Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC)

Read our interview with Kuweni Dias Mendis, a Sri Lankan-Australian visual and performing artist who draws inspiration from her diasporic experience to weave a rich tapestry of culture and identity. "This work is my story of belonging in Australia, the hardships that have faced a migrant woman who left her mother, motherland, and her mother tongue at the tender age of 19 to come to Australia." 'Kuweni Dias Mendis: Reverberations' opens at BEMAC on Sunday, 20 October. https://lnkd.in/g3kEC7H6 Image courtesy of Little Drum Pictures.

📣 CALL FOR PROPOSALS BEMAC Artistic Program 2025 ‘A Stage called Home’ 💫 BEMAC’s Live and Unplugged series 💫 BrisAsia Festival 2025 produced by SOUNDS ACROSS OCEANS LIMITED for Brisbane City Council 💫 Metro Arts Creative Development Partnership Proposals due: 21 October https://lnkd.in/gT_UrkRU

BEMAC is calling for proposals for their 2025 program.

BEMAC calls for proposals BEMAC’s 2025 Artistic Program, ‘A Stage called Home’ is seeking proposals for BEMAC’s Live and Unplugged series, a special show for BrisAsia 2025 Festival produced by SOUNDS ACROSS OCEANS LIMITED for Brisbane City Council, and a creative development partnership with Metro Arts . Proposals due: Monday 21 October Drop-In Information and Support Session: Friday 4 October

Lucky Lartey is a Sydney-based dancer and choreographer at the forefront of exploring intercultural dance practices in Australia. Lucky spoke with BEMAC about his creative journey in Australia, his vision for contemporary West African performance cultures, and bringing Ghana Road Show to Queensland for the first time. Read the full interview https://lnkd.in/gnrdT9j5

BEMAC interviewed multi-instrumentalist Kaya Tominaga about her upcoming performance 'Journey Home', the history of taiko, and how this art form builds community and a sense of home.

BEMAC Discussions: 'Home and Longing'. In an increasingly interconnected world, the concept of home transcends physical borders. For diasporic communities, home often evokes a profound sense of longing, identity, and belonging. Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion as we delve into the multifaceted experiences of diaspora, exploring themes of nostalgia, cultural identity, and the search for belonging. How do diasporic communities redefine and preserve cultural identity? What role does memory and nostalgia play in shaping one’s sense of home away from the homeland? In what ways do second and third generation diaspora individuals negotiate their dual identities and senses of belonging? Featuring: • Kaya Tominaga  • Kuweni Dias Mendis • Liesel Zink • Minney Richani Moderator: Prita Tina Yeganeh For those who are not able to physically attend the sessions, BEMAC Discussions will be live streamed on BEMAC’s Facebook page facebook.com/BEMACpresents 6:30pm, Monday 19 August Followed by BEMAC Discover at 8:00pm Queensland Multicultural Centre 102 Main St, Kangaroo Point Free to attend. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gxjvNkcD

BEMAC appoints inaugural Artistic Advisory Panel. David Carberry, Ruari Elkington, Bonnie Melrose, Roselle Tenefrancia, Menaka Thomas, and Taitu’uga kitch Wesche have begun their two year term on the Artistic Advisory Panel following a public appeal to make a difference to the thriving multicultural arts sector in Queensland. Collectively the panel members will draw from a wide range of skill sets in the creative industries including music, festivals, circus, performance, film, visual art, health and wellbeing, and social justice advocacy to BEMAC’s strategic planning. They will provide expert advice and recommendations to BEMAC’s management team regarding the development, implementation, and evaluation of programming initiatives. BEMAC Producer Eyal Chipkiewicz said “The Artistic Advisory Panel will share their experience, expertise and creative instincts to help us elevate, protect and honour the artists, the artistry and the powerful impact that their work has on our community as a whole.” https://lnkd.in/eVfZ9Um6

WORK WITH US QMC Bookings and Function Coordinator The Queensland Multicultural Centre (QMC) is one of Brisbane’s iconic exhibitions and events venues. Located beneath the Story Bridge on the historic Yungaba site. Opening in 2012, the purpose-built facility was established to promote unity in our society and a sense of belonging for all. QMC offers a broad range of spaces to suit both community and corporate needs and welcomes the opportunity for people to celebrate and share their diversity through performance and arts. QMC is managed by BEMAC, Queensland’s most dynamic producer of multicultural arts. BEMAC has been successfully staging productions that fuel the diverse practice of artists from a variety of cultural backgrounds for over three decades. We’re looking for someone with attention to detail and a can-do attitude to support our functions and events delivery.

Announcing our Creative Confluence Season 2 artistic program. The Creative Confluence program is drawn from applications of contemporary artists working across music, dance, poetry, performance art, theatre, and visual art. BEMAC’s popular free-monthly Discussions series will also return to foster dialogue and exploration for creators and artists across diverse cultural backgrounds. BEMAC has developed new partnerships to present to wider audiences at VENTspace, Melt Festival of Queer Arts and Culture, Queensland Ballet, Studio 188, Kingston Butter Factory, and Queensland Multicultural Centre. View the full program: https://lnkd.in/ggbBQXEA Media release: https://lnkd.in/gEb6H6YM Images: 1. NUDO Dance: Criollo 2. Kaya Tominaga’s Journey Home 3. Ghana Road Show 4. Cieavash Arean & Huda The Goddess: The Evolution of our Revolutions 5. Balikbayan Blues, The Musical 6. Mark Du Potiers: Some Days My Skin Just Isn’t So Thick 7. Panalchemy: Unity 8. Kuweni Dias Mendis: Reverberations 9. Harmony Amidst Destruction Photography: Ange Costes Photography