Themed around 'creative confluence' BEMAC have unveiled the first half of their 2024 season, a selection of works and performances underpinned by three core principles: courageous in creativity, determined in diversity, and enablers of change.
After reinvigorating their 2023 programme with a creative reactivation championing indigenous and multicultural artists pushing contemporary narratives challenging the status quo, BEMAC look to continue those conversations around belonging, identity and welcoming in 2024.The March-June programme will feature 13 performancs, that were selected after receiving 47 proposals from the creative community, spanning music, dance, poetry and, for the first time in BEMAC's history, theatre.
Transplanted Rhythms will commence the 2024 season (9 March), with a collective of percussionists highlighting the diversity of percussion and its ubiquity across global musical cultures.
Local melting pot of sonic culture, Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra (a two-time Queensland Music Awards winner) will be joined by Taiwan-based Zy the Way (24 March) for the first of two BEMAC Presents events.
The second concert (4 May) will feature local luminaries JADE Ensemble – comprised of Indigenous didgeridoo musician David Williams, Japanese koto master Takako Haggarty Nishibori, Nepalese tabla virtuoso Dheeraj Shrestha and Australian guitarist/ composer Anthony Garcia – sharing the stage with Ballarat-based duo ZÖJ, an Australian-Iranian duo focused on ideas of sustainability who nurture cross-cultural collaboration.
Sydney's successful poetry slam series Revolution Renegade (organised by Mel Ree, an advocate for art as a healing method) will make its Brisbane debut (15 March).
While First Nations creative dance company The First Creatives will stage their first production 'Ya'Djin Spirit Women' (18 May), a performance weaving stories and experiences of Aboriginal women.
BEMAC will host theatre for the very first time when writer and director Nicholas 'Prince' Milverton brings their play 'Dominoes & Rum', about a Caribbean migrant who returns home to a world he vaguely understands, to life (7 June).
Other season highlights include a contemporary classical chamber music performance arranged for traditional Chinese instruments by the Echo of Jade music collective (13 April), and I.Rugamba's transformative hip hop musical experience 'Broken Shackles' (6 April) that addresses the subject of men's mental health.
Kristal West will perform a musical tribute to her grandparents (10 May), Drs. Eddie and Bonita Mabo by their granddaughter, while the Slavic-infused whimsical alternative folk of Sunshine Coast's Innessa Hook lands at VENTspace (24 May) in South Brisbane.
BEMAC's panel discussion series will also be featured, with three sessions during the season tackling topics such as migrant women in the arts and the validity (or not) of the ideas of multiculturalism in the present.
BEMAC 2024 Season Dates
Sat 9 Mar - Transplanted Rhythms @ Queensland Multicultural CentreFri 15 Mar - Mel Ree's Revolution Renegade @ VENTspace
Sun 24 Mar - Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra & Zy The Way @ Queensland Multicultural Centre
Sat 6 Apr - I.Rugamba: Broken Shackles @ Queensland Multicultural Centre
Sat 13 Apr - Echo Of Jade @ Queensland Multicultural Centre
Sat 4 May - JADE Ensemble & ZÖJ @ Queensland Multicultural Centre
Fri 10 May - Kristal West: A Tribute To Dr. Eddie & Dr. Bonita Mabo @ VENTspace
Sat 18 May - Ya'Djin Spirt Women by The First Creatives @ Queensland Multicultural Centre
Fri 24 May - Innessa: Golden Wreath @ VENTspace
Fri 7 Jun - Dominoes & Rum: A play by Nicholas 'Prince' Milverton @ Queensland Multicultural Centre
