History

Footbeat Festival celebrates the outstanding natural and cultural environment of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Region. The Festival is a journey, an exploration, as much as a celebration of ‘Our Place’. Footbeat Festival programs are both informative and engaging. Our activities add value to the community and play a key role in the development of creative, innovative and accessible arts and environment events. The belief and commitment of the organisers, participants, performers, community bodies, individuals, volunteers, local businesses and government towards diversity and understanding unify this vast event.

Footbeat is the consolidation of 19 years.

2010

A linkage was initiated with the Nazca Dreaming Society Inc and our first World Heritage sites external to Australia: Cusco and Manu National Park in Peru, generating a cross cultural exchange into the future.

Support from the following community groups, government and Non Government Organisations has been established:

  • ACRC – Blue Mountains Aboriginal Cultural and Resource Centre
  • Blue Mountains City Council
  • DEECW - National Parks and Wildlife Services
  • Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area
  • It’s Living Country
  • Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute
  • Slow Food Blue Mountains
  • Cittalsow Katoomba Blue Mountains
  • TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute Blue Mountains College, Wentworth Falls
  • CREES – Conservation Research Environmental Education towards Sustainability

The Wentworth Falls Chamber of Commerce acknowledged the value of the festival and its celebration of World Heritage. We are now involved in developing joint ventures that will nurture and support their local business and community.

2009

A partnership was forged with TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute, Blue Mountains College, Wentworth Falls campus which provided the event with a new home, energy and direction. In return, they saw value in including elements of the festival’s content in their curriculum, offering practical application for the students of their course material. In addition, our ongoing relationship with the Blue Mountains City Council enabled a wide ranging schools outreach program.

The iconic actor, Jack Thompson AM, became the Patron of the 48 Hour Film Project.

2008

The festival was rebadged the Footbeat Festival.

The festival adopted the world’s largest timed, short film competition called the 48 Hour Film Project. This created the ongoing opportunity to promote filmmakers locally, nationally and internationally.

2002 -2007

Songlines Festival. The Festival carries a rich history of community involvement, collaboration and cultural exchange.

2001

Gumtree Songlines Walks and Campfires

1994-2000

Songs of the Wind Festival

1992

Footsteps Festival

 



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