura Walani.

Key goals included:

  • Communicating Yardhura Walani‘s mission and values through speeches by key figures.
  • Creating an inclusive and celebratory atmosphere for the community and stakeholders.
  • Providing a culturally enriching experience for all attendees.
Fiona Cornforth
Head of Centre, NCATSIWR, ANU Fiona Cornforth at the Yardhura Walani Launch for the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research at ANU in Canberra, ACT, Australia, 16 May, 2024. (Tracey Nearmy/ANU)

Speeches were delivered by the Head of the Centre, Fiona Cornforth, ANU Vice President Peter Yu, and Community Partner Sam Pope, each reflecting the Yardhura Walani’s values. JP Janke served as the MC, overseeing the formalities. An acoustic performance by Georgia Corowa added a musical touch to the evening.

Catering was provided by local favourite Kita Kafe, offering comforting dishes. The event concluded with homemade macarons from Tidda’s Tasty Treats, crafted in the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, symbolising the unity and spirit of the occasion.

33 Creative contributed to the event through:

  • Event Production: Overseeing the planning and execution to ensure a smooth event.
  • Talent Management: Coordinating with MC JP Janke and performer Georgia Corowa.
  • Supplier Management: Working with Kita Kafe and Tidda’s Tasty Treats to provide a meaningful culinary experience.

Through our Event Production Expertise we were able to offer guidance and advice to ensure the event met high standards, offer Registration Management System handling the registration process for a seamless attendee experience, and Agenda Planning resulting in a cohesive and impactful event agenda that aligned with the Centre’s mission.

JP
John Paul Janke at the Yardhura Walani Launch for the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research at ANU in Canberra, ACT, Australia, 16 May, 2024. (Tracey Nearmy/ANU)
The launch of Yardhura Walani, the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, was a celebration of culture, community, and collaboration. 33 Creative’s role in the event helped create a memorable experience that honoured the past, celebrated the present and looked forward to a future of wellbeing and unity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The Yardhura Walani launch event highlighted the positive outcomes of creativity, respect, and collaboration.

Celebrating Wellbeing: Launching Yardhura Walani 

Purrumpa – 31 October to 4 November 2022

33 Creative partnered with Australia Council for the Arts to deliver Purrumpa, a national gathering and celebration of First Nations Arts and Culture that was held over five days on Kaurna Yerta at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

The historic occasion marked the largest national gathering of First Nations Arts and Culture, convened by the Australia Council, in 50 years.

Purrumpa was an important moment to come together to continue conversations about First Nations peoples’ self-determination, development, and priorities for national advocacy.

The Hon Linda Burney MP
Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Linda Burney MP addressed the delegates on the first morning of the summit.
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The Artwork

The Purrumpa logo and design was created by Ngarrindjeri Artist and Graphic Designer Jordan Lovegrove. Jordan worked closely with the Australia Council to develop the creative to represent the momentus arts gathering occasion.

Purrumpa logo and design by Jordan Lovegrove

The program

Each day delegates were Welcomed to Country. We were honoured to have Uncle Moogy Sumner, Ashum Owen, Uncle Michael O’Brien, Katrina Karlapina Power, Uncle Tamaru and Rosalind Coleman all performing their sacred roles for the Summit.

Keynote speakers included Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, Uncle Bob Weatherall, Franchesca Cubillo, Craig Ritchie, Marcia Langton, Tiriki Onus, Damien Shen, Polly Sumner and Dana Shen, Teela Reid and Glenn Iseger Pilkington.

Discussions occurred simultaneously through five rooms each day, and were guided by daily themes of respectful engagement and deep listening, legacy, here and now, defining the future and forward thinking.

Purrumpa Program

Gala Dinner

The five day summit of deep listening, respectful conversations and momentous celebration of First Nations arts and culture community culminated in a Gala Dinner for 400 guests. The wonderful Katrina Karlapina Power gave the Welcome to Country, MCs Kevin Kropinyeri and Elaine Crombie hosted our evening, and performances by MarlonXRulla, DJ MoZzi, Katie Aspel, Dusty Feet Mob and Tilly Tjala Thomas kept us entertained.

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33 Creative would like to thank the Australia Council for the Arts for the opportunity to work on such an historic gathering.

Purrumpa – 31 October to 4 November 2022

33 Creative partnered with Australia Council for the Arts to deliver Purrumpa, a national gathering and celebration of First Nations Arts and Culture that was held over five days on Kaurna Yerta at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

The historic occasion marked the largest national gathering of First Nations Arts and Culture, convened by the Australia Council, in 50 years.

Purrumpa was an important moment to come together to continue conversations about First Nations peoples’ self-determination, development, and priorities for national advocacy.

Purrumpa logo and design by Jordan Lovegrove

The Artwork

The Purrumpa logo and design was created by Ngarrindjeri Artist and Graphic Designer Jordan Lovegrove. Jordan worked closely with the Australia Council to develop the creative to represent the momentus arts gathering occasion.

