Wotjobaluk Nations Festival 2025

13 December 2025 · Horseshoe Bend Campgrounds
Schedule
Our Place Our Story
Art & Projection-Making Workshops — Oct 27
Ebenezer Mission Filming Night — Oct 25 (8–10pm)
Callout: Artwork for Projection Project — closes Nov 30
Callout: Historical Photographs — closes Nov 30
Cultural Program — Expressions of Interest
Wotjobaluk Nations Festival Artwork
About the Artist

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13 December 2025 · Horseshoe Bend Campgrounds

This 13th of December marks 20 years since Native Title was recognised for the Wotjobaluk Nations. Join us on the 13^th of December at the Wotjobaluk Nations Festival, a day and night of celebration, reflection, and Community connection on Country at Horseshoe Bend Campgrounds.

The Festival will bring together music, dance, storytelling, food, art, and ceremony, culminating in Our Place Our Story, an extraordinary immersive storytelling projection experience created by and for the Wotjobaluk Nations community.

Our Place Our Story

9:30am–12:00pm — Ceremony (Mob & Kin + Invited Guests)

12:00pm — Photography: Milestone Gathering (Mob & Kin + Invited Guests)

12:30pm–2:00pm — Cultural Workshops & Food (Mob & Kin + Invited Guests)

2:00pm–5:00pm — Rest, Refresh & Connect (Mob & Kin + Invited Guests)

5:00pm — Ceremony (Mob, Kin & General Public)

6:30pm–9:30pm — Dinner, Night Market & Music (Mob, Kin & General Public)

9:30pm–11:00pm — Our Place Our Story (Mob, Kin & General Public)

Ways to Get Involved

An immersive storytelling experience, projection, art, film, stories, Language, and dance

During the evening of the Wotjobaluk Nations Festival, the walls, trees, and open spaces of Dimboola will come alive through a breathtaking projection work. Our Place Our Story brings together Wotjobaluk Nations artists, storytellers, Elders, and youth to share the living Dreaming of this Country through light, sound, and movement.

Created collaboratively with: Pink Lake Creative, Dalki Murrup Ceremonial Performance Group, The Dreaming Project, and The Little Projector Company

Art & Projection-Making Workshops — Oct 27 (two sessions)

Create artworks and performances inspired by local Creation stories passed down from the Dreamtime, focusing on Bunjil the Spirit Creator, Barra the Red Kangaroo, and Tchingal the Giant Emu.

Your creations will become part of the projections shown at the Festival.

Centre for Participation, Horsham — 39 Urquhart Street, Horsham Victoria 3400

Workshop 1: 10am–2pm · Workshop 2: 4–8pm

➡️ Register here

Ebenezer Mission Filming Night — Oct 25, 8–10pm

Witness the magic of a night-time projection and performance at Ebenezer Mission, Antwerp.

This special on-Country filming will form part of the Festival’s immersive storytelling experience.

Bring warm clothes, a picnic supper, nonalcoholic drinks, folding chairs, picnic blankets and torch

bglc.com.au/events

Callout: Artwork for Projection Project — closes Nov 30

Wotjobaluk Nations artists of all ages are invited to submit a high-resolution photograph of your artwork to be projected during Our Place Our Story.

Selected artists receive a $150 licensing fee, and your work will be credited as part of the collection.

Fill Out Here

Callout: Historical Photographs — closes Nov 30

We’re gathering significant photos capturing the journey to Native Title recognition and community milestones of the past 20 years.

These images may appear in the commemorative film, projections, and BGLC archives.

Fill Out Here

Artists, cultural practitioners, and leaders are invited to propose workshops, talks, or performances for the Festival’s Cultural Program.

Fill Out Here

Wotjobaluk Nations Festival Artwork

Featured Artist: Tracy Wise

Barkindji Ngiyampaa Maligundidj (Wotjobaluk)

Instagram: @mun_arli | @tracywise.com.au

About the Artist

Tracy Wise is an award-winning artist and traditional weaver, proudly representing the Barkindji Ngiyampaa Maligundidjt (Wotjobaluk) heritage.

Based in Irymple on Latji Latji Country, Tracy specialises in acrylic paintings, digital art, and the creation of jewellery and traditional bags using natural fibers in a contemporary style.

Tracy embarked on her artistic journey in 2015, alongside her mother Mary Wise, using art as a means of healing, cultural exploration, and sharing their knowledge and experiences with others.

Tracy’s artwork beautifully captures the essence of her cultural identity and serves as a medium to express and preserve her Aboriginal traditions and Ancestors’ stories. Tracy’s creations invite viewers to engage with and appreciate her Aboriginal culture while honoring its rich legacy.

“I wanted to capture the landscape of the Wotjobaluk Nations and create an artwork that reflects our strong connection to the land and through our Ancestors dreaming stories. Especially Goruk the Magpie. During the making of this artwork the magpies have been constantly talking loudly sometimes 3 am in the morning near my bedroom window. To me that’s Ancestors telling me to keep going that it’s important to tell their story through my artwork. I’m so proud to be able to revive this ancient creation story through this artwork. Goruk is a pillar of his community because he saw a problem and found a solution and took the initiative to bridge the gap between night and day by holding up the sun. To me he not only held the light upon himself but for others all around him. I see this in our Mob today and especially for Native Title how those before us led the way holding up the sun for us to shine brightly, to care for Country and to live our Culture our way.”