Opera Queensland named BNE’s new Artist-in-Residence
Tuesday 18 December 2018: Opera Queensland is taking up the baton as next Brisbane Airport (BNE) Artist-in-Residence from today.
Now in its fourth year, BNE’s Artist-in-Residence program proudly supports and showcases local creative artists and performers.
During its residency, Opera Queensland will appear for a number of pop-up performances in the airport’s International Terminal, with the next performances scheduled in February and March next year.
Gert-Jan de Graaff, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) Chief Executive Officer, said the program supports Brisbane’s rich cultural and creative sector, playing a unique role in showcasing Brisbane and Queensland’s talents to a global audience.
“Brisbane is one of Australia’s centres for the arts. From musicians, dancers, painters, and singers, our local talent attracts visitors from around country and the world, who stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, visit other attractions and enjoy the best Brisbane and Queensland has to offer.
“A recent report by the Australian Council for the Arts revealed more than one million international tourists attended festivals, fairs and cultural events last year and, in the last five years, international arts tourism has grown at a higher rate than overall international tourism.
“Our Artist-in-Residence program was an Australian airport first and is one of many ways BAC continues to showcase our arts sector to the world, helping it to go from strength to strength,” Mr de Graaff said.
Based in Brisbane, Opera Queensland present an annual program of major, large-scale works in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Australia’s largest performing arts complex.
Opera Queensland delivers a diverse program of productions to audiences in Brisbane and across the entire state.
They take their work to communities in regional, rural and remote Queensland via a vast array of performances, school activities and community programs that aim to enrich the lives of audiences through the exceptional quality of music shared.
Opera Queensland Artistic Director Patrick Nolan says Opera Queensland is thrilled to perform for local Queenslanders and visitors alike in an environment that mirrors the rich emotion that opera responds to.
“Opera Queensland is deeply committed to engaging all communities in Queensland with this vibrant art form, enriching their lives and giving them access to powerful performances and providing valuable performance opportunities for local artists.
“What better place to deliver performances that capture the diverse range of emotions experienced in contemporary life than inside an airport terminal that is so full of these emotions?”
For more information about BAC’s Artist-in-Residence program, visit https://bne.com.au/passenger/shop-dine-explore/explore/artist-in-residence
