Project History

The Reef Tour and Residency Projects grew out of Tura’s invitation in 2009 to ACO to participate in one of Tura’s regional projects – to take ACO to the Territory and North West Western Australia. As a tour evolved as the best way to get as many people in regional and remote Western Australia to experience the power of Richard Tognetti, The ACO and ACO2, a parallel project to create a new work and a new program took shape. Inspired by the ACO’s overwhelming success with its 2007 program, The Glide, the new project again sees the collaboration of Richard Tognetti, surfing legend Derek Hynd and filmmakers Jon Frank and Mick Sowry. Added to the mix for The Reef has been composer Iain Grandage and Indigenous artists, Mark Atkins and Steve Pigram.

To link to the Tour, the Ningaloo Coast was chosen as the general area to inspire and create the work, and on advice Gnaraloo was chosen as the particular site. Much research and planning has followed with involvement from many parties, including the local community, to ensure success of the Residency.

Concurrently, Tura and ACO joined forces to gather the resources needed to present a major production from Darwin to Perth and on to Sydney. Miraculously, and through the immense generosity of all of our respective supporters, The Reef Tour is now a reality. Of course, it is only possible through the support and welcoming of all the local communities through which the Tour is travelling.