Arts and culture in Brisbane: galleries, theatre, and live music

Brisbane's cultural infrastructure has matured significantly over the past decade, with QAGOMA's GOMA establishing the city as a serious contemporary art destination, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre maintaining a world-class presenting programme, and the Fortitude Valley music precinct sustaining the live music ecosystem that launched Australian careers including The Saints, Regurgitator, and Powderfinger.

Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — the largest gallery of modern and contemporary art in Australia outside the national gallery provides the blockbuster international exhibitions (Yayoi Kusama, Andy Warhol, Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe) and the permanent collection that establish GOMA as the primary reason cultural visitors come to Brisbane from interstate and internationally. The Children's Art Centre is exceptional for families.

Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) — the concert hall and theatre complex at South Bank presents the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland Ballet, Opera Queensland, and the international touring productions (Broadway, West End) that create Brisbane's premium performing arts calendar. The Lyric Theatre's 2,000-seat capacity hosts the major musical productions.

Fortitude Valley live music — the music precinct centred on Ann Street and Brunswick Street contains The Tivoli, The Fortitude Music Hall, and the cluster of smaller venues (The Zoo, The Brightside, Black Bear Lodge) that sustain Brisbane's live original music ecosystem and present the touring national and international artists who stop in Brisbane as part of east coast tours.

Brisbane Powerhouse — the converted power station at New Farm provides the alternative and contemporary performing arts programme (theatre, comedy, cabaret, circus) that the more conservative programming of QPAC does not cover, and the Brisbane Comedy Festival (March/April) that is the city's signature annual comedy event.

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