A NEW arts festival grounded in First Nations storytelling and practice is set to takeover Oxide Street next month.
Marnpi festival, co-designed by Barkandji Elder Uncle Badger Bates and artist run-initiative Slag Heap Projects, brings together art, community and culture through a festival event in early August, and two six-week exhibitions across two venues.
“The festival is grounded in the Marnpi Dreaming story and it’s about connecting different groups and places that are part of that journey,” said Hester Lyon, co-director of Slag Heap Projects.
“It’s grown organically through conversations with Uncle Badger about how we can create a project that speaks to that shared story and spirit.”
The festival officially launches on Saturday, August 2 at 3pm, with a vibrant street celebration on Oxide Street, hosted across three venues: Slag Heap Projects, The Old Vic Studio Gallery, and Premier Automotive Tyres, which will transform into an event site for the day.
The community-focused festival is put on with support from Wilyakali representatives Sandra Clarke and Cheryl Blore, and funding through Regional Arts Australia and Regional Arts NSW.
The Marnpi Festival will feature two concurrent exhibitions: a collaborative show by Uncle Badger Bates and his grandson Baaka Bates at Slag Heap Projects, and a solo exhibition by Ngiyampaa artist Anthony Hayward at The Old Vic Studio Gallery.
Hayward’s work blends traditional forms with contemporary materials — including sandstone, tin, and salvaged wood — and is focused on reclaiming cultural practice through craft and storytelling.
“My work is a mix of mediums; wood, tin, we’ve also got some stone as well,” said Hayward.
“I’ve been learning to carve sandstone this year… The theme I’m trying to bring to this exhibition is around continuation of cultural practice — maintenance of cultural practice — and showcasing these old, ancient weapons that were used in the past, artefacts, spears, clubs, boomerangs… and bringing them into 2025.
“It’s extremely important we make our boomerangs, make our artefacts, and continue to showcase that. It shows that we’re still here.”
The festival is also about getting art into new and unexpected places. The opening celebration will see exhibitions, music, and food flowing out of galleries and into the tyre shop across the road.
“The project stretches across three venues,” Ms Lyon said.
“It’s an effort to celebrate artistic practice, but also to get art out onto the streets, build new audiences, and engage with different people.
“We’ve been part of the revitalisation of Oxide Street, and this is our first major community-partnered project and a way to honour First Nations cultural knowledge in a contemporary and collaborative way.”
The launch event will include a performance by Barkandji singer-songwriter Nancy Bates, food, and community gathering.
The exhibitions will remain open for six weeks, with a program of public events and workshops aimed at deepening connection and wellbeing through creativity.
“Badger is a great mentor who I really look up to,” Hayward said. “And I truly trust Slag Heap Projects and how they present the work — they’ll make it an amazing show.”
