From drive-ins to night markets, we've rounded up the top things to do on the Gold Coast this weekend. Here's a snapshot of what's on from Thursday December 2 to Sunday December 5. more
If you're the kind of person that gets a thrill out of being, well, thrilled and doesn't mind a touch of the heebie jeebies, get set for the night of frights that is DARKFIELD SÉANCE. This multi-sensory experience is set to get spines tingling as it descends on the coast from October 28. more
With the weather outlook warm and breezy and our hunger for a weekend getaway more apparent than ever, we think it's time for a dose of cultural goodness. For a substantial helping of eye-catching art and picturesque scenery, take a roadtrip north for Noosa Open Studios, an annual art trail where gifted local artists open the doors to their studios so you can get a behind-the-scenes look into their work – and maybe even find a piece (or two) to take home. more
Since opening in May, HOTA Gallery's inaugural exhibition SOLID GOLD: Artists from Paradise has wowed countless visitors who have ventured through the doors of the impressive new venue. As the seasons change, so too does the ever-evolving space with the gallery's second major exhibition set to roll out from July 31. The new exhibition, called Lyrical Landscapes: The Art of William Robinson, will celebrate one of Australia's foremost living artists and greatest landscape painters. more
Ready your glad rags – BLEACH* Festival is back and she's ready to party! This year, the city's pre-eminent multi-day arts and cultural event is celebrating its impressive ten-year milestone with a jam-packed program of art, live music, cabaret, theatre, dance and stories across three main hubs including Burleigh Heads, Southport and Mudgeeraba. As an extra-special treat, there will also be performances in the cultural corridors of HOTA and Dust Temple in Currumbin. This year's festival runs from August 12–22 and whilst we firmly believe the entire festival program is well and truly worthy of the spotlight (you can check that out here), we’ve cherry-picked some of our must-see events for your viewing pleasure. more
For those who haven't conquered the Big Apple (back in the good ol' days when we could cross the Pacific Ocean), The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a must-tick for one's cultural bucket list. The Met is one of the world's largest and finest art museums and boasts a collection of more than two million works of art spanning 5000 years. For the first time ever, some of these beloved art pieces are making the trip to Brisbane for QAGOMA's European Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York exhibition. This is the closest you'll get to gallery-hopping in Manhattan for a little while ... more
Attention, art lovers! It's finally Archibald Prize time and 2021 marks 100 years of Australia’s oldest and most-loved portrait award. Bestowed upon the best portrait painting, the Archibald Prize is a who’s who of Australian culture – from politicians and celebrities to sport icons and artists. Taking over the Art Gallery of NSW from June 5 to September 26, this year's centenary celebration of Australian art is truly putting on a show ... more
Aren't plants just the bee's knees? Our ardent obsession with monsteras, our zealous appreciation of zanzibars and fervent love of ferns knows no bounds. State Library of Queensland's newest exhibition, Entwined: plants and people, explores our passionate relationship with plants through an impressive collection of photography, illustrations, immersive projections and historical objects. Blossoming at the Cultural Precinct from Saturday June 12 to Sunday November 14, this is one must-see showcase of greenery. more
Whether you're loved-up long-term, going steady or think cupid is stupid – Valentine’s Day is upon us (Sunday February 14, in case you missed the memo). When it comes to the day of romance (or anti-romance), forget the tired cliches and check out these unexpected-yet-cute date ideas. more
From cultivating a punk scene that welcomed The Go-Betweens and The Leftovers to birthing these blokes and fostering a whole new generation of musically gifted talent, it's more than fair to say that Brisbane has had a major impact on Australia's music industry. A pivotal moment for our city's music scene happened between the 70s and 80s, where in suburban halls, corner pubs and bustling clubs, local bands and little-known artists thrived. State Library of Queensland's newest exhibition, Cut Copy, offers a snapshot of this transformative decade dipped in subculture, when artists took a DIY approach to not only music-making, but also music promotion. more
This year may have robbed us of many of our favourite pastimes, but live music, foodie festivals and exhibitions are coming back in 2021 with a vengeance and we couldn't be happier. Never again will we take life's simple pleasures like catching a live gig or meeting with mates for a beer for granted. With that in mind, here are five unmissable events to add to your calendar immediately. more
