The Ten Days on the Island festival team has moved offices to Burnie's Portside Building as the staff roll up their sleeves to prepare for next year's even bigger cultural event.
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The move of headquarters from the Makers Workshop, where the team has been for the past three years, was marked by a welcome to country, held in the car park.
North-West Aboriginal artist David mangenner Gough said he wanted to acknowledge one of his elders, Kickerterpoller, also known as Black Tom Birch, who was buried in Emu Bay in 1842.
"Kickerterpoller is here with us and always will be. I am singing out to my ancestors."
Mr Gough noted the importance of the festival in giving strength to the community.
"Arts and culture is life.
"A festival in this state, that goes across the homelands and gives people arts and culture, will give us strength to get through this pandemic," he said.
Premier Peter Gutwein, who officially opened the new offices, picked up the theme.
"I do think this is an iconic event. Taking that step (of bringing the festival to the north) has driven a social awareness, a cultural awareness, and importantly, some economic outcomes for the north of Tasmania.
"As a result of Ten Days on an Island being brave enough at that time to take that step, and work its way out to our regions, arts and culture really took root, and became something the community was proud of.
"It has stood this state in good stead and it will stand this state in good stead as we move forward and rebuild.
"I am certain that Ten Days will not only serve this community proud, but will be important to the rebuild we do right across the state."
Burnie mayor Steve Kons said the city had long wanted the festival.
"Its something Burnie did crave a long time ago to get in our municipality, and they did choose the North-West Coast
"A lot of the time we do miss out on a lot of cultural activities. Having Ten Days on the Island recognises the fact that the North-West Coast will not be forgotten."
Ten Days on the Island will run from March 5 to 29 2021 across Tasmania, and it recently received a $95,000 grant for the opening.