National Indigenous Times: Shine on Gimuy Festival celebrates Indigenous culture with dance and art
Joseph Guenzler - October 24, 2024
The second edition of the Shine on Gimuy multi-arts light festival attracted almost 50,000 visitors over its 10-day program, showcasing Indigenous art, song, dance, culture, and wisdom.
The festival began on 3 October with an event called Calling Country, which brought together Tropical North Queensland's Indigenous clans to honour kinship, culture, song, and dance.
It concluded with giant illuminated sculptures along Cairns Esplanade.
Under the direction of Rhoda Roberts AO and a team of Cultural Guides, Shine on Gimuy featured a diverse array of illuminated art installations, music performances, cultural dance, comedy, and discussions celebrating Indigenous arts and cultures.
Ms Roberts said the magnificent public art installations that comprised the Artstory Light Walk stunningly depicted First Nations Peoples' intrinsic social ecology, which informed the 2024 curatorial theme, Entwined.
"With around 50,000 visitors, Shine on Gimuy ensures a space where we all feel special, with the lights illuminating the essence of our culture," she said.
"It's a gathering that enhances local businesses and the tourism sector while honouring the ancient lands of the Yidinji and celebrating First Nations' cultural legacy."
"The spatial perceptions of the Indigenous realm–the philosophy and language–and our Cultural customs and nuances are all wonderfully entwined."
Gimuy Walabura Yidinji dancers performed throughout the festival. Hosted by the Gimuy Walabura Yidinji people, the event featured cultural dances performed on a sand circle at sunset, overlooking the waterfront of Gimuy/Cairns.
The ceremony highlighted the talents of 150 performing artists and drew over 1,500 attendees, including Traditional Owners, Elders, and community leaders.
Cultural producer, Lydia Miller, said the festival showcased the unique diversity and cultural richness of the region's First Nations peoples including the rainforest Bama nations of Yidinji, Gunggandji, Djabugayndi, and Yalanji.
"Our brothers and sisters from across the country joined us in this celebration," she said.
"We are genuinely entwined, and our art, culture, and connection to the Country testify to the ancient and modern story of our continued existence as the world's oldest living culture.
"Shine on Gimuy achieved another beautiful celebration in 2024, of First Nations art, song, dance, culture and words of wisdom."
Presented in collaboration with Triple J, the highlight of Shine on Gimuy was the inaugural Dream Aloud concert by the Queensland Music Festival (QMF).
This event featured top Indigenous artists, including Baker Boy, Bumpy, and King Stingray.
Held under the stars at Munro Martin Parklands on 5 October, the concert attracted an audience of 2,000.
Cairns Regional Council Mayor, Amy Eden, said Shine on Gimuy not only highlighted the "rich heritage of our First Nations peoples but also brought significant economic benefits to our city".
"As council's recent Our Cairns 2024 survey findings showed, our community loves arts and culture events and the role they play in fostering a sense of unity and pride in our city," Ms Eden said.
"Cairns Regional Council is proud to support such an impactful and inspiring event."
The event is proudly presented by Shine Productions, with support from the Cairns Regional Council, the Queensland Government, the federal government, and various other partners.