First Nation Peoples have managed their creative and cultural landscape, now named Queensland, for more than 70,000 years. Old ones and young, still continue the vital connection through their distinctive links to Land, Sky and Waters today, in all manner of ways.
Our First Nations program is created, produced and managed, by a team of First Nations Creatives; supporting new works in development, training and upskilling of new artists and arts workers, full scale stage works, celebratory festivals, and community events (such as NAIDOC celebrations and community festivals).
Our First Nations program is bold, resilient, and features fierce Blak work from local, regional and national First Nations artists. This program supports, empowers and elevates First Nations artists into positions where they can create work that explores love, life, celebration, loss, pain and grief through a Blak perspective.
Queensland’s two distinct cultures are showcased through the ancient uniqueness of their diversity and environment. QPAC’s First Nation Programming continues to deepen Queensland First Nations Peoples connections into mainstream industry with strategic leadership and partners throughout our business.
Supported by the success and learnings from our QPAC’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) launched in 2022 and our Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property commitment, We have now taken the next step in our reconciliation journey with the launch of our Innovate RAP in September 2024. The Innovate RAP signifies our commitment to creating a future where First Nations voices are celebrated and empowered across the arts and ensuring First Nations involvement in QPAC beyond the stage and into everyday operations.
This program is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
-
About the Artist – Jennifer Kent
The featured artwork Pearl People – Kgwambi-Barra is by Jennifer Kent, a multicultural Australian with First Nations ancestry from the Quandamooka, Jinibara and Darumbal communities. Read more about the artist and her artwork here.
Artist: Jennifer Kent – Quandamooka | Jinibara | Darumbal
What’s on
Discover First Nations brilliance at QPAC!
18th Anniversary of the National Apology
This event is an opportunity to reflect on the significance of the National Apology, honour the resilience of Stolen Generations and contribute to ongoing journey of truth, healing, and connection.
Gary Lang NT Dance Company The Other Side of Me
The Other Side of Me explores identity, adoption, and belonging through one man’s true-life story of the Stolen Generation.
Inheritance by Toni Janke
A bold and deeply moving theatrical experience, Inheritance is a poetic and musical journey into identity, resilience, and the sacred bonds that connect us across time.
The Drover’s Wife – The Opera
A monumental new opera based on the play, novel and film by one of Australia’s leading artists, Leah Purcell AM.
Bangarra Dance Theatre Sheltering
Experience a program of three powerful works: Keeping Grounded, Brown Boys, and Sheoak, which honour the past while looking to the future.
Capricorn by Aidan Rowlingson
Explore the tumultuous love story of Sam and Ally in this gripping play that delves into the complexities of relationships, love, and loss.
Subscribe
Subscribe to QPAC’s First Nations Community List
At QPAC, we value the contributions of First Nations peoples to the arts and strive to enhance their access to arts experiences. As part of our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, we offer MOBTIX pricing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community members for selected events.
In Development
Storytellers
Storytellers is a partnership program between QPAC and Metro Arts designed to realise fresh ideas and foster new voices in theatre. Leveraging both organisations’ strengths in developing original work, this initiative invites First Nations playwrights and physical theatre artists to explore and shape bold new performance concepts.
Sparks
Sparks is a PLAYLAB THEATRE and QPAC partnership program which runs for a year and is designed to facilitate pathway opportunities for First Nations Artists in the performing arts.
Ignition
Extending the pathway established by QPAC & Playlab Theatre’s Sparks program, Ignition is the next step for First Nations playwrights to further advance their creative practice.
BIW A Githalay
This universal and interactive theatrical experience is for children aged five and over. The project is guided by a strong community of Saibai Island mothers, aunties and grandmothers in collaboration with First Nations theatre industry professionals.
Gubal Thayemin
This important theatrical piece speaks of a future when our communities have been swallowed by the waters that surround them. Climate change is real, so how do we bring our cultural knowledge and science together to understand the impact of what is occurring around us?
Preparing Ground
In 2019, leading First Nations choreographers Marilyn Miller (Kukuyalanji and Waanyi), Jasmin Sheppard (Tagalaka and Kurtitjar) and Katina Olsen (Wakka Wakka and Kombumerri) first seeded a powerful new dance project showcasing First Nations-led responses to the environmental devastation of colonisation and climate change.
SMOKE
SMOKE is a dance theatre work co-directed by Kirk Page and Jade Dewi TyasTunggal that has been in development on Bundjalung Country in Northern NSW, Meanjin lands of the Yuggaera and Turrbal peoples lands and Indonesia.
Watch
Watch engaging conversations, in depth interviews, the retelling of forgotten stories and go behind the scenes.
On Digital Stage
Stories
Embark on a captivating journey into the rich tapestry of Indigenous heritage, wisdom, and creativity.
-
Torres Strait IslandPhoto: Stutterstock The Mabo Oration
In 2005 the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland (ADCQ) and QPAC partnered to establish he Mabo Oration – a biennial public oration.
-
National Apology Day
To commemorate the 14th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations in 2022, Link-Up (Qld) hosted a morning tea at QPAC.
-
As it Happened: Clancestry 2022
Highlights from QPAC’s Clancestry – A Celebration of Country, which ran from 13 to 28 May 2022 and brought together First Nations voices, ideas and talent.
-
QPAC Launches Reconciliation Action Plan
QPAC launched its Reconciliation Action Plan, signalling the organisation's commitment to reconciliation with Australia’s First Nations peoples.
-
Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir
The debut performance by the Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir was a resounding success with audiences treated to extraordinary choral singing from the outback.
-
Designing a First Nations Festival Space
How Quandamooka Nunukul artist Casey Coolwell Fisher’s artwork transformed QPAC during QPAC’s Clancestry – A Celebration of Country.
-
Healing Country through the Performing Arts
Reflections from our Chief Executive John Kotzas and Elder in Residence Aunty Colleen Wall during NAIDOC Week 2021.
-
Meet Rachael Sarra
Responsible for QPAC’s First Nations artwork, her artwork recognizes and celebrates First Nations people, culture and stories throughout all of Queensland.
-
Luke PearsonPhotographer: Rob Shaw No Filter with Luke Pearson
Founder and CEO Luke Pearson, a Gamilaroi man, visited QPAC ahead of delivering The Mabo Oration in June 2019.
-
Already OccupiedPhotographer: Jo-Anne Driessens Behind the Scenes – Already Occupied
Quandamooka artist, Libby Harward, created a series of installations across various locations at QPAC during QPAC’s Clancestry – A Celebration of Country.
-
Image by LaVonne BoBongie Photography Behind the Scenes: Seedlings
Seedlings is a program which provides creative development opportunities to artists and creatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) heritage.
-
BIW A Githalay
BIW A GITHALAY (The Crab and the Mangrove Tree) is a universal and interactive theatrical experience for children aged five and over.
You may also like
Projects and Events
QPAC is a creative hub where communities come together to celebrate, learn, and grow through the transformative power of the arts.
Behind the Scenes
Our Behind the Scenes series takes you on an exclusive journey into the heart of QPAC, where the magic of the stage comes to life.
Support
Support QPAC to help nurture and celebrate Queensland's rich artistic heritage while fostering innovation and creativity for the future.
About
For over three decades, QPAC has been dedicated to enriching lives and nourishing the creative spirit.