NAVIGATION

HOME | CONTACT | ABOUT US | GATHERS | RESOURCES

Big hART | PERFORMING | Songs for Freedom | Friday 15 September 2023 | 7.30pm

[Edited extract from public address]

An uplifting concert of original songs created by Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi artists in the Pilbara town of Roebourne WA. 

A moving and optimistic, family friendly, free concert, raising awareness of this urgent issue. Alongside the concert, Big hART is working with State and Federal Attorney Generals to change the systemic issues which lead to the damaging incarceration of young people like John Pat.

Alongside the concert is a campaign to highlight the high incarceration rates of Aboriginal children in Australian prisons. The concert and campaign is touring nationally in 2023.

Since 2010, supported by Elders, the project has delivered workshops in the community, the school and the prison, creating digital content, music, theatre and performance to change the negative stories told about Roebourne. Songs for Freedom has its foundations in workshops involving the family of John Pat, who died in custody in 1983 and triggered the Royal Commission into deaths in custody.
  • Aboriginal children are 24 times more likely than non-Aboriginal children to end up in jail.
  • Of the six hundred 10-13 year olds in jail in 2018-19, 65% were Aboriginal.
  • Aboriginal children spend on average 71 days in prison compared to 50 days for non-Aboriginal children.
  • Evidence doesn’t support the idea that Aboriginal children commit more crimes, rather it highlights systemic issues such as over-policing.
Songs for Freedom will work hand-in-hand with the community of Roebourne, to deliver a positive message to the country as a legacy to John Pat’s family by the 40th anniversary of his passing on 28 September 2023.

Touring Dates

  • Hobart – MONA FOMA – Thursday 23 February, 2023
  • Perth – Dyoondalup Point Walter – Sunday 5 March. 2023
  • Darwin – Darwin Entertainment centre – Friday 23 June, 2023
  • Sydney – Barangaroo Reserve – Saturday 2 September, 2023 @ 6pm – FREE Event
  • Canberra – Llewellyn Hall (ANU) – Saturday 9 September @ 7pm – BOOK TICKETS
  • Melbourne – Melbourne Recital centre – Friday 15 September, 2023 @ 7.30pm – BOOK TICKETS
  • Roebourne – Ngurin Cultural Centre – Saturday 23 September, 2023 @ 5pm – FREE event
Big hART has partnered with the Justice Reform Initiative to call for urgent change to halve the number of young Aboriginal people in jail.

MORE:

Big hART