Antony & The Johnsons Singer Donates Dark Mofo Fee To WA Aboriginal Cause

Antony & The Johnsons singer Antony Hegarty has announced that she will be donating funds from her performance fee at this year's Dark Mofo festival to the Conservation Council of West Australia. 

The move was inspired by Hegarty's concern for the future and wellbeing of the Aboriginal Martu community in Parnngurr, after she spent ten days in 2013 visiting the artists and elders of the Pilbara region in Western Australia. 

"It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life," Hegarty said.

"The wisdom and radiance of these people is humbling. Their knowledge and stewardship of their homelands is one of Australia's most precious living assets."

The New York based artist cited the community being situated near a uranium site as a massive concern. 

"Parnngurr is located near a site that the Canadian multinational company Cameco and Japanese company Mitsubishi wish to exploit for uranium. This could have devastating consequences on the region."

"The Martu have always known of the uranium at Kintyre; they have spoken of it for generations in their storytelling as something dangerous that should be left undisturbed."

Hegarty will also join Indigenous Martu artists from the Pilbara for a press conference on at the Museum Of Contemporary Art in Sydney on Monday 22 June, where an important Martu painting will be on display. 

Meanwhile, Antony & The Johnsons will perform with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in two exclusive shows at the Dark Mofo event on Tuesday 16 June and Wednesday 17 June.