The Arts Centre Gold Coast is launching a new and inclusive new festival, showcasing the fabulous, and celebrating all things gay.
The Arts Centre Gold Coast will launch the Gold Coast City’s inaugural Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Allied Communities festival at 10.00am on Thursday 12 March, 2015 at QT Gold Coast Hotel, Calypso Deck. 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise.
All media are invited to attend the official launch of the new festivals name and program as well as social event in the evening. Media will have received a separate invitation for the evening event.
The media call will launch the festival which is eclectic mix of exciting new arts and culture programming celebrating all things gay on the Gold Coast.
The week-long celebration of arts and culture begins on September 28, climaxing over the Labour Day long weekend in early October. The program will include cabaret, theatre, art gallery displays, and films. There’s a race day planned at the Gold Coast Turf Club which is destined to become a signature event. There’ll also be a marketta around The Arts Centre lake with live performers and street vendors. The final Monday recovery event will showcase the spectacular venue Catalina’s at the Southport Aquatic Centre.
General Manager Destry Puia had this to say as to why The Arts Centre Gold Coast was taking the lead on this signature event. ‘The Gold Coast is finally coming of age and it’s starting to show its own identity. With maturity comes this need for people to form a community and that’s the Festival’s main goal, to bring the community together and show everyone that we’re here. In essence it was here many years ago but it disappeared. There were no venues and no focal point and it simply disintegrated. There are certainly plenty of people living here and they’ve got nowhere to go or meet so the Festival’s aim is to fix that through a program of cultural and social events. The Advisory committee has extensive experience in organising similar events with Committee members made up of an eclectic group of professionals with a plethora of community networks and skills.
The Arts Centre Gold Coast Programming Manager Brad Rush supported the sentiment with: ‘The gay and lesbian community on the Gold Coast needs an event like this. Absolutely! The community has provided enough anecdotal feedback to warrant the event. They have been looking for something to bring them together. The Festival will offer a variety of performances and social events so people can pick and choose what they like. The Arts Centre Gold Coast is passionate about providing unique programming platforms and opportunities for artists and community alike. The Festival is also supported by City of Gold Coast, and numerous industry and community stakeholders. It has a solid foundation for growth and support.
The Festival also provides a new platform and opportunity for local Gold Coasters to develop their talent and showcase it. The Arts Centre Gold Coast is encouraging Gold Coast based LGBT artists who can sing, dance, act, make music, make art, walk on a tight rope in high heels! to contact the Performing Arts Manager to lodge interest in being part of this inaugural Gold Coast LGBT Festival. Contact Brad Rush on 07 5588 4018 or [email protected].
The Festival is not just for the gay and lesbian community. It’s an all-encompassing, inclusive community event and that’s what we’re striving to achieve. Certainly some events will appeal to different people but it’s a festival for the whole community. The Festival begins on Monday 28 September to Monday 5 October. Full program available Monday 3 August, 2015 at www.theartscentregc.com.au.
The Festivals Vision:
To be an inclusive arts and culture festival, celebrating all things gay on the Gold Coast.
The Festivals Mission:
The festival is committed to:
· Bringing together our diverse communities through quality arts and culture activities
· Celebrating the pride of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Allied Communities
· Being socially responsible leaders in our City
· Presenting and supporting local, national and international artists in the areas of theatre, cabaret, music, film and visual arts
There will be a colourful array of performers and colour to promote the launch of the event.
MEDIA LAUNCH
When: 10.00am, Thursday 12 March, 2015
Where: QT Gold Coast Hotel, Calypso Deck. 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise 4217
Who: Destry Puia, General Manager of The Arts Centre Gold Coast with Peter Skillicorn, Chairman, Festival Advisory Committee.
Contact: Sue-Anne Chapman, Communications and Visitor Services Manager on 0402 005 261 or [email protected] OR Media officer Tom Forbes 0412 809 865 or [email protected]
