In 2021, while standing on the deck of the Brisbane Festival’s Art Boat, Louise Bezzina looked up at the city’s bridges and imagined something more. She saw not just pathways over water, but blank canvases ready for bold colour, joyful shapes and the kind of public art that could stop people in their tracks. Four years later, Kangaroo Point Bridge, alongside the Neville Bonner and Goodwill bridges, is about to become that canvas. As Ms Bezzina prepares to deliver her final Brisbane Festival as artistic director, her vision is finally coming to life in vivid fashion.
From 5 to 27 September, these three bridges will be wrapped in playful inflatable installations by internationally acclaimed artists Craig & Karl. The duo, originally from Brisbane, have returned home with their largest project yet, Walk This Way, turning river crossings into open-air galleries that stretch high above the water.
From Pandemic to Public Art
Appointed in 2020, Ms Bezzina’s tenure began in the thick of the pandemic. With restrictions and uncertainty hanging over the arts industry, she steered Brisbane Festival through uncharted waters. Her approach was always grounded in optimism and accessibility, with a clear goal: to bring art into the everyday lives of Brisbane residents.
This year, the city becomes her final stage. Over 1,000 performances, including 21 world premieres, will play out in theatres, parks, gardens and public spaces. More than a third of the program is free.
Ms Bezzina has said this last festival feels like a gift to the city. It’s a thank you and a love letter to the place that shaped her artistic leadership. Her curatorial eye has always favoured boldness and joy. Past festivals have featured giant birds wearing party hats and hundreds of drones lighting up the river. But this time, she’s going even bigger, drawing a direct line between the art and the people who live among it.
Telling Brisbane’s Story
The Craig & Karl bridge project is just one part of a wider transformation. Their artworks will also appear across the city in an extended trail reaching the CBD, South Bank, New Farm and even Brisbane Airport. It’s designed to encourage walking, to get people off the bus or out of their car, and into the streets to experience Brisbane in a new way.
For Ms Bezzina, these visual elements are more than decorations; they are also invitations. An invitation to look up, to slow down, to feel like the city itself is celebrating.
That same philosophy shapes other parts of the program. Baleen Moondjan, created by renowned choreographer Stephen Page, will unfold on a floating barge at Queen’s Wharf. Drawing on a First Nations story passed down by Page’s grandmother, it blends dance, music and striking visual design to honour country and kin.
Theatre, Music and Memory
In Bowen Hills, the Twelfth Night Theatre, long home to amateur productions, is undergoing a refresh just in time for Gatsby at the Green Light. The show, a stylish cabaret inspired by The Great Gatsby, played to packed houses in Sydney and will now transform this beloved venue into a 1920s speakeasy. Ms Bezzina championed its inclusion as part of her ongoing commitment to breathing new life into underused local spaces.
Across the broader festival, audiences will find everything from cutting-edge contemporary dance to family-friendly music nights. Gems, a ballet trilogy by LA Dance Project and Benjamin Millepied, will make its world debut in Brisbane. And shows like The Lovers, Back to Bilo, and Tina – A Tropical Love Story continue the festival’s strong focus on storytelling with cultural roots.
Returning favourites include Riverfire and the spectacular Skylore drone display, while a new light and fire sculpture event called Afterglow will take over the City Botanic Gardens with more accessible pricing and a shorter run.
A New Chapter Begins
This year marks the festival’s 29th year, and Louise Bezzina’s last as its leader. In October, she will move into her new role as CEO and Artistic Director of Brisbane Powerhouse. But her mark on Brisbane Festival is likely to endure far beyond this season.
She often described her goal as helping Brisbane fall in love with its festival. As the city gets ready to walk across bridges turned into rainbows, float beside whales made of bone, and gather under fireworks and firelight, that love seems stronger than ever.
Published 11-June-2025