Everyone deals with break-ups differently – some of us mainline ice-cream, some of us watch The Notebook on repeat, some of us cyber-stalk our exes with a precision that would make ASIO proud and some of us set fire to every earthly possession that our lover has left behind. There are no hard and fast rules for mourning the end of a relationship, but there is a certain catharsis that comes from ridding yourself of everything that reminds you of your past paramour. Turning the concept of “filling a garbage bag with your ex’s stuff and literally dumping it on the street” into art is QT Hotel – because the reverse-cupids there have cooked up a concept designed to help you heal (but make it cute). Introducing Heartbreak Hotel, a pop-up exhibition where you can submit your relationship relics in the name of documenting love lost. more
If you ask a group of kids what they want to be when they grow up, you're guaranteed at least one of them will say astronaut. Viewing Earth from outer space has been, until now, an experience reserved for the fortunate few who have actually followed through on their childhood dreams. If you were one of the many (many) who moved on to more realistic pursuits in adult life but still secretly harbour dreams of launching off into outer space, HOTA's latest exhibition Gaia is right up your alley. more
UPDATE March 23, 2020: As of Monday March 23, Museum of Brisbane is temporarily closed. Follow MoB feed or the MoB Facebook page for updates and exciting content to enjoy from home. The MoB Shop remains open for all postal orders. Look, no one is in denial at this point — the world is a strange place at the moment. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought almost everything in our usual routine to a halt, shutting down some of our favourite places to go and forcing a lot of us into self-distance mode or even self isolation. In this time more than ever, we long for distraction in the form entertainment and Brisbane's vibrant arts and culture scene is still here to help. Whether you want a dose of modern history, contemporary art or a mix of both, there's still a bunch of places open around Brisbane for you to explore. For those who can't make it out of the house (and boredom is slowly taking… more
When summer rolls around, an air of excitement always hits. There's a little extra spring in your step and the cheer stretches from ear to ear – and it's all in anticipation of the year's end and being able to spend time with family and friends. From December 1–15, HOTA is capturing the thrill of spending summer 'at home' on the Gold Coast by hosting one of the biggest event series' the arts and culture precinct has ever seen. Staying put this summer? You'll be glad you did. more
This Thursday September 12, a pop-up exhibition called Collective Minds will be revealed to the public with one clear vision in mind – to shine a light on mental health by using photography as the catalyst for conversation. The exhibition is a collaboration between Gold Coast charity LIVIN and Robina Town Centre, and will feature courageous works by some of the Gold Coast's best emerging and celebrated photographers. more
Bleach* Festival is back again with a thrilling site-specific contemporary arts and culture program, featuring everything from incredible art installations to breathtaking live productions and goosebump-worthy music performances. From April 17–28, the Gold Coast will be fully immersed in all-things Bleach*, and while the entire festival program is worthy of the spotlight, we’ve picked out our top five events not to miss. From huge choral ensembles through to live theatre performances witnessed from the comfort of your own car, take a look below to see our favourites for this year’s festival. more
A mesmerising new stage show called Wild Skies will take flight on the Gold Coast in January – and the stars of the show will surely make your heart flutter. The cast is made up of 45 pelicans, owls, parrots, macaws, majestic wedge-tailed eagles and more, forming a talented ensemble that will take audiences on a journey through the past, present and future of flight. more
An eclectic exhibition celebrating three decades of rock music and culture is kicking off at HOTA this summer, and you'll definitely want a piece of the action. The exhibition, Let there be rock!, opens true to style on Saturday December 8 with a beer garden, free rock anthems, and a Q&A with those who lived through the Gold Coast's heyday of live and loud rock music. more
Live your best life. Now, that's a set of words that are thrown around a lot these days, but how many of us actually do live our best lives? When the time comes that you stumble across your significant other, you're kind of expected to settle down, buy a house, save whatever little money is left after mortgage repayments and, you know, just generally scale back our lives completely to prepare for the future. Sound familiar? Well, the folks at Smith Collective, the coast's revolutionary new rental community, want to flip the script on 'adulting' for couples. We're in the know (it's our job), so Smith Collective teamed up with yours truly to let you know all about the best upcoming events and must-do foodie experiences across the Gold Coast. Forget Netflix and toasties on the couch – this is how you do it. more
