What Moogahlin Performing Arts Inc. does

Moogahlin Performing Arts Incorporated is a First Peoples-led, non-profit performing arts company incorporated in New South Wales, Australia, founded in November 2007 by Lily Shearer (Murrawarri), Frederick Copperwaite (Bunuba), and Liza-Mare Syron (Biripai) at the request of the late Kevin Smith to honor the founding members of the National Black Theatre. The company develops and produces cross-cultural and interdisciplinary new performance work "by First Peoples for First Peoples," operating three flagship festival programs: the biennial Yellamundie Festival (a national development platform for new First Peoples work), the annual Baiame's Ngunnhu Festival at Weir Park in Brewarrina, and Koori Gras (a queer First Nations program in partnership with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras). Core products include developed productions such as The Visitors, Healing Scars, The Weekend, The Last Shot, and the Ngarra-Burria First Peoples Composer Program; 38 First Peoples works have been developed since 2013, with 14 reaching full production.

The business model is multi-stream non-profit revenue: operational grants from Creative Australia (four-year funding 2017-2028) and Create NSW constitute the largest funding base; co-production economics with Sydney Theatre Company, Carriageworks (resident company since 2014), Sydney Opera House, QPAC, and other venues share production risk; ticket sales for touring productions (typically ~$50 general admission with pay-what-you-can options from $6); and tax-deductible donations via the GiveNow platform. Distribution is event-driven through national and international festival circuits, co-productions, and a small digital broadcast channel. Moogahlin operates from a Sydney office at Carriageworks in Eveleigh (245 Wilson St) and a regional office in Brewarrina opened in 2023, with a team of approximately 7 staff.

The company holds no proprietary technology stack beyond standard web and digital broadcast distribution; there are no APIs, AI features, or technology products. Its competitive moat rests on 17 years of community trust, the cultural IP embedded in its First Peoples body of work, the trademarked Yellamundie brand, and a deep ecosystem of partnerships with major Australian performing arts institutions and international First Peoples companies in Aotearoa New Zealand and Turtle Island (Canada). Recent recognition includes the 2023 Sydney Theatre Awards for The Visitors and the 2025 Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement awarded to Lily Shearer.

Name

Moogahlin Performing Arts Inc.

Legal name

Moogahlin Performing Arts Incorporated

Website

https://moogahlin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Moogahlin Performing Arts is a First Peoples-led non-profit founded in 2007 that develops and produces cross-cultural performing arts work by First Peoples for First Peoples in Australia, operating the Yellamundie, Baiame's Ngunnhu, and Koori Gras festivals and touring productions nationally and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Dance Companies (71112), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Cultural Heritage & Traditional Festivals (Folk, Ethnic, Indigenous) (MPAGAEAB), Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• First Peoples performing arts
• Cultural arts festivals
• Theatre productions
• Artist development programs
• Indigenous cultural programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney (Redfern)

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Core operational funding from Creative Australia (formerly Australia Council for the Arts), Create NSW, and other government arts bodies. The company received four-year funding from Australia Council for the Arts (2017-2028).
2. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations through GiveNow platform and direct contribution requests to support transformation through cultural arts.
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatre productions and festival events. Ticket prices vary by venue, with general admission typically $50 and pay-what-you-can options starting at $6.
4. Partnership Contributions: Co-production arrangements with partner organisations including Sydney Theatre Company, Carriageworks, and other venues where costs and revenues are shared.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Moogahlin Performing Arts develops and produces distinctive cross-cultural and interdisciplinary performing arts work by First Peoples for First Peoples. The company operates three flagship festivals (Yellamundie, Baiame's Ngunnhu, Koori Gras), develops and tours full theatre productions such as The Visitors and Healing Scars, and runs artist development programs including the Ngarra-Burria First Peoples Composer Program. Its work spans new work development, national and international touring, regional outreach, and sector leadership for First Peoples performing arts.

Product overview

Moogahlin Performing Arts is a First Peoples performing arts company that operates as a platform-plus-programs organization. The core offering consists of three main programs: the biennial Yellamundie Festival (playwriting development and showcase), the annual Baiame's Ngunnhu Festival (cultural celebration at Weir Park, Brewarrina), and Koori Gras (queer First Nations drag program with Sydney Mardi Gras). These festivals serve as development platforms for new works, which then become standalone productions such as The Visitors, Healing Scars, The Weekend, and The Last Shot. The company also runs the Ngarra-Burria First Peoples Composer Program and collaborative works like Serpent Water Stories. Productions range from theatre plays to dance, music, cabaret, and multi-disciplinary performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Yellamundie Festival: Biennial national and international platform for new and distinct First Peoples stories and voices across the performing arts. Dharug word meaning 'storyteller'.
• Baiame's Ngunnhu Festival
• Koori Gras

