Artists and scientists unite for a transformative celebration exploring flow, creativity, and ecological connection next to our city’s most vital water source: the Karrawirra Parri / Torrens River

RELEASED – 2 MAY 2025

On Friday 23 May, Nature Festival will transform Festival Centre Plaza into a dynamic hub of music, conversation, and environmental connection with the launch of its 2025 theme “FLOW” — inviting South Australians to immerse themselves in a powerful celebration of nature and culture at this landmark three-part event.

(are you going? we are – GMS)

In its sixth year and with the festival now attracting over 38,000 participants annually across more than 400 events, this launch marks a pivotal moment in South Australia’s 2025 cultural calendar. This year’s festival strategically aligns with the 10th anniversary of Adelaide’s UNESCO City of Music designation — highlighting the essential role of music and creativity as catalysts for social and environmental change during a critical time for water, the natural world and our society.

THE LAUNCH EVENT:
THREE INTERCONNECTED EXPERIENCES

Industry Development Forum (3:30–5:00pm) – Artists as agents of change

This thought-provoking panel brings together influential voices working at the critical intersection of culture and climate, exploring how creative practices can move communities. Confirmed speakers include:

● Heidi Lenffer (FEAT.) – Musician and pioneer of a renewable energy investment model for touring artists
● Nancy Bates – First Nations leader, songwriter and cultural voice connecting traditional knowledge with contemporary environmental challenges
● Naomi Keyte – Award-winning musician whose work explores human-nature relationships through intimate storytelling
● Craig Wilkins – Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance National Director addressing the watershed’s critical ecological challenges

The session will also unveil Solar Slice — an innovative new ticketing initiative that allocates a percentage of festival and event ticket sales toward funding sustainability measures.

Official Festival Launch: FLOW 2025 (5:30–6:30pm)

This gathering for partners, media, and contributors will feature a compelling poetic provocation by acclaimed poet Tessa Leon (HumanKind), exploring the multifaceted meanings of “FLOW” in cultural, philosophical and ecological contexts. Festival Chair Vicki-Jo Russell AM and Director Ryan Hubbard will share key highlights from the 2025 program, including major artistic collaborations and community projects across South Australia.

Public Music Performance: “Currents” (7:00–9:00pm)

As twilight descends, Festival Plaza will come alive with a free public concert featuring some of South Australia’s most evocative musical storytellers:

● Nancy Bates – Blending First Nations wisdom with contemporary folk traditions
● Naomi Keyte – Intimate compositions exploring the delicate relationship between humans and the natural world
● Tom West – Atmospheric songscapes evoking Australia’s unique natural environments

This family-friendly performance invites the public to physically experience the rhythms and movements of “FLOW” through music that speaks directly to our relationship with water and landscape.

Hosted at the revitalised Adelaide Festival Plaza, the event showcases one of Adelaide’s most prominent civic spaces, activating it with live music, powerful storytelling, and a focus on our shared future.

QUOTES

“From the powerful surging of tides to the subtle shifts of seasons, from creative flow to the swaying of bodies in dance, FLOW is an exploration of what it means to move in relationship with the world around and within us,” says Nature Festival Director Ryan Hubbard. “At a time when our nervous systems are bombarded by fears and threats, this theme invites us to reconsider how we respond and relate to the world around us. The launch event itself embodies the festival’s commitment to reciprocity, creativity, and community care by bringing together diverse voices in a way that is both celebratory and essential.”

Chair Vicki-Jo Russell, AM emphasises the timeliness of the theme: “With ongoing dry conditions across much of South Australia and critical decisions being made about the future of our waterways, landscapes, and climate, this is a pivotal moment to have meaningful conversations about water through the lens of arts and culture. Creative expression gives us the vocabulary to make emotional connections with environmental challenges and solutions that might otherwise feel abstract or overwhelming.”

Singer Songwriter Naomi Keyte, will join Nature Festival Artist in Residence, Laura Wills to launch Waterway Portrait, and says “Nature Festival’s theme Flow speaks to an inherently interconnected relationship for humanity. People depend on and are made up of water.”

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, 23 May 2025

Location: Adelaide Festival Centre Plaza

Times:

● Industry Forum: 3:30-5:00pm (By Invitation)
● Official Launch: 5:30-6:30pm (By Invitation)
● Public Concert: 7:00-9:00pm (Free, Public, Registration required)

Registration: Visit naturefestival.org.au/flow-music to secure your place at the concert.

ABOUT NATURE FESTIVAL

Nature Festival is NATURE + CULTURE. Now in its sixth year, Nature Festival runs during the Spring school holidays and features arts, music, film, food, ideas, gardens, adventure, wonder, family activities, and Aboriginal Cultural events that aim to deepen our personal and collective relationships with nature. The 2024 festival featured 404 events with 230 partners and attracted over 38,000 participants across South Australia.

CONNECT WITH US

Website: naturefestival.org.au Instagram: @naturefestivalsa Facebook: /NatureFestivalSA
Hashtags: #NatureFestival #FLOW2025

MEDIA CONTACT

Ryan Hubbard media@naturefestival.org.au
+61 432 531 292

Press kit with high-resolution images available at: naturefestival.org.au/flow-media