Annual Queensland cultural celebration Brisbane Festival is set to return in 2023, setting its sights on boosting visitor numbers and stoking economic growth upon its return.
Brisbane Festival will super-charge September once again, hosting a cavalcade of local, national and international artists and must-see events across Brisbane.
Riverfire will light up city skies on 2 September for an unmissable opening weekend celebration.
The 2023 iteration is Artistic Director Louise Bezzina’s fourth.
“We were so delighted to see visitors from other parts of Australia travelling to Brisbane specifically for the festival last year and were absolutely thrilled to see overnight visitor expenditure return to pre-COVID levels,” Louise says.
The 2022 event delivered more than $47 million of gross economic benefit to Queensland, generating 71,866 visitor nights in Brisbane.
Newly appointed Festival Chair Anna Reynolds says visitors have been drawn to experience the world-class festival programme combined with the stunning climate of a Brisbane spring.
“The festival provides a wonderful opportunity for us to prompt interstate visitors to see the city at the height of arts and cultural activations during September,” Anna says.
“As we move closer to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, now is the time to raise the profile of Brisbane Festival globally.
“There is no better time to elevate Brisbane Festival as a serious cultural tourism driver for the city and state than now.”
Minister For The Arts Leeanne Enoch says the 2023 festival will once again showcase the talents of Queensland artists and arts organisations.
“The Palaszczuk Government invests in Brisbane Festival to commission new Queensland works in collaboration with our leading arts companies, employ local artists and share our stories,” Leeanne says. “We are committed to positioning Brisbane as a key event destination. Brisbane Festival’s unique programming, including key signature work that showcases the city, will help to leverage the opportunities presented by the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
“Last year, Brisbane Festival featured works from 41 homegrown companies with a focus on Queensland stories from First Nations organisations and artists.
“I look forward to a vibrant 2023 Festival program celebrating our arts sector in Queensland.”
The full Brisbane Festival programme will be revealed in July.
Brisbane Festival 2023 is on from 1-23 September.
