Brisbane Festival begins a spectacular start to September

Brisbane Festival 2022 opens tonight with a showcase of Queensland artists and arts organisations, great performances, bold new works and a blaze of fireworks, celebrating our great Queensland lifestyle.

The Premier said the Queensland Government supported Brisbane Festival to connect with communities, engage audiences and bring more visitors to cultural and hospitality venues.

“Brisbane Festival also provides important employment for artists and arts workers, with more than 1,100 Queensland artists featured in this year’s festival, including more than 160 First Nations artists,” the Premier said.

“This year the festival boasts more than 580 performances including 230 free presentations with 22 new works.

“I invite Queenslanders to explore the Brisbane Festival 2022 and experience events like the annual Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust, which will light up the skies this weekend, with free public transport.

“And the popular Brisbane’s Art Boat returning for its second year and featuring artwork created by Brisbane-born visual artist Lindy Lee.

“Our investment in experiences will continue with Creative Together, our 10-year creative strategy to embrace the opportunities of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“It is only 10 short years until Brisbane 2032, when uniquely Queensland cultural events like Brisbane Festival will be showcased to global audiences on an international stage.”

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Brisbane Festival will showcase 41 Queensland arts organisations over the 23 days of the festival, with amazing productions and performances from home-grown companies including Australasian Dance Company, Camerata, Little Red and The Farm.

“Townsville’s Dancenorth will return to Brisbane to premiere a powerful fusion of dance, music and visual art in Wayfinder created in collaboration with artist Hiromi Tango,” Minister Enoch said.

“The festival’s must-see First Nations works include opening night’s Jumoo Smoking Ceremony, as well as the premiere of Alethea Beetson’s Queen’s City, and the page-to-stage adaptation of Anita Heiss’ book Tiddas in a co-production between La Boite Theatre and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

“Queensland Theatre will present Othello in a trilingual production set in the Torres Strait during World War II, creating a unique and distinctive theatre experience.”

Minister Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government provided annual operational funding to Brisbane Festival along with support in 2022 for community programs Dance Halls and Nightwalks with Teenagers which highlight the important role arts engagement can play in delivering social outcomes.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Brisbane Festival was a significant contributor to the visitor economy and Queensland’s great lifestyle.

“Around 80,000 visited the Queensland capital for the Brisbane Festival, making it a favourite event among the city’s tourism and hospitality operators” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“The Brisbane Festival delivered up to $36 million to the visitor economy and supported local tourism operators, hotels, cafes, restaurants and accommodation providers.”

Artistic Director of Brisbane Festival Louise Bezzina said it is with enormous pride that we offer the community this year’s Brisbane Festival program.

“We are immensely proud to be producing 22 new works in 2022,” Ms Bezzina said.

“The 1100+ artists featured, invite us to come together, and offer to keep our spirits buoyant and make us curious.

“They are our shining light and I thank each of them for their bravery and commitment.

“We encourage our audiences to embrace every moment of Brisbane Festival – experiment with something new, meet new people, converse with artists, and open your hearts and minds to new ideas,” she said. 

For more information, go to www.brisbanefestival.com.au

ENDS

Media contact – Chris O’Brien 0419 774 004