The Australian National Maritime Museum kicks off NAIDOC Week 2024 with a Family Fun Day on Sunday, 7 July, honouring the theme “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud, and Proud”.

NAIDOC Week gives all Australians a chance to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The museum provides a look into the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth, explore stories and knowledge of these people where guests can learn more about the traditional owners of the land and waters of the nation.

The Museum will host a jam-packed day full of cultural activities for all ages, including artmaking activities, dance workshops with Bangarra Dance Theatre, storytelling and more.

Program

Ben Lexcen Terrace Forecourt
11am – Smoking ceremony and acknowledgement of country

Terrace Room
10.30am to 4pm – NAIDOC facepainting and drop-in activities in Kids on Deck Make a model nawi (canoe), design a badge to celebrate NAIDOC, and learn to make a woven ghost net sea creature
11.30am – Stories and Live art with Charmaine Ledden-Lewis – Session 1
12.45pm– Stories and Live art with Charmaine Ledden-Lewis – Session 2

Ben Lexcen Terrance Performance area
12pm – Session 1: Kids Dance workshop with artists from Bangarra Dance Theatre
1pm – Session 2: Kids Dance workshop with artists from Bangarra Dance Theatre
2pm – Open-age Dance workshop with artists from Bangarra Dance Theatre
12pm to 3.30pm – Drop-in artmaking workshops with Dharawal artist Sara Campbell

Museum Shop
11am to 3pm – Tea tastings with a new range of Mabu Mabu teas

Bamal Yarning Space
All day – Screening of Barani, a story that stretches back thousands of years, exploring themes of humanity, compassion and connection

Museum foyer
10.30am to 11.30am and 2pm to 3pm – Explore touchable artefacts from the museum’s education collection at the Cabinet of Curiosities – Saltwater Stories

Learn about the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.