Tura - Culture Through Sound

25/06/2026

Mark Atkins and Erkki Veltheim have arrived in Warrane/Sydney ahead of this weekend’s performances of Mungangga Garlagula at Sydney Opera House as part of Music on Tubowgule.

Tickets available from: https://bit.ly/4xNk2BM

24/06/2026

“Old Man” by Mark Atkins and Erkki Veltheim is just one of the stories featured in Mungangga Garlagula, performing at Sydney Opera House this Friday and Saturday as part of Music on Tubowgule.

Mungangga Garlagula invites audiences into a nocturnal world of memory, spirit and dream. Anchored by the storytelling of Mark Atkins, one of the country’s leading virtuosos of the didgeridoo, and shaped in collaboration with violist, composer and sound artist Erkki Veltheim, the work conjures Country through an immersive interplay of live performance and recorded sound.

Tickets available from: https://bit.ly/4xNk2BM

📸 Edify Media

22/06/2026

Some collaborations take years to come to fruition.

Mungangga Garlagula by Mark Atkins and Erkki Veltheim has developed through Tura’s long-running intercultural programs across the Kimberley, Northern Territory and Pilbara, with Mark and Erkki collaborating over many years including through The Narli Project.

Grounded in creative exchange, trust and shared artistic practice, the work continues to evolve with each performance as new nuances emerge within its stories and immersive quadrophonic sound world.

The result is a powerful production of music, sound and storytelling that continues to resonate with audiences around Australia - performances are happening at the Sydney Opera House this Friday and Saturday.

This EOFY, we’re raising $30,000 to help shape the next chapter of Tura. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’re already nearly halfway to our goal.

Help shape what’s next with a donation before 30 June: https://bit.ly/4eGRn8V

📸 Mark & Erkki at The Street Theatre, Canberra. Photo by Andrew Sikorski

02/06/2026

This National Reconciliation Week, Tura acknowledges the ongoing work of First Nations artists, communities, cultural leaders and organisations across the country.

A key focus of our work is celebrating and supporting First Nations peoples and cultures through long-term relationships grounded in learning, creative collaboration and ambitious artistic practice.

Current projects including Mungangga Garlagula, Sound Connections and the Sound FX Kimberley Song Muster, continue to be shaped through sustained partnerships with artists and communities across the Pilbara, Kimberley, Australia, South East Asia and the Pacific.

The 2026 National Reconciliation Week theme, All In, reminds us that reconciliation requires ongoing commitment and action from us all.

#1: Mark Atkins (Yamatji) & Errki Veltheim during Mungangga Garlagula's development at UKARIA Cultural Centre. Photo by Matt Byrne
#2 L-R: Septina Layan (Papua), Chris Griffiths (Miriwoong), and Mark Atkins gathered in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for Kai Jawa as part of Sound Connections. Photo by Agung Prasetyo
#3: Dr Gillian Howell on Bunuba country for Sound FX. Photo by Edify Media

Reconciliation Australia

29/05/2026

Congrats to Stephen Pigram, recognised during National Reconciliation Week with the 2026 Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence at the First Nations Arts and Culture Awards.

A Yawuru singer-songwriter from Broome and one of Australia’s most respected cultural voices, Stephen has spent decades sharing Kimberley stories through music, theatre and film.

Tura has had the privilege of collaborating with Stephen across many projects since 2006, including Kimberley Echoes, the Sonus tours and the Kimberley-Indonesia Project. His work and wisdom continue to leave a lasting impact on artists, audiences and communities across the country.

A much-deserved recognition.

📷 Stephen Pigram, Tura's Kimberley Echoes tour ft. The Narli Ensemble, Aug 2018

Reconciliation Australia Creative Australia The Pigram Brothers

21/05/2026

19/05/2026

Mungangga Garlagula by Mark Atkins and Erkki Veltheim is heading east in June and July for performances as part of Sydney Opera House's Music on Tubowgule program on 26–27 June, and at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren, Victoria on 4 July.

The production was developed through our Kimberley touring program, with Mark and Erkki collaborating over many years as members of The Narli Ensemble. Mungangga Garlagula continues to develop and evolve with each performance as they uncover further nuances within the quadrophonic sound bed and stories.

Read more | Book tickets: https://tura.com.au/news/mungangga-garlagula-to-tour-the-east-coast-in-june-and-july

Video by Edify Media

01/05/2026

Brenda Shaw (Marra Worra Worra) and Gillian (TURA) perform “The Right-Size Galwanyi” at the Night Space, a song whose name means “sawfish” in the Gooniyandi language.

Written by Brenda Shaw, Patricia Cox, Delphine Shandley, Min En Chek and Gillian Howell while working as educators at Baya Gawiy, the song shares an important message about caring for the river and protecting its life. The sawfish is part of the protected species, and “Galwanyi” calls on all of us to look after not only this fish, but all river life.

It’s a reminder to take only what we need, avoid overconsumption, and respect the river, the species and the cultural heritage it sustains.

28/04/2026

TURA hit up Night Space this week and what a vibe! 🎸 Everyone got involved, kids, staff and even the police stopped by to help with the guitars. Such an amazing week! Check out this video to see who TURA is and what it’s all about 🙌

27/04/2026

The Kimberley Song Muster is underway in Fitzroy Crossing as part of our Sound FX program.

This residency brings together community songwriters, educators and partners to support the creation and sharing of songs in First Languages.

Workshops are running alongside youth-focused activity through the Night Space program in partnership with Marra Worra Worra, creating space for music-making, songwriting and shared creative activity with young people.

Read more: https://tura.com.au/news/kimberley-song-muster-underway-in-fitzroy-crossing

~~~

Photo 1: Faith Atwell, Gillian Howell & Sam Newman at Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation's Youth Hub

Photo 2: Gillian Howell & June Nixon rehearsing her song Jalu Palu Yani (Long Time Ago) to be recorded this week

Photo 3: Bart Marr & Sam Newman at Wangki Yupurnanupurru Radio

Photo 4: Faith Atwell, Gillian Howell & Sam Newman