You know what makes this upcoming weekend that much sweeter? The fact that we have a cheeky mid-week break coming up next week! This coming Wednesday we will be paying our respects to the ANZACs with frothies and two-up, but until then there is plenty happening to keep us busy. From Shakespeare in the gardens to anti-gluten festivals and op-shop balls, we’ve tracked down the best of what’s happening in Brisbane on the April 19–22 weekend. more
Many people tend to come out of their shells after dark. The night has long been associated with things getting a bit freaky, with the cover of darkness allowing us to be our true selves. Under this rationale, it makes perfect sense that one of our city’s most alluring attractions is perhaps best experienced by night. Patricia Piccinini’s Curious Affection is getting the famous GOMA Up Late treatment, bringing a host of eclectic musicians and the change to see the exhibit after hours. Coming to the Gallery from June 8 to July 6, the program packs a serious punch to match the weird and wonderful nature of Patricia’s groundbreaking exhibit. more
It's all happening – we are currently in the thick of the thrilling Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games! While the sporting action is taking place down south between April 4–15, Brisbane certainly isn't missing out – the city is buzzing with a stellar program of world-class events and live entertainment thanks to Festival 2018. For 12 huge days, the city is coming alive for an arts and culture extravaganza and best of all – it’s entirely free. Last week we rounded up some of our must-sees for the opening week, so we thought we'd help out again with some guidance. Here are our top picks for Week Two of Festival 2018 in Brisbane, from Monday April 9 to Sunday April 15. more
Looking at some of Brisbane’s natural landscapes, it makes perfect sense that artists are inspired by them. The vibrant colours, unusual textures and sensory experiences of nature lend themselves to taking art off the canvas and into the wild. This is exactly what some of the best local and national artists will be doing this month with a Brisbane-first experience – Botanica. Running in conjunction with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games from April 6–15, Botanica will transform the City Botanic Gardens into a living, breathing outdoor art gallery for everyone to enjoy – all for free. more
It's official – the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games have arrived! While most of the action is taking place down south between April 4–15, Brisbane will still be buzzing with a stellar program of world-class events and live entertainment thanks to Festival 2018. For 12 huge days, the city will come alive for an arts and culture extravaganza and best of all – it's entirely free. Here are our top picks for Week One of Festival 2018 in Brisbane, from Wednesday April 4 to Sunday April 8. more
When you think of the great inventors of history, odds are some famous names immediately spring to mind. Most of us are familiar with the Edison and Einstein-level creators from our high school textbooks, but there are so many more people throughout history who have improved our quality of life – and some of them are even from around our neck of the woods! Currently running until June 3 at the State Library of Queensland, Magnificent Makers shines a light on some of the canny creations, daring discoveries and imaginative inventions that all came about in our backyard. more
Although there is still a long way to go in the fight for equality, it’s always nice to look around and take stock of the progress that has been made. Between same-sex marriage laws getting passed and the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements taking off, there is a global conversation happening around the subject of gender – particularly in regards to breaking down conventions and entering a brave new world where women speak up, stand out and have equal footing. Coming to the Brisbane Powerhouse on April 6–8, Women of the World at Festival 2018 (or WOW if you’re feeling cheeky) is a three-day celebration of everything it means to be a woman in this modern world. more
All good things must come to an end, but this adage is particularly poignant when the thing ending is something as magical as the Bromley Room. The West Village art studio set up to display the amazing work of celebrated artist David Bromley has enjoyed a jam-packed visitor schedule since opening in April last year, but the time has come for the Bromley Room to go into hibernation. Before the doors close for good to make way for building renovations, we are getting one last chance to take a look through the arts and events space that holds some of David’s most exciting work to date. Mark Saturday March 24 and Sunday March 25 in your diary – it’s time to say goodbye to the Bromley Room. more
When it comes to items that radiate pure joy, few things can trump tinsel. The humble sparkly strands are perfect for adding pop and pizzazz to pretty much anything – after all, even the most mundane things can go from drab to fab with a little bit of shine. One person who knows this all too well is Brisbane artist Rachel Burke, the multidisciplinary maverick behind i make. you wear it. From March 15–18, Rachel will be in-centre at Westfield Carindale creating bespoke works of wearable art for her Tinseltown takeover – and you’d better believe it’s going to get glittery up in there. more
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you might be aware that a little old event called the Commonwealth Games is happening really soon. If you’re a Brisbane dweller, you might be feeling a sense of FOMO creeping up on account of our southern neighbours on the Gold Coast getting all of the hosting glory. Fear not, friends – Brisbane is getting in on the action with a huge roster of events running parallel to the Games! Festival 2018 is coming to Brisbane from April 4–15 to connect Brisbane to the exciting happenings of GC2018 – all without having to leave the city. more
