Our Story

In 2004, after much deliberation, the festival incorporated.

The official objects and purposes of our Association are as follows:
(a) Promoting community participation in the arts,
(b) Developing fine art,
(c) Reducing poverty and dependency by developing artistic and entrepreneurial skills,
(d) Promoting reconciliation.

Handmade beanies have long been valued in Central Australia. They are often colourful and individual in pattern and style. Everyone, no matter who they are, needs a beanie to enjoy the outdoors during our crisp, cold winter nights.

Centralian craftspeople from remote areas and Alice Springs have taken up the challenge to raise beanie making into a distinctive regional art form. Beanies can be given distinguishing characteristics and decorated with seeds, various fibres and embellishments. There is no limit to the shapes, textures, colours and patterns that are evolving. They are ideal for the tourist market, being light and inexpensive. Every year beanie lovers gather at Witchetty’s in the Araluen Centre, Alice Springs Cultural Precinct, to admire the latest crop of hand crafted beanies.

There is an air of anticipation as the artists wonder if their creation might win one of the coveted trophies.Local entertainment and great food make the opening a great night out. Because Central Australia now has a national (indeed, international!) reputation for the production of quirky beanies. The Beanie Festival continues to strengthen its links with the local communities.

The Committee continues to be amazed by the strength of the interest in these old crafts, as well as the enthusiasm that reinvents traditional patterns into contemporary creative designs. We have no doubt that beanies are in.