Full Moon Drum Circle secures Townsville City Council funding for another year

As council budget cuts threatened free community events, the founder of a popular drum circle feared his might be next. Find out what made this gathering too important to lose.

Alex Salvador, The Townsville Drum Collective, will be holding a drum circle to show support for bushfire affected communities. Picture: Shae Beplate.

As it rounded the corner of its quarter century anniversary, the founder of Townsville’s favourite drum circle feared it might be the next event on the council funding chopping block.

As other arts and culture events, such as the IndiaFest, lost Townsville City Council (TCC) funding, Alex Salvador said he thought the “end was near” for his Full Moon Drum Circle.

However, a last minute phone call as he readied his funding submission put his mind at ease with the TCC committing to another year of event funding.

“We’ve had a longstanding relationship with the council and I think it’s evident that the council values this community activity,” Mr Salvador said.

“It’s important to support the arts, but more importantly support events that foster that connection to the community.”

Every month for the past 25 years, people have gathered under the full moon on The Strand and built connections through music.

Since its humble beginnings, it has grown into a massive ordeal with Mr Salvador estimating each month 400 to 500 people move their way through the amphitheatre.

“It’s a real privilege for me to have started something 25 years ago and see it embraced by the community,” he said.

“It’s a cross section of the community that comes together to make music and connect with each other, lifelong friends are made.

“It’s important for people to have the opportunity to connect as individuals, regardless of age, culture, socio-economic backgrounds, disability, gender, all those things and it’s something that we see at the drum circle time to time again.”

Recently, Salvador surveyed participants and was struck by the responses, which revealed not just personal connections but broader community benefits.

Notably, 96.5% of attendees reported they support local businesses either occasionally or always when attending the event.

“I think it’s so important to support the arts. The arts is one thing that really brings people together and that’s what brings the community together,” Mr Salvador said.

“I really applaud the council for at least supporting this venture, this community, this full moon drum circle, because it shows their commitment at least to this form of art.”

Originally published as Full Moon Drum Circle secures Townsville City Council funding for another year