There’s something rather confronting about coming face-to-face with the unfamiliar, and one person who knows how to play on this dynamic is Patricia Piccinini. The Melbourne-based artist has made a name for herself by creating visual art that truly crosses the boundaries between reality and fantasy, all while remaining rooted in a semblance of believability. Her strange hybrid sculptures that feature creatures from her imagination have drawn the admiration of people around the world, and a whole collection of them are coming to Brisbane for our viewing pleasure. Patricia Piccinini: Curious Affection is coming exclusively to GOMA from March 24 to August 5, bringing the sort of art you have to see with your own eyes. more
When it comes to cultural melting pots, they don’t get much bigger than Asia. This massive continent is home to some of the world’s most ancient civilisations, not to mention a large chunk of the population, so it makes sense that there are boundless cultural influences. From the climate to the cuisine, there are huge variations across the many countries that call Asia home – and that’s what makes it so exciting to explore. From February 10 to March 4, our city will come alive with the sights, sounds, tastes and experiences of Asia for the BrisAsia Festival. From cosplay to dumpling days and even live comedy, Brisbane is about to get a true taste of both traditional and contemporary Asian culture. more
Brisbane, we'd like you to meet HOTA (Home of the Arts). It's possible you've actually met before – HOTA was formerly known as The Arts Centre Gold Coast and as of today (Tuesday February 6) will be officially named Home of the Arts. This is way more than just a shiny new name – the announcement also marks the unveiling of the cultural precinct's $37.5-million outdoor theatre, which is underscored by a spectacular program of events that will take the city's arts and culture scene to dizzying new heights. If it's been a while in between trips, it's high time you ventured down to check it out. more
GOMA’s Up Late events need no introduction – if you’ve got yourself a ticket, you know you’re in for a good time. Next Friday January 19 the good times will be rolling in spades, when the Gallery hosts a special one-off Summer Up Late, featuring live music, sensory tours and so much more. more
It’s one thing to create an award-winning picture book, but one that fuses art, literature and science? That’s a true masterpiece. Lauded children’s author and artist Jeannie Baker's latest picture book Circle does just that, and has been brought to life with an insightful travelling exhibition. more
Adam Devine’s Weird Life Tour – Monday January 29 at The Tivoli When it was announced that U.S comedian Adam Devine would be coming to our shores in 2018, we practically wet our pants with excitement. Okay, so that may be a slight exaggeration, but we were genuinely really excited to hear that the stand-up comic and Workaholics genius would be bringing his mug to our shores for the first time. Adam is doing a one-off show of his Weird Life Tour, which critics have hailed as an absolute riot – trust us when we say you won’t want to miss this one. Disney’s Aladdin – The Musical – From February 20 at QPAC If merely reading the title of this event didn’t immediately fill you with a sense of overwhelming joy, it’s safe to say you were robbed of a childhood. Disney’s Aladdin – The Musical has got an all-star team behind it, bringing the iconic film to life on stage… more
Much like moths to the flame, it’s really hard for us humans to resist the lure of a good Christmas lighting display. Whether it’s a family tradition or a happy coincidence, riding through your suburb to check out the festive adornments on your neighbours’ houses is one of those wholesome activities creates a sense of childlike joy and instant nostalgia. Well, we’ve found a little something that takes that feeling to the highest level – returning to the Roma Street Parkland from December 8–17, the Enchanted Garden sees the grounds light up in a twinkling technicolour display that will captivate your senses. more
If you’re not familiar with the story of Li Cunxin, allow us to fill you in. This amazing man triumphed over adversity to emerge as a cultural icon of his generation, overcoming an upbringing in poverty-stricken China to become a worldwide ballet star. His complex and tumultuous history is as broad as it is fascinating, which really helps to contextualise just how incredible his achievements are. Opening on Friday December 1 at the Museum of Brisbane, Mao’s Last Dancer the exhibition: A Portrait of Li Cunxin gives us an in-depth look at Li’s life and times as one of the most important dancers of his generation. more
It’s a widely accepted fact that those with big dreams are the ones who hustle the hardest. We’re living in an age of what seems like endless possibility, which is the perfect breeding ground for great things to happen. When this ambition is fostered and given a platform to flourish, the world is gifted with mind-blowing creations and innovations. The next generation of trailblazers has arrived and they are here to show you what they’re made of. Landing at TAFE Queensland on Thursday November 16, CRE8 is an all-in sensory extravaganza set to delight and inspire. more
In a time when the planet's future is growing increasingly uncertain, caring about the environment is more important than ever. More events are popping up that actively encourage us to embrace a more clean and green lifestyle by making better choices in our everyday life. Turns out that it's actually cool to be kind – who knew? Fusing pure innovation with an eco-conscious twist, the Recreate Twilight Market and Paper Fashion Show is taking over King George Square on Friday November 10 to prove that sustainability and style are a winning combination. more