QPAC – IT IS MORE THAN A PLACE TO JUST SEE THE PERFORMING ARTS….

Long standing performing arts centres are often mistaken as simply a venue, a place where people come to see the big shows that come to town, with few beyond our industry understanding the mechanics of today’s performing arts centre and its vital role in art making and building vibrant communities.

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is committed to its role as a connected community hub, linking audiences to artists; supporting local and national companies; developing and producing new works; presenting a bold and wide-ranging programme with appeal to a broad cross section of society; and encouraging public debate around the role of arts in the community.

Collaboration has always been at the heart of delivering a live performance but it has become an enabler for QPAC to expand its programme, reach beyond the centre’s four walls and create meaningful programmes that reflect the vibrant arts and culture of Queensland and Australia. Most recently, QPAC have developed two significant collaborations of international and national significance to deliver meaningful programme elements in 2018; Out of the Box and Armistice.

Out of the Box

Out of the Box engages with UNICEF to create meaningful arts experiences for children

In late June/early July, QPAC delivered its biennial festival dedicated to children eight years and under – Out of the Box. This year the Centre partnered with UNICEF Australia.

The United Nation’s (UN’s) children’s agency UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries, the agency works for every child, everywhere to build a better world. UNICEF Australia also provides technical advice and supports the government to develop policy, legislation and practices that help provide a fair chance for children across Australia.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas explained that the 2018 Out of the Box Festival programme was especially curated to reflect the current communities and world that we live in today. It aims to encourage discussion and offer children a vehicle for understanding themselves and their world through the arts.

Photo credit: Queensland Performing Arts Centre

“We valued the opportunity to partner with internationally respected child’s advocacy agency UNICEF to provide expertise and guidance for Out of the Box programming this year. We reflected key themes such as migration, cultural plurality and we explored what ‘home’ means to children today.”

“People might know of UNICEF as collecting money for children in need, but much more than this, they work directly in communities around the world to improve children’s lives and advocate for their rights and safety.”

“Through Out of the Box, QPAC engages directly with thousands of children from communities across Queensland and recognises their expertise as active participants in the creation of cultural activity,” said Mr Kotzas.

Photo credit: Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Out of the Box was provided advice from UNICEF Australia’s Policy and Advocacy Team as well as accessed UNICEF’s global evidence base on emerging issues for children. QPAC also received access to UNICEF’s global network of experts to strengthen the work of the Festival and endorse it as best practice for children aged eight years and under. The partnership saw QPAC provide professional development training to key UNICEF Australia staff with a focus on using arts practices and processes to benefit life-long learning.

Photo credit: Queensland Performing Arts Centre

UNICEF Australia was Out of the Box’s Producing Partner for an exhibition called HOME. Presented in the QPAC tunnel, this special exhibition showcased a diverse range of creative artworks that children created in the lead up to the Festival which reflected what ‘home’ means to them.

UNICEF Australia was also Producing Partner for The Arrival, a beautiful production especially commissioned for Out of the Box 2018, about migration and journey. Recreated with New Zealand’s Red Leap Theatre Company, the production was adapted from the award-winning novel by Shaun Tan.

The Arrival

Chief Executive for UNICEF Australia Tony Stuart said the partnership reflects the common philosophies and goals of UNICEF and QPAC.

“As a leading public institution, QPAC delivers excellence in programming for children. The Out of the Box Festival positions children as experts, which is in accordance with the Children’s Convention and UNICEF’s mandate,” said Mr Stuart.

“The early years provide a special window to have a profoundly positive impact on children’s health, education and development, across their lives into adulthood.”

“Children have a right to culture. We recognise the power of arts and cultural programming as a tool for children to be curious, to explore, and to express themselves.”

“The arts, and cultural experiences help children to form identity, find their voice and discover empathy. In a troubled, confusing and disconnected world, Out of the Box provides a safe space where children can make and find meaning on difficult issues,” he said.

The Australian Government’s Anzac Centenary Arts and Culture Fund helps QPAC create Armistice

QPAC is getting set to deliver a new theatrical performance reflecting on Australia’s war time history. To be staged in Nov 2018 and supported through the Australian Government’s Anzac Centenary Arts and Culture Fund, the performance will combine song, music, dance and archival footage to commemorate a century of service since the Armistice that ended World War I and provide an important opportunity to reflect on the last 100 years of Australia’s war history.

Photo credit: Queensland Performing Arts Centre

The performance will explore ideas of sacrifice and achievement and how these wartime experiences have helped to form Australia’s contemporary, national identity.

The event will also include archival materials and research insights from the Australian War Memorial and the National Film and Sound Archives, helping to bring Anzac history to life for new audiences.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said: “With the desire to enrich lives and help create connected communities, our organisation is committed to providing opportunities for Queensland artists to develop theatrical works that tell the meaningful and significant stories of our rich culture and history.”

“We are honoured that the Australian Government is further supporting this commitment and enabling the creation of Armistice, a nationally significant performance event, in Queensland,” said Mr Kotzas.

Photo credit: Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Visit Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s website here.