How can arts and culture events such as festivals be leveraged to increase public awareness, connection and care for the Birrarung Yarra River?
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Hosted by the Yarra Riverkeeper Association, The Birrarung Riverfest is an annual, community driven festival that celebrates the Birrarung from source to sea. Growing each year, the festival coincides with World Rivers Day each September and hosts dozens of events. RM has been a strategic partner for the past 3 years. In this role we have co-hosted educational and immersive events ranging from swimming in the river, to talking about how we reframe the stormwater conversation to exploring what a future Birrarung that is healthy and thriving would look and feel like. The festival is an essential driver of the narrative change we need to ensure a healthy and thriving future for our river and the broader catchment.
We have been a strategic partner of the Birrarung Riverfest since 2023. As a partner we have played a role in facilitating cross sectoral collaborations as well using our network to support the amplification and delivery of the festival.
2026 marks the 4th year Riverfest has been running. Each year RM is committed to hosting events that address the current barriers (legal, policy, capital, governance, reconnection to the waterway) towards a swimmable Birrarung.
Inaugural Birrarung Riverfest - Strategic partner and provided communications support
Urban Water Safety for Kids event, in partnership with Life Saving Victoria and Patagonia
The Ripple Effect: How Can Sports Support Healthy, Climate Resilient Water Ways? Event in partnership with Green Planet Sports and City of Melbourne
Swimmable Cities - Come on Melbourne event in partnership with Regeneration Projects
Swimming at Deep Rock event in partnership with RMIT
Financing differently for a thriving river in partnership with Yarra River Keeper Association, Arup and Water Ledger
Tomorrow's River event in partnership with Wonderlab
Changing the stormwater conversation event in partnership with ARUP and City of Melbourne
Research, guides, and stories from the work underway.
