Creative Arts & Culture
As a cultural hub in regional Australia, Townsville’s cultural and performing arts scene is part of the fabric of community life, with a variety of acts, live shows, and exhibitions regularly presented throughout the city’s creative spaces and galleries.
Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
Perc Tucker Regional Gallery is Townsville’s premier regional art gallery, offering a dynamic range of local, national, and international exhibitions complemented by workshops, talks and a host of other programs. The gallery is located on the corner of Denham Street and Flinders Streets in the Townsville CBD.
Pinnacles Gallery
Pinnacles Gallery is a dynamic art space at Riverway committed to community engagement, artistic development, and contemporary practice. The gallery is located at 20 Village Boulevard, Thuringowa Central.
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts is a not-for-profit contemporary art space with an annual program of exhibitions, public programs and events. It is one of Australiaâs longest running regionally based contemporary art galleries. Umbrella showcases the work of emerging, mid-career and established local, national and international artists, and has a dedicated exhibition space for First Nations artists. It also has a Makerspace (including printing presses) for artists to create in. The gallery is located at 408 Flinders Street, Townsville City.
Townsville Civic Theatre
Townsville Civic Theatre is North Queensland’s premier cultural facility owned and managed by Townsville City Council. Since opening in 1978, the theatre continues to be a dynamic centre of entertainment and an environment to further develop performing arts in Townsville and the region.
The Civic Theatre was built to satisfy presentation needs in two specific fields: a) as a training and performing centre for local groups who present drama, ballet, pop, choral and classical music concerts, musicals, band shows and other entertainments; b) and as a top venue for national and world class professional companies touring from the capital cities and overseas.Â
Special design features on stage and in the auditorium convert the Civic Theatre into a small intimate playÂhouse, or a venue for recitals, chamber music performances, local music, drama and dance productions, theatre workshops, or presentations which do not normally draw large crowds.
The Civic Theatres total seating capacity is 1066, and is located at 41 Boundary Street, South Townsville.
Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Resources
Townsville City Council, via the cityâs library network, offers services for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and the wider community. CityLibraries host Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander books, DVDs and newspapers, and historical Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander photographs from north and far north Queensland communities. CityLibraries supports many cultural activities including NAIDOC Week and Mabo Day.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music is hosted each year in tropical Townsville, bringing together a stunning line-up of acclaimed international and Australian musicians for ten days of concerts, events and memorable experiences. With morning concert conversations, sunset and evening concerts, free events and island concerts, there really is something for everyone! This unique world-class annual event is held in August and is deemed a âmust seeâ by locals and visitors to the region.
Dancenorth Australia
Townsville is home to one of the nationâs leading performing arts companies, Dancenorth Australia. Dancenorth balances a dynamic regional presence with a commitment to creating compelling contemporary dance that tours the globe.
Led by Artistic Director, Kyle Page (2017 Sidney Myer Creative Fellow), Executive Director Hillary Coyne and Associate Artistic Director Amber Haines, Dancenorth is an integral part of the Australian dance ecology making a significant contribution to the dance sector and building literacy around contemporary dance nationally.
Deeply committed to the creation of adventurous, thoughtfully conceived, and highly acclaimed new work; Dancenorth has presented work in over 45 International Arts Festivals and venues around Australia and the world. As a model for making outstanding art in a regional community, Dancenorth has received several accolades including the prestigious 2017 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Group Award, Australian Dance Award (Best Community Dance Award), Greenroom Award (Best Ensemble If_Was_), two Helpmann awards for the MFI Commissioned work Attractor (Best Dance Production and Best Choreography in a Ballet, Dance or Physical Theatre Production) and a Greenroom award for Composition / Sound Design for Attractor, along with numerous other nominations.
An epicentre of cultural exchange, Dancenorth empowers and supports artists by providing a creative hub for many artistic voices including a diverse range of choreographers, guest collaborators, artists in residence and dancers.
TheatreiNQ
Founded in Townsville in 2010, TheatreiNQ has established a strong foundation as the premiere
theatre company in Regional Queensland. TheatreiNQ strongly believes in the need for art and performance to ensure the health of a strong and vibrant nation, beyond the metropolitan areas. The companyâs unique blend of professional, emerging and community engagement has proven to be the model for future professional theatre to grow outside of our capital centres and to continue to allow the economy of theatre and the arts to grow organically within regional and remote areas of Australia.
Townsville Street Art Trail
Townsvilleâs âStreet Art City Walking Trailâ is designed to make it easy for admirers to explore the cityâs growing street art collection. Townsvilleâs CBD hosts a significant number of these astonishing works, showcasing the talents of some of the regionâs most accomplished contemporary artists. A copy of the âWalking Trailâ map can be downloaded below:
Townsville – Street Art City Walking Trail
Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA)
The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) is a series of globally significant artworks located on the Great Barrier Reef in Townsville North Queensland. MOUAâs inspiring art pieces have been created by the worldâs leading underwater sculptor – Jason deCaires Taylor. As Jasonâs only underwater art museum in the Southern Hemisphere, MOUA has been created to inspire and educate the globe about reef conservation. The artworks have been built to allow for coral planting to support reef restoration.
Snorkel or dive this spectacular underwater marvel and witness as these incredible artworks over time transform into their own eco-systems thriving with marine life.
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