The concerts next performances were from Jessie Lloyd and Dr Shellie Morris AO for a nod to the past. We then honoured those who have passed with Radical Son and Yuwaya Wilma Lu Danz Company. The concerts final performances facilitated by Culture is Life, looked toward the future with musical performances from Madi Colville-Walker and Kiwat both . Interspersed throughout the concert were speeches from the Healing Foundation Chair, Steve Larkin, the Hon Linda Burney MP, the Hon Senator Patrick Dodson, Aunty Pat Turner and Ian Hamm from the Healing Foundation Stolen Generations Reference Group and members of the Youth Reference Group, Blake Tatafu and Ellen Karimanovic.

The Event also included a gathering space and culturally safe spaces.

All images supplied by Healing Foundation.

Smoking Ceremony Welcome to Country Paul House and Aunty Matilda House-Williams Muggera at Counting Actions Not Anniversaries Counting Actions Not Anniversaries Counting Actions Not Anniversaries

Celebrating Wellbeing: Launching Yardhura Walani 

Purrumpa – 31 October to 4 November 2022

33 Creative partnered with Australia Council for the Arts to deliver Purrumpa, a national gathering and celebration of First Nations Arts and Culture that was held over five days on Kaurna Yerta at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

The historic occasion marked the largest national gathering of First Nations Arts and Culture, convened by the Australia Council, in 50 years.

Purrumpa was an important moment to come together to continue conversations about First Nations peoples’ self-determination, development, and priorities for national advocacy.

The show

The 2022 National NAIDOC theme ‘Get up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ provided a powerful and thought-provoking backdrop to the production of the pinnacle event.

Hosted by Steven Oliver and Shelley Ware, the evening commenced with a warm Welcome to Country from Aunty Joy Murphy-Wandin including a call to country from Chenille Chandler, a smoking ceremony and a performance by the Djirri Djirri Dance Group.

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The program

Each day delegates were Welcomed to Country. We were honoured to have Uncle Moogy Sumner, Ashum Owen, Uncle Michael O’Brien, Katrina Karlapina Power, Uncle Tamaru and Rosalind Coleman all performing their sacred roles for the Summit.

Keynote speakers included Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt, Uncle Bob Weatherall, Franchesca Cubillo, Craig Ritchie, Marcia Langton, Tiriki Onus, Damien Shen, Polly Sumner and Dana Shen, Teela Reid and Glenn Iseger Pilkington.

Discussions occurred simultaneously through five rooms each day, and were guided by daily themes of respectful engagement and deep listening, legacy, here and now, defining the future and forward thinking.

Purrumpa logo and design by Jordan Lovegrove

The Artwork

The Purrumpa logo and design was created by Ngarrindjeri Artist and Graphic Designer Jordan Lovegrove. Jordan worked closely with the Australia Council to develop the creative to represent the momentus arts gathering occasion.

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Gala Dinner

The five day summit of deep listening, respectful conversations and momentous celebration of First Nations arts and culture community culminated in a Gala Dinner for 400 guests. The wonderful Katrina Karlapina Power gave the Welcome to Country, MCs Kevin Kropinyeri and Elaine Crombie hosted our evening, and performances by MarlonXRulla, DJ MoZzi, Katie Aspel, Dusty Feet Mob and Tilly Tjala Thomas kept us entertained.

33 Creative would like to thank the Australia Council for the Arts for the opportunity to work on such an historic gathering.

Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert

33 Creative were proud to support our friends at the Company We Keep who produced Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert at the Sydney Opera House as part of Sydney WorldPride in March 2023. A big and bold celebration that took place on Tubowgule – ‘a place where Aboriginal people have feasted, sung, danced and told stories for many generations’, the event aimed to showcase Blak excellence in the Arts and highlight the future faces of First Nations LGBTQIA+ talent and artistry.

Mayrah, Chelsea, Emily and Denise helped out backstage on the night, a space they were familiar with having previously all worked on the legendary Deadly Awards. It was an honour to be involved in bringing a celebration of Blak excellence to the concert hall stage once again, and with it a bittersweet nostalgia.

Welcome to Country, photo by Joseph Mayers.
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The night was a huge success with an excited crowd and performers filling the iconic space with an uplifting and positive energy, from the buzzing foyer and glamorous Blak Carpet event to the inspiring performances.

‘Faboriginal’ comedian Steven Oliver was MC for the night and kept the crowd entertained with his trademark cheek and powerful spoken word poetry between performances from Electric Fields, Mo’Ju, Samuel Gaskin and the Merindas, special guest Indigenous Canadian tenor Jeremy Dutcher, and Jessica Mauboy supported by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonic Choirs.

Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under star Kween Kong also graced the stage as did the fabulous World Pride’s Miss First Nation Supreme Queen contingency and winner, Torres Strait Queen, Cerulean!

Photography by Joseph Mayers Photography

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