2025 Parrtjima preview: The NT News’ sneak peek behind the scenes ahead of festival’s return

In the heart of Alice Springs, dozens of artists are creating something extra special for an upcoming festival – and the NT News got a sneak peek. Find out more.

Red Hot Arts in Alice Springs, where artists are busy putting the final touches on artworks ahead of Parrtjima returning in April. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Ahead of the anticipated return of a beloved festival in the Red Centre capital, dozens of artists are hard at work putting the finishing touches on an important artwork.

At Red Hot Arts, right in the heart of Alice Springs, artists from a variety of Central Australian art centres are collaborating on a work which feature in the 10th Parrtjima festival.

The festival is returning to Alice Springs on April 4 and running until April 13 and set to bring star musical acts, markets, award-winning light installations and more.

Santa Teresa artist Lauren Bloomfield (right). Picture: Gera Kazakov

But three weeks from opening, on Thursday, artists such as Lauren Bloomfield are hard at work on a piece which is going to welcome punters to Parrtjima the local way. 

Ms Bloomfield, from Santa Teresa, is working on a giant sign which says “werte” – the Arrernte word for hi or welcome.

It’s her second time taking part in Parrtjima, and on Thursday she said she was working on the “r”.

The finished artwork will be three metres high and is made of 286 PVC pipes – each of which are individually painted by an artist such as Ms Bloomfield.

This year’s Parrtjima – Festival of Light is again being curated by Rhoda Roberts, who said it’s her 10th time at the helm of the festival.

Parrtjima curator Rhoda Roberts. Picture: Gera Kazakov

She said this year’s theme is “timelessness” with the festival seeking to “highlight the continuance of story, but through different mediums”.

“We always have a community engagement program and it’s inviting artists within the community and some of them are very senior artists anyway, but bringing in the art centres and providing an opportunity for communities to also have an expression,” she said.

“So when people come, they’ll see “werte” – the welcome gate, but they’ll see the different styles and markings of country across this region that they can walk through and hear about.

“That’s really quite extraordinary.”

Last year’s Parrtjima festival drew more than 20,000 to Desert Park, and also drew the second highest opening crowds in the festival’s history.

Originally published as 2025 Parrtjima preview: The NT News’ sneak peek behind the scenes ahead of festival’s return