Inspiring, Collaborative, Visible, Accessible
We’re planning a Frinj that will ensure many layers of local community engagement and offer opportunities to experiment and play. We’re also developing some new initiatives that will encourage greater visibility, accessibility and collaboration. We hope this will make the Frinj, that we know and love, even more responsive to our community’s interests, in line with the ACT Natimuk Strategic Plan.
In 2024, Alison would love to hear any ideas you may have. For Frinj community meeting dates, Expressions of Interest (EOI), opportunities to participate in projects, and other ways you can get involved, go to FB and here on the website under Nati Frinj Biennale » Get Involved
About Nati Frinj
The Nati Frinj Biennale is a three-day visual art and performance festival in Natimuk, deep in the wheatbelt of Western Victoria. Held in late October to early November Nati Frinj Biennale has forged a reputation for making outstanding, innovative and often audacious art projects. It is an important platform to showcase local artists, and invite other artists to come and play, to experiment and collaborate.
From the opening parade to aerial performances, visual art exhibitions to street installations, new theatre works to walking tours, the Nati Frinj is a chance to celebrate and express the creative energy of Natimuk and our invited artists.
Since 2002
With a reputation that dates back to 2002, Nati Frinj is well established in the hearts and minds of our township, the boarder arts community, local and state government stakeholders as well as significant community and arts organisations. For more history go to Nati Frinj Biennale » History
Above Image: Tower Moments 2022. Photograph by Michelle MacFarlane
Who we are
The Nati Frinj is developed by the Festival Director who is governed by a committed group of volunteers on the ACT Natimuk Executive Committee. Nati Frinj is a major program for ACT Natimuk who’s vision is to support arts over a broader range of disciplines, including dance, visual arts and film.
The Nati Frinj Biennale takes many creative minds and lots of hands, so in the lead up to the Frinj, other roles join the small dedicated Frinj team including a Production Officer and Community Engagement Officer. Our festival relies on a dedicated and passionate volunteer base who bring essential skills and surprising talents while making a vital contribution to the Festival team. The festival could not happen without them.
Frinj 2025 Curatorial sub-committee
For Frinj 2025, the festival program will be developed by the festival Director with a small group of volunteers who will act as a sounding board and help formulate ideas for the open and curated program. The Curatorial Sub-committee makes recommendations and guides the festival footprint.
The 2025 Committee is led by Festival Director Alison Eggleton and supported by six members ACT Natimuk’s General Manager Tracey Skinner and Natimuk based artists/community members Dave Jones, Mary French, Jacquie Tinkler, Jillian Pearce and Tanja Golding.
Frinj 2025 Volunteer with Frinj
We’re on the lookout for volunteers for the next Nati Frinj Biennale.
If you have skills you’d like to share or a space to host an artist we’d love to know about it.
You’re busting to get involved right! If you’d like to know what roles are coming up go to Nati Frinj Biennale » Get Involved
Above image: Beetroot and the Nang Nangs at Nati Frinj 2022. Photograph by Suzanne Phoenix.
Some of our objectives in 2025
Respectfully working with First Nations people of the Wotjobaluk Nation:
ACT Natimuk and Nati Frinj acknowledges and respects the integral knowledge, strength and resilience of Australia’s First Peoples – the world’s oldest living and evolving continuous culture. We acknowledge the special relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have with their traditional lands and waters, as well as their unique history, diverse culture, customs and circumstances. When working on Wotjobaluk Country, ACT Natimuk acknowledges that it is vital to be inclusive of Indigenous perspectives at the very beginning of a project through to the end. This inclusivity is embedded in all our activities and reflects the organisations understanding of its role in supporting positive actions towards Reconciliation.
And safe for the youngest of us:
ACT Natimuk and the Nati Frinj is committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children in all of our project activities. View our Child Safe Policy HERE
Let’s try and keep things clean:
The Nati Frinj has the stated target of reducing waste produced at the event and becoming a “no single use plastic” event. This includes the following objectives:
- No single use plastic bags or plastic packaging to be given out or sold at the event. We encourage everyone to refrain from the distribution of single use plastic bags, cutlery, straws and plastic bottles and avoid all unnecessary plastic packaging.
- We seek a commitment from all participants at the festival to reducing waste, recycling and the use of reusable products (e.g. reusable bags/cups/cutlery/etc)
- The Frinj commits to celebrate and promote the reduction of waste and recycling.
Support
Nati Frinj Biennale and ACT Natimuk are supported by the Victorian State Government through Creative Victoria.
