Newly minted Brisbane Powerhouse CEO and Artistic Director Louise Bezzina scores a hole-in-one with her first exhibition since landing the coveted leadership role.
Swingers – The Art Of Mini Golf is a large-scale interactive exhibition and functional mini golf course that takes over Brisbane Powerhouse from January to March, 2026.
“Sometimes with anything in life but particularly in the arts, it’s about timing and opportunity, and this was definitely one of those moments,” Louise says.
“RISING Festival in Melbourne commissioned this incredible project and I had the great fortune of experiencing it on a personal trip to Melbourne and thought how great it would look at the Powerhouse as an activation that takes over the building. It demonstrates the kind of full venue takeover that I’d love to continue to grow and create.”
Putt through a nine-hole course that reimagines mini golf as a unique, hands-on experience featuring outstanding works created by innovative female artists Miranda July (USA), Kaylene Whiskey (Australia), Saeborg (Japan), Nabilah Nordin (Australia), Delaine Le Bas (UK) and Natasha Tontey (Indonesia).
Image © Eugene Hyland
Making its Queensland debut, Swingers – The Art Of Mini Golf is a fun and colourful celebration of mini golf’s roots as a subversive feminine act of rebellion by 19th century Scottish women who were barred from the ‘real’ golf course.
“The fact that women weren’t allowed on the golf courses inspired the entire project to come to life,” Louise explains.
“Because women then took the lead in terms of mini golf and putt putt internationally, the curator of the exhibition thought that would make an excellent proposition/provocation to female identifying artists.
“And she was right about that, because there was a great response from the artists and they’ve all come at it with such different perspectives and lenses. [The installations] all look incredible and they are outstanding artworks in their own right, but yes it really is a celebration of how women change the course of action, particularly in relation specifically to golf, and how they did that is really inspiring.”
Image © Eugene Hyland
Louise’s appointment to the top job at Brisbane Powerhouse comes after her long tenure as Artistic Director for Brisbane Festival. Having cemented her reputation as an accomplished and visionary leader of the arts, Louise says her goal now is to elevate the Powerhouse as Brisbane’s premier arts and entertainment precinct.
“Building on the success of the past and really creating ways to grow MELT Festival and look at growing Night Feast, which have become important parts of our yearly programme,” she says.
“The other thing is looking at ways in which we can enhance our reputation artistically on a national level and international level, and to really embrace artists in the venue in a way that makes them feel like it’s their home.
“That’s my thinking and leaning into the lifestyle we have in Brisbane, and because of the location being so beautiful on the river and next to New Farm Park, it’s a real opportunity to expand that vision of an arts precinct that’s also a destination.”
Swingers – The Art Of Mini Golf is on at Brisbane Powerhouse 10 January-1 March 2026.
