Brisbane is fast becoming Australia's new cultural capital | The Canberra Times | Canberra, ACT
Brisbane is positioning itself as a more prominent cultural destination as it prepares to host the 2032 Olympics. The prospect of global attention has added momentum to activity already under way across the city, according to Brisbane Festival artistic director Ebony Bott, who says the city’s cultural scene feels increasingly energetic and ambitious. The Brisbane Festival, running from September 4 to 26, will feature Riverfire, theatre, music, dance and comedy. QAGOMA will also open *Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company*, an exhibition featuring Muppets, sets and rare material from the studio behind *Sesame Street* and Kermit the Frog. At the time of the report, the gallery was showing work by Olafur Eliasson and Archie Moore’s *Kith and Kin*, which remains on display until October 18. QAGOMA director Chris Saines says the institution aims to reach broad audiences through varied programming, including exhibitions for children and visitors who may not usually engage with contemporary art. Its recent history includes exhibitions ranging from European masterworks to Marvel, while the Asia Pacific Triennial remains a major part of its program. The gallery also plans to place strong emphasis on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists ahead of the Olympics. Other signs of cultural expansion include the new 1,500-seat Glasshouse Theatre at South Bank, part of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Brisbane Festival’s Bott says visitors do not need to wait for the Olympics to experience the city’s cultural offerings. For Brisbane, the story is relevant because it highlights how festivals, galleries and new venues are helping shape the city’s identity before 2032, while attracting visitors and providing a larger platform for Queensland artists.
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