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Bright New Year brings new arts opportunities

Ten arts and cultural experiences will reach local, national and international audiences thanks to almost $350 000 investment through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP).

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government is supporting projects across a range of art forms, to showcase our talented artists, writers and performers, and provide quality experiences for audiences here and across the globe.

“Casus Circus will produce DNA, an innovative new work of dance-theatre and circus. Samoan circus artist Natano Fa’anana will lead a cast of professional dancers and elite acrobats in an original collaboration, ahead of a heavily anticipated international tour,” Minister Enoch said.

“In theatre, Backbone Youth Arts will develop a coming of age musical Like, Share, Comment… Below in Brisbane and in the UK before its season premiere at the Brisbane Powerhouse in October 2019.

“Deep Blue Orchestra and The Queensland Choir will partner on Communiqué, a new production featuring acclaimed didjeribone player Tjupurru and Digi Youth Arts Ensemble.

“Acclaimed singer-songwriter Shellie Morris will collaborate with Queensland Indigenous Elders on a series of original songs. The resulting compilation album by Inala Wangarra Singing our Songlines will be a beautiful, moving representation of our Elders stories, lives, experiences and wisdoms,” she said.

Minister Enoch said visual arts projects included the annual Brisbane Street Art Festival to showcase the work of local artists, and Seeing Country, an exhibition from Redland Art Gallery highlighting contemporary Indigenous artistic practices.

“Dance projects include The Quest with arts practitioner Sandra Woo working with teaching artists for a series of community based contemporary dance workshops, and the completion of Angel-monster by choreographer Dr Nerida Matthaei for Phluxus2 Dance Collective.”

“The Queensland Government’s QASP investment now totals over $10 million for 303 projects since it was established in September 2015. A list of the latest funding recipients follows,” she said.

List of Queensland Arts Showcase Program funding:

  • Erub Erwer Meta Torres Strait Islander Corp, Torres Strait, $43 134
  • Backbone Youth Arts, Brisbane, $60 000
  • Inala Wangarra, Inala, $43 350
  • Redland Art Gallery, Redland Coast, $24 460
  • Casus Circus International, Brisbane, $35 000
  • Sandra Woo, Brisbane, $10 000
  • Vast Yonder, Brsibane, $50 000
  • DeepBlue Orchestra, Brisbane, $41 137
  • Dr Nerida Matthaei, Brisbane, $35 710
  • Sydney Review of Books, Brisbane, $6 000