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Program of events
Join us across North Sydney for a vibrant program of free events celebrating First Nations culture, knowledge and creativity. From art workshops and author talks to bushwalks and film screenings, there’s something for all ages to learn, reflect and enjoy.
Some events require bookings - please click the event links below for full details, times and locations.
- Thursday 15 May
Writers @ Stanton KID'S EDITION: Melissa-Jane Fogarty
Join us for a special kid's edition of Writers @ Stanton and discover a beautiful picture book about the history of the Sydney Opera House.
- Saturday 14 June
Indigenous Culture Family Walk and Stone Art Workshop
Create your own Aboriginal stone art and explore culture and Country on a guided bushwalk with Koori Kinnections at the Coal Loader.
- Sunday 22 June
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Walk
Bus to North Head for a guided bushwalk with Karen Smith of the Aboriginal Heritage Office and the Bushland team.
- Thursday 26 June
Film screening and in conversation: WINHANGANHA
Filmmaker and acclaimed Wiradjuri artist and award-winning poet Jazz Money will be in conversation with Nathan Sentance after a screening of her film WINHANGANHA.
- Friday 4 July
NAIDOC Week Storytime
Join us during our regular Storytime session to celebrate Reconciliation Week with stories and songs.
- Sunday 6 July
Workshops with Dr Virginia Keft
Workshop 1: Imprints of Country
Create a custom-printed tote using native plants in this hands-on printmaking workshop that celebrates art, nature and our connection to Country.
Workshop 2: Weaving Connections
Join a weaving and yarning circle to create your own woven mirinj (star) and connect through stories, culture, and shared creativity.
- Monday 7 July
July Jammies: Sand art for NAIDOC Week
Celebrate NAIDOC Week during the school holidays with our fun Indigenous sand art workshop.
- Friday 11 July
Indigenous traditional medicine and healing
Join Aboriginal Heritage Officer Karen Smith as she speaks about bush foods and their health properties and benefits, including the traditional healing ceremonies of her ancestors during the First Fleet.
Art installations
New commissioned work: Weaving Sky Stories by Muruwari artist Dr Virginia Keft
North Sydney Council is proud to present a new site-specific commission work by Dr Virginia Keft, displayed across two public sites: the Inside Outside Sculpture Plinth and the windows of the Ros Crichton Pavilion in Ted Mack Civic Park.
Dr Virginia Keft said,
“The exhibition speaks to the core theme of the Gai-mariagal Festival - Legacies for Future Generations. It speaks to continuity and care of Country as a shared responsibility - to carry stories, to promote resilience and to uplift our voices as a guiding force for future generations.”
About: Weaving Sky Stories
In Weaving Sky Stories, Muruwari artist, Dr Virginia Keft, presents banda (sky) as a living vessel of ancestral memory, tracing the cycles of day and night. She unites madjam (flying fox) and mirinj (stars) as guiding motifs against a vast celestial backdrop. The installation foregrounds cultural narratives of family, kin, and connection to place. It reflects the natural rhythms of Country and carries forward legacies of cultural resilience for future generations.
Artwork details
Inside Outside Sculpture Plinth
Virginia Keft, Weaving Sky Stories: Madjam nguna (Flying fox sleeping), 2025
Eucalyptus wood, fibre, wire, mixed media
110 x 70 x 70cm
Ros Crichton Pavilion Window Wrap
Virginia Keft, Weaving Sky Stories, 2025
Synthetic polymer, raffia on canvas
123 x 183 x 3.5 cm
About the artist
Muruwari woman, Dr Virginia Keft, is a multi-award-winning interdisciplinary artist living and working on Dharawal Country (Wollongong, NSW). Working across weaving and textiles, sculpture, painting, and installation, her practice reflects themes of nature, home, and connection to culture. Using fibre, timber, and natural materials, she weaves narratives of Country and truth-telling through a First Nations lens. Virginia is also the Producer of bangawarra Art Yarns: for older and Elder mob at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
Find out more at www.virginiakeft.com.au
Connect with Dr Virginia Keft on Instagram or Facebook
Related events
Dr Virginia Keft is also leading two art workshops during the festival:
- Imprints of Country - printmaking workshop using native plants to create custom-designed tote bags.
- Weaving Connections - hands-on weaving and yarning circle where participants will create their own woven mirinj (star).
Both workshops are free but require bookings. Please follow the links for full details.
For kids and families
The Gai-mariagal Festival program in North Sydney offers a range of family-friendly events designed to engage kids and carers in fun, creative and meaningful ways.
Through stories, art, nature and conversation, families can explore the richness of First Nations culture in ways that spark curiosity and build understanding.
What’s on for kids and families
- Thursday 15 May
Writers @ Stanton KID'S EDITION: Melissa-Jane Fogarty
Join us for a special kid's edition of Writers @ Stanton and discover a beautiful picture book about the history of the Sydney Opera House.
- Saturday 14 June
Indigenous Culture Family Walk and Stone Art Workshop
Create your own Aboriginal stone art and explore culture and Country on a guided bushwalk with Koori Kinnections at the Coal Loader.
- Sunday 22 June
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Walk
Bus to North Head for a guided bushwalk with Karen Smith of the Aboriginal Heritage Office and the Bushland team. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
- Friday 4 July
NAIDOC Week Storytime
Join us during our regular Storytime session to celebrate Reconciliation Week with stories and songs.
- Monday 7 July
July Jammies: Sand art for NAIDOC Week
Celebrate NAIDOC Week during the school holidays with our fun Indigenous sand art workshop.