Over 11 days, beaches, parks, gardens and abandoned buildings on the Gold Coast will become backdrops of contemporary art for Bleach* Festival.
Bleach* has been reimagined to suit the times, but it will continue to present cutting-edge art and music framed by the coastline of Southern Coastland.
The event invites audiences to experience great storytelling, contemporary art, music, cabaret and dance. You can watch an artwork unfold on the edge of the shoreline or in backyards and balconies of soon-to-be demolished houses.
This year's programme features work by 204 artists across three distinct arts hubs – Burleigh Heads, Botanic Gardens and Chevron Island.
It will begin and end at the Burleigh Hub with a sunrise ceremony by cultural leader Luther Cora. At sunrise on the first morning and sunset on the last evening, Cora will bring a moving performance set on the shoreline, followed by uplifting performances from Yugambeh dancers and youth choir.
Storytelling features strongly at the Burleigh Hub. ABC presenter Daniel Browning will lead conversations each weekend with a range of special guests including his 101-year-old nan and architect Kevin O'Brien.
Children's performer Lucas Proudfoot will have kids jumping for joy in a musical performance rich in Indigenous culture, while Joe Tongi joins students from Arcadia College in offering a new haircut to anyone who dares.
Image © Art Work Agency
Burleigh will also host a number of powerful arts installations, including Sky Weave, inspired by nature's ancient luminary navigators and created by a team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander all-female artists.
Meanwhile, Chevron Island will be transformed into the second arts hub. One ticket, nine art experiences. . . All set in an abandoned block of houses, slated for demolition. Welcome to Club Chez Nous.
Chez Nous comes to live each weekend with The 7 Sopranos, Baarty's Brew, J'aiMime, SHannen Jones, Samira, The Mintie Crew and more. It will also feature several one-night only events: Jan Preston, Nonsemble, 'The G.O.A.T Show', 'Queerstories' Queensland Poetry Festival, and The Gold Coast Film Festival.
The Chevron programme is framed by a giant artwork by Glennys Briggs, remaining until the buildings are demolished.
Over at the Botanic Gardens, Bleach*'s headline event will be a musical recital curated with works from Elena Kats Chernin. Then, closing the festival is an afternoon of live music performed by The Southern Cross Soloists.
