A major festival at Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill has been nominated for two major awards after its inaugural 2016 event.
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Gnarrwirring Ngitj Festival, which means Learning Together, was a finalist in a major reconciliation award.
The Helping Achieve Reconciliation Together awards government or community groups that help reconciliation in the state.
Proving it had broad appeal, the festival was also nominated in the Indigenous projects of the Museum and Galleries National Awards.
An ceremony will be host for the HART award during Reconciliation Week on June 2 at the Koorie Heritage Trust at Melbourne’s Federation Square.
The community organisation winner will also be awarded $1000 to support their reconciliation initiatives.
The festival was hosted in partnership with the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation in May last year.
Sovereign Hill chief executive Jeremy Johnson said it was a thrill to be a finalist in the Community HART awards.
“Indigenous people contributed greatly to the history of the goldfields, and we’re proud that the Gnarrwirring Ngitj Festival celebrates the richness and importance of Aboriginal culture,” he said.
A fashion event staged at Sovereign Hill was also nominated in the interpretation, learning and audience engagement section of MAGNA.
A Victorian Silhouette, was part of Melbourne Fashion Festival Arts Program in 2017.
It showcased the secrets of the 1850s Victorian silhouette and how it was built through undergarments and foundation wear.
Mr Johnson said it was an honour to have two events nominated at the tourism awards.
“At Sovereign Hill, our team works tirelessly to deliver innovative, unique events,” he said.
“Working with a level of innovation that is second to none is the key to constantly re-inventing Sovereign Hill, while telling the story of the 1850s.”
