Queensland Performing Arts Centre set to mark 40 years of excellence

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is to celebrate 40 years of vibrant arts and cultural experiences with a free community celebration will be held on Saturday 12th April.

Since opening in April 1985, QPAC has delivered exceptional arts experiences for more than 30 million people through 33,500 shows and performances.

The QPAC40 program includes the return of three favourite events including Out of the Box festival, Clancestry, and the QPAC International Series.

Out of the Box returns for the first time since 2018 and runs from 17th to 22nd June, providing children, families and teachers with inspiring arts experiences that support creativity, learning and play.

The acclaimed International Series makes a triumphant comeback, featuring Swan Lake presented by France’s Ballet Preljocaj from 31st May to 7th June.

QPAC’s unique Clancestry festival is an exciting celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture, running from 23rd July to 10th August.

Looking forward to this Saturday’s community event, Queensland Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek stated “QPAC continues to produce innovative, inspiring, and creative programs that build on four decades of arts excellence.

“Whether it’s presenting world premiere performances or showcasing the talent of local artists, QPAC continues to shine as one of Australia’s leading performing arts venues.”

QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy said the community event would launch a campaign encouraging people to share their own QPAC stories: the highlights, the personal moments and the experiences that shaped them.

Healy noted “all that we do at QPAC is driven by people. Without our audiences, artists, crew and staff, we’re just bricks and mortar. It’s the community that makes QPAC.

“Our special year is packed full of incredible programming including QPAC’s three signature programs: Out of the Box, International Series and Clancestry, as well as a raft of free and paid events, tours, community activities, workshops, productions and shows.”

New theatre at Queensland Performing Arts Centre
QPAC is also to be enhanced with a new 1,500-capacity, state-of-the-art theatre that will create the largest performing arts centre in Australia.

While the opening of the news venue has been delayed until early 2026, the new performing arts venue will create the largest performing arts centre in Australia. With five venues, the theatre will welcome an additional 300,000 visitors per year.

Click here to find out more about the project.

Images: QPAC from the Brisbane River (top, credit: Shutterstock) and the design concept for the interior of the complex's new 1,500-capacity theatre (below).