Thank goodness for you! I was glad to see Lee Lewis was leaving QT, perhaps now more Qld actors will be employed. The QLD culture cringe is none more evident than where I am on the Gold Coast. Mercury’s Wings has been here 17 years, sold out HOTA a number of times and we have to beg to be able to perform there. (So we don’t! We find other spaces) we must keep pushing back against the QLD cringe!
Hi James - as you say I think this issue is larger than any single person. HOTA is a great example of an interesting hotbed of Qld artists having cycled through over the years. Plenty of talent - more support needed!
This sort of thing always fucks me up. I have been privileged to work with so many leading organizations and so often I realise we are just competing for third place behind Sydney and Melbourne.
Really like your articles, keeps me informed about the arts, even though not involved. Here’s hoping it all improves and no one asks you about our coffee
Hear hear, and thank you for this piece. Queensland artists could also afford to be more self-possessed about our work (when they get work at least). I have a Southern colleague who has repeatedly said to me, "Brisbane's got restaurants!" , gleefully, over about a 15 year period now, and I wonder whether they've visited here any time since Expo (they lived here before that). Having faith in local artists would be a good start and, as you say, telling our stories.
Thank goodness for you! I was glad to see Lee Lewis was leaving QT, perhaps now more Qld actors will be employed. The QLD culture cringe is none more evident than where I am on the Gold Coast. Mercury’s Wings has been here 17 years, sold out HOTA a number of times and we have to beg to be able to perform there. (So we don’t! We find other spaces) we must keep pushing back against the QLD cringe!
Hi James - as you say I think this issue is larger than any single person. HOTA is a great example of an interesting hotbed of Qld artists having cycled through over the years. Plenty of talent - more support needed!
This sort of thing always fucks me up. I have been privileged to work with so many leading organizations and so often I realise we are just competing for third place behind Sydney and Melbourne.
Seemingly perennial but seems to have reached a crisis point in the last decade.
Really like your articles, keeps me informed about the arts, even though not involved. Here’s hoping it all improves and no one asks you about our coffee
To be fair, it’s bloody great coffee
Hear hear, and thank you for this piece. Queensland artists could also afford to be more self-possessed about our work (when they get work at least). I have a Southern colleague who has repeatedly said to me, "Brisbane's got restaurants!" , gleefully, over about a 15 year period now, and I wonder whether they've visited here any time since Expo (they lived here before that). Having faith in local artists would be a good start and, as you say, telling our stories.
Thanks so much Brendan. Ooooo me and your mate wouldn't get on! Cheeky! (Of course we've got bloody resaurants!)
From my position on the outer edge of ‘The Arts’ circle, I agree, that not much has changed in the last year.
Thanks so much Simone, I know you’re witnessing it first hand. The fight continues!
It's a bumpy "friendship" for sure :)