Culture of Brisbane

The classical culture of Brisbane is vibrant and innovative, and is firmly centred in both theatre and music, as well as a strong cultural identity in art, sculpture, literature and poetry. Actors who began their acting careers in Brisbane include Geoffrey Rush and Bille Brown (who has a studio named after him at the home of the Queensland Theatre Company).

Queensland Cultural Centre

The Queensland Cultural Centre is located at South Bank, within the suburb of South Brisbane. The Queensland Cultural Centre contains the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Art Gallery, the State Library of Queensland and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Queensland Museum

The Queensland Museum was established in 1862, and has had many homes, including The Windmill (1862-1869) — Parliament House (1869-1873) — General Post Office (1873-1879) — followed by being based at a building on William Street, which was later home to John Oxley State Library (1879-1899) — the Exhibition Hall, now called the Old Museum (1899-1986) — the Museum Building in the Queensland Cultural Centre at South Bank (1986-present).

Queensland Art Gallery

The Queensland Art Gallery (formerly Queensland National Art Gallery, and home to the Asia Pacific Triennial), which was established in 1895, is located next to the Queensland Museum. The Queensland Art Gallery has also had many homes, and moved to its present location at the Queensland Cultural Centre at South Bank during 1982. The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art is being built near the William Jolly Bridge, and is due to be opened in late 2006. The universities based in Brisbane also contain art galleries. The Queensland College of Art (a part of Griffith University), is based on the Expo site at South Bank, and the QUT Art Museum (a part of the Queensland University of Technology) is based at the QUT Gardens Point campus.

State Library of Queensland

The State Library of Queensland (originally called the Public Library of Queensland), was established in 1896. The library (later renamed the State Library of Queensland in 1902), had many homes, including occupying the building in William Street 1899-1988 — following which the State Library moved to its present location near the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Art Gallery, as part of the Queensland Cultural Centre. The State Library is currently undergoing extensive structural renovations at its South Bank address, which are expected to be completed by late 2006.

Queensland Performing Arts Centre

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre, which is also located at South Bank, and is also part of the Queensland Cultural Centre contains some of Brisbane’s main theatres (Lyric Theatre, Concert Hall, Cremorne Theatre, and the Playhouse). Before the Queensland Performing Arts Centre was built, major performing arts theatres included Her Majesty's Theatre in Queen Street, which was demolished and replaced by a more modern building), and Suncorp Theatre (originally called the SGIO Theatre) which appears to have been closed down - although the building still survives intact).

Other venues

Brisbane also held Expo '88 at South Bank, from April-October, 1988, on land adjacent to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Many of the sculptures commissioned for the Expo remain around parts of the city, including at King George Square. The Expo land was converted into the South Bank Parklands following Expo, and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the Queensland College of Art were subsequently built within the parklands, along with many other buildings, including the Suncorp Piazza.

Other theatres located in Brisbane include the Brisbane Arts Theatre, Twelfth Night Theatre, Roundhouse Theatre, Metro Arts Theatre and the Powerhouse. There are also several theatres located at the universities, including the QUT Gardens Theatre & the QUT Creative Industries Precinct (both of which are at the Queensland University of Technology), and Cement Box Theatre & Schonell Theatre (both of which are at the University of Queensland), and also the outdoor Roma Street Parkland Amphitheatre.

Performing Arts

Brisbane-based performing arts companies include the Queensland Theatre Company, Queensland Orchestra, Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Grin and Tonic Theatre Company, LaBoite Theatre Company, CIP, Opera Queensland, Queensland Ballet, the Queensland Pops Orchestra and Queensland Musical Society.

As well as these professional groups, Brisbane is home to a thriving amateur music scene, with several community orchestral groups including the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Wind and Brass, St Lucia Orchestra, Brisbane Symphonic Band, Brisbane Excelsior Brass Band, the several Queensland Youth Orchestras, and the Brisbane Regional Youth Orchestra.

There are also many community choirs including the Imogen Children's Chorale, Queensland Philharmonic Chorale, the Brisbane Chorale, the Queensland University Musical Society (QUMS) and the Queensland Choir.

Community musical theatre companies in the city include the Centenary Theatre Group, the Ignatians Musical Society, Queensland Musical Theatre, Savoyards Musical Comedy Society and the Springboard Theatre Company. The Brisbane Musical Theatre Competition, founded in 1997, showcases and promotes local talent.

To visit the websites of the above performing arts companies, please check the 'External links' section below

City Roos Sculptures

City Roo sculpture, George Street, Brisbane

City Roo sculptures, George Street, Brisbane

The City Roos sculptures were made, by sculptor Christopher Trotter, during 1999 from scrapmetal from a broad cross-section of industries.

Each of the City Roos sculptures is unique.

The City Roos sculptures take a look at the creative and classic Australian culture of 'making do', and symbolizes the importance of sharing space and communication.

The City Roos, which have proven to be a popular tourist attraction, are in the vicinity of the Law Courts Complex, in George Street, Brisbane.

Also close by are the Brisbane City Hall and King George Square, as well as the State Law Building.

Kangaroos, on which the sculptures are based, are among Australia's best known wildlife icons.

The replacement City roo sculpture (which has replaced the earlier destroyed sculpture)

Another view of the replacement City roo sculpture

Some time during late December 2005, the upper half of the sculpture closest to the traffic sign near the edge of the footpath (which is shown in the 'upper left' image) was broken off by vandals or thieves, or it might have perhaps been accidentally destroyed by being run over by a car because of the sculpture's close proximity to the edge of the footpath — and hence close to the road and traffic.

The destroyed sculpture was removed following the damage to it, and it has now been replaced by another unique City Roo sculpture (which is shown in the two 'lower' images).

Notable Brisbanites

Authors

Brisbane has produced a number of significant Australian authors, among them: Thea Astley, David Malouf, Nick Earls, Hugh Lunn, Kath Walker and Judith Wright.

Sculptors, artists and photographers

There are also notable Brisbane-born people in the creative arts (sculpture, painting and photography), including: Daphne Mayo (sculptor of the Tympanum above the entrance to the King George Square entrance to Brisbane City Hall) and Christopher Trotter (sculptor of the Brisbane City Roos — Kangaroo sculptures in George Street), as well as Mina Young (painter and photographer).

Stage and screen

Brisbane is also the birthplace of many well-known and famous actors and actresses, and other stage and film personnel, including: Ray Barrett (actor), Diane Cilento (actress), Barry Creyton, Clarence Evans (playwright/producer), Janet Fielding (actress), Elise Goodrich (performance artist), Barry Otto (actor), Miranda Otto (actress), Bruce Redman (film producer), John Stanton (actor), Leonard Teale (actor), and Geraldine Turner (actress).

Opera singers

Brisbane is also the birthplace of internationally acclaimed opera singers. Brisbane-born opera singers include: Jason Barry-Smith, Jeffrey Black, Lisa Gasteen (winner of Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 1991) and Donald Shanks.

Ballet dancers

Brisbane is also the birthplace of internationally acclaimed ballet dancers. Brisbane-born ballet dancers includes: Rebecca Yates.

Classical musicians

Brisbane is also the birthplace of internationally acclaimed classical musicians. Brisbane born classical musicians includes: Diana Doherty.

External links