Products and services

• Yellamundie Festival
• Baiame's Ngunnhu Festival
• Koori Gras
• The Visitors
• Healing Scars
• The Weekend
• The Last Shot
• Ngarra-Burria First Peoples Composer Program
• Serpent Water Stories

Quantifiable outcome

• 38 First Peoples works developed and 14 full productions achieved since 2013
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Sydney Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term co-production partner for The Visitors and other productions. Co-produced The Visitors world premiere in 2020, remount in 2023, and national tour 2024.
• CarriageworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident company since 2014. Venue partner for Yellamundie Festival and numerous productions. Hosts Moogahlin's Sydney office.
• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term partnership for Koori Gras program celebrating queer First Peoples artists. Partnership spans 2017-2024 including Sydney World Pride 2023.
• Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Baiame's Ngunnhu Festival. Partnership for annual cultural festival at Weir Park, Brewarrina.
• Tin Camp StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Baiame's Ngunnhu Festival. Founder Warren Mason is Yuwaalaraay. Partnership for regional festival delivery.
• Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Baiame's Ngunnhu Festival. Conducts tours of Ngunnhu fish traps and cultural heritage sites.
• Performing LinesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for The Visitors 2026 international touring to New York and Auckland.
• Perelman Performing Arts Centre (NYC)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for The Visitors New York season January-February 2026.
• Auckland Arts FestivalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost partner for The Visitors New Zealand season March 2026 at Rangatira, Q Theatre.
• Tawata Productions (Aotearoa NZ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership for First Peoples works. Partner in developing international works from Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Te Rehia Theatre (Aotearoa NZ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership for First Peoples theatre development and exchange.
• Native Earth Performing Arts (Turtle Island/Canada)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership for First Peoples works including Serpent Water Stories collaboration with Aanmitaagzi from Nipissing First Nations.
• Aanmitaagzi (Nipissing First Nations, Turtle Island)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration since 2019 on Serpent Water Stories. Multi-disciplinary performance collaboration including artists from Turtle Island (Canada) and Murrawarri Nation.
• Blacktown ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of The Last Shot world premiere in 2022. Partnership for new work development.
• APAM (Australian Performing Arts Moderators)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Yellamundie Festival presentation and industry engagement.
• Outback ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional arts organisation supporting Baiame's Ngunnhu Festival activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aanmitaagzi: Nipissing First Nations (Ontario, Turtle Island) multi-disciplinary performing arts company and documented Moogahlin collaborator on Serpent Water Stories since 2019. Directly comparable as a small First Nations-led production company doing interdisciplinary work and international exchange.
• Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company: Western Australia's leading First Nations theatre company producing new work by Aboriginal artists and touring nationally. Directly comparable as a state-level Indigenous performing arts company with similar company model, funding profile, and community-development mission.
• Te Rehia Theatre: Aotearoa New Zealand Māori theatre company and documented Moogahlin partner. Comparable as a small, Indigenous-led production company focused on new work development and First Peoples storytelling.
• Native Earth Performing Arts: Canada's oldest Indigenous performing arts company, and a documented Moogahlin partner. Directly comparable as a First Nations theatre company producing new work, running development programmes, and operating across national and international circuits.
• Ilbijerri Theatre Co: Melbourne-based First Peoples theatre company producing work by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Directly comparable in mission, First Nations focus, and small-team production model with festival and touring programming.
• Tawata Productions: Aotearoa New Zealand-based Māori performing arts company and documented Moogahlin international partner. Directly comparable in Indigenous-led production model, festival programming, and artist development focus.

Broad incumbents

• Carriageworks: Major Sydney multi-arts centre and Moogahlin's resident venue since 2014. Comparable as a presenter/curator of contemporary performance work in Sydney, though operating at venue-operator scale rather than as a producing company.
• Sydney Theatre Company: Major Australian flagship theatre company and Moogahlin's primary co-production partner. Comparable as a venue/producer of theatrical work in the same Sydney market, but at substantially larger scale with broader (non-Indigenous-specific) programming.
• Bangarra Dance Theatre: Australia's flagship Indigenous dance company, much larger in scale. Comparable as a First Peoples performing arts platform with national touring and international profile, but with a fully professional ensemble and substantially larger operating budget.

Emerging players

• Black Swan State Theatre Company: WA-based state theatre company increasingly commissioning First Nations work. Comparable as a producing theatre company working in adjacent geography, with growing (but not exclusive) Indigenous programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moogahlin-performing-arts-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Moogahlin Performing Arts Inc.