Brisbane Festival 2022 to showcase 41 Queensland arts organisations

The opening of the Brisbane Festival 2022 on Friday night showcased Queensland artists and arts organisations, impressive performances, bold new works and fireworks.

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

Brisbane Festival 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.

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

The annual Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust, will light up the skies this weekend, with free public transport. The popular Brisbane’s Art Boat will also be returning for its second year and featuring artwork created by Brisbane-born visual artist Lindy Lee.

Minister Enoch advised “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.

“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.”

The Queensland 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.

The Brisbane Festival is a significant contributor to the visitor economy with Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe noting “around 80,000 visited the Queensland capital for the Brisbane Festival, making it a favourite event among the city’s tourism and hospitality operators.

“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 added “we are immensely proud to be producing 22 new works in 2022.

“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.”

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