THE countdown is on to Narrabri Shire’s 2025 CREATE Festival – with less than a week until opening night.

And in a first for CREATE, this year’s festival will include a special art exhibition from Moree’s Yaama Ganu Gallery, featuring the incredible talents of artists from Aboriginal communities across Australia.

This rich collection of works reflects both traditional and contemporary Aboriginal art -offering a powerful lens into the cultural stories and creative expressions of First Nations peoples.

Now in its fifth year, CREATE is a celebration of community, creativity and innovation, where people are invited to immerse themselves in workshops, exhibitions and events inspired by the dreams of local artists.

Embracing the endless possibilities of this year’s theme of Dream, CREATE will see Narrabri Shire transform into a living canvas, encouraging the exploration of creativity across a range of artistic mediums.

Over 16 days from February 28 to March 16, CREATE will feature 15 workshops, five exhibitions, five exclusive festival events, as well as an art trail.

Narrabri Shire Mayor Darrell Tiemens said this year’s CREATE Festival aims to encourage people to push the boundaries of their imagination and come away inspired.

“The huge array of workshops, exhibitions, events and the overall creativity on show throughout CREATE is another feather in the cap for our Shire and region,” Cr Tiemens said.

“This year’s festival, which includes NarraBRIGHT, further shines a well-deserved spotlight on the amazing talent of our local artists, as well as artists from across the region.

“We’re also seeing communities across our Shire and region embracing this festival with incredible enthusiasm, further adding to the vibrancy of CREATE and all it has to offer.”

The countdown is on to Narrabri Shire’s 2025 CREATE Festival.

The CREATE Festival’s official opening night is set to take place on Friday, February 28 from 7pm at The Crossing Theatre.

Set beneath the largest Dreamcatcher the north-west has ever seen, created by the Namoi Women’s Shed, the ticketed event will also showcase the festival’s first exhibition Through the Windows of Imagination.

This exhibition features artworks from local artists living with disabilities, providing an artistic lens or perspective of the world around them.

In addition, the larger-than-life interactive installation In Your Wildest Dreams, which takes viewers through an alternate reality dreamscape, will feature in the main auditorium.

Opening night’s visual feast will be accompanied by an exceptional musical backdrop by Lake Kelly. Lake, who is based in the Gold Coast and Brisbane area, is an ethereal harpist and composer blending classical technique with modern soundscapes.

CREATE Festival 2025 opening night

When: Friday, February 28

Time: 7pm

Where: The Crossing Theatre, 117 Tibbereena St, Narrabri

Price: Adult $55 – includes live music, canapes and two glasses of sparkling wine, beer or soft drink

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1337093

To find out more about CREATE 2025 and view the festival’s program, visit Explore Narrabri Region

CREATE 2025 has been made possible thanks to generous sponsors Cotton Seed Distributors, Jansson & Co, KR Property, Merced Farming, Namoi Logistics, Port of Newcastle, Santos and Whitehaven Coal.