Alter Boy performs at Melt 2023
Brisbane/Meanjin’s new festival of queer arts and culture, Melt Open, is launching from 23 October to 10 November. It’s an open-access festival, meaning artists, producers and venues are invited to add their events to the festival program.
In the festival’s own words, “Anyone can register to present a performance, event or exhibition if they can find a venue that will program them.” You can register your event or venue here.
To help flesh out the Melt Open program, the festival’s producer, Brisbane Powerhouse, has announced the Melt Open development program. They’re seeking submissions from LGBTQIA+ creatives across all arts sectors, with successful applicants to receive financial support for their Melt Open events.
There’s $60,000 available for artists and event producers based in South-East Queensland and $70,000 for those in Regional Queensland. Individual projects and events will receive between $3500 and $5000 to develop and produce performances, events or exhibitions for the 2024 festival.
The development program is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. The state’s arts minister, Leeanne Enoch, underlined the significance of the development program to the Labor government’s arts policy.
“[It] backs our government’s commitment to elevating the voices of people who are of diverse sex, gender and sexuality, as we continue the development of Queensland’s first whole-of-government LGBTQIA+ strategy,” Enoch said.
Melt Open is descended from Brisbane Powerhouse’s Melt Festival, which brought artists like Peaches, Big Freedia, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Chappell Roan and KUČKA to the Powerhouse between 2015 and 2023.
SEE ALSO: Spotlight on Cube 37, a youth-oriented contemporary venue in Frankston Arts Centre
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Melt Open is happening at various venues in Brisbane/Meanjin from 23 October to 10 November 2024. Full program details to come. Find all the info on the website.
