Home » R/GA Partners With First Nations Social Enterprise On Invasion Day Event – ‘Blak Powerhouse’

16 January, 2023

R/GA Partners With First Nations Social Enterprise On Invasion Day Event – ‘Blak Powerhouse’

R/GA and First Nations social enterprise group ‘We Are Warriors’ will take over Powerhouse Ultimo museum on “one of the most polarising days of the year”.

Yuin artist, producer and radio host, Nooky has revealed his First Nations social enterprise, We Are Warriors (WAW) will host ‘Blak Powerhouse’ for one night only on 26 January 2023.

WAW welcomes all ages and backgrounds to the free evening of live music, contemporary and traditional dance, film, art and panel discussions.

In a press release, WAW and R/GA promised to turn “a day known for great loss and sorrow into one of power and positivity from an inclusive space”.

They described the 26th of January as “one of the most polarising days of the year”.

Highlighting the evening’s program are live performances from WAW ambassadors Barkaa, Kobie Dee and Nooky, plus fellow artists Kanada The Loop, Mi-kaisha, and more to be revealed.

Additionally, visual artist DeadFace will practice live art, alongside walk-through exhibitions from contemporary artist Charlotte Allingham (aka Coffin Birth) and photographer Luke Currie-Richardson, celebrating Blak Power.

Nooky himself will deliver a Keynote address adjoining a panel discussion centered on themes of representation, identity and building a Blak future that all are proud of.

There will be dances from Muggera and Doonooch, tastemaker tunes courtesy of Latifa Tee, as well as the world premiere of new documentary film, “Through The Fire”. This will be followed by a panel talk with Nooky, producer Kieran Satour and cinematographer Tyson Perkins.

On Blak Powerhouse, Nooky says: “Blak Powerhouse is another mark in the We Are Warriors song line. January 26 is a day that doesn’t usually give me good emotions or feelings. My people mourn the atrocities that ensued on and after January 26, 1788. We celebrate our survival on the day, while others celebrate… you ask em. I bet half of em couldn’t tell you. Launching WAW on January 26 and now creating the Blak Powerhouse on our 1st birthday really has changed what this day means to me personally, and hopefully we can do that for others as well. For me it has a new name up there with Invasion Day and Survival Day – now WAW day is in the mix.”

Ben Miles, VP, executive creative director, brand design & consulting APAC at R/GA adds, “It’s hard to be what you can’t see. So, on a day that’s so polarising, we wanted to take control of the narrative and put a spotlight on Blak excellence. We reached out to the Powerhouse Museum with a brave idea of transforming it into the House of Blak Power. And on Invasion Day it will be renamed the Blak Powerhouse. It’s a bold move and an invitation to come together and be part of a Blak Future.”

Since launching We Are Warriors one year ago, Nooky and creative agency R/GA have shared a collective goal to operate a platform that celebrates Blak excellence and empowers the next generation to achieve their greatness, and see themselves as warriors.

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