Woodford Festival and National Cultural Commission join for cultural exchange

A landmark agreement has been signed between the Woodford Folk Festival and the National Cultural Commission [NCC], expanding cultural exchange to communities across all 22 provinces of PNG. The signing took place on 30 December 2025 at the festival in Queensland, Australia.

The MoU builds on a successful partnership with Enga Province and will now cover 870 language groups, each with its own dances, stories, and artistic traditions.

Festival Director Amanda Jackes said the agreement reflects a growing relationship built on trust and long-term collaboration. “This MoU is about cultural exchange at scale, creating pathways for learning, collaboration and mutual respect across communities,” she said.

The partnership goes beyond performances at Woodford. It includes festival development, volunteer participation, skills sharing, and professional development for PNG artists in stagecraft, production, and performance.

National Cultural Commission Executive Director Steven Kilanda said the agreement safeguards PNG’s cultural heritage while creating economic and social opportunities for communities. “Through art, craft, dance and storytelling, we are reshaping PNG’s narrative, showing the creativity, resilience and beauty of our people,” he said.

The MoU also establishes volunteer exchanges, allowing PNG community members to work at Woodford, while Australian volunteers engage in cultural projects in PNG.