Australia’s creative sector stands at a turning point. While recent years have seen declining enrolments and reduced access to arts education, there is a clear opportunity to reset and strengthen the pipeline of creative talent.

In Queensland and across the nation, students still value storytelling, performance, and creative expression—but current systems are discouraging them from pursuing these paths. By addressing these barriers and realigning education with our cultural ambitions, Australia can ensure its stages, studios, and creative industries are filled with homegrown talent for years to come.

The challenge is real—but so is the opportunity to build a stronger, more sustainable future for the arts.

Featuring Dr David Burton, Author, Playwright, Wellbeing Counsellor and Coach + more.

Aunty Robyn Williams is a respected Yugambeh Elder and traditional owner based in Logan City, Queensland, known for her dedication to education, cultural preservation, and advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and families. She is a descendant of Bilin Bilin (known as King of the Logan) and a strong voice for her community.

Fast, focused, and full of ideas—this PechaKucha-style session features a lineup of Queensland organisations and independent producers, each presenting in a rapid-fire format. In just 20 slides × 20 seconds, speakers will showcase opportunities, initiatives, and success stories that support independent producing. From residencies to co-productions, this session offers a high-energy snapshot of what’s possible—and how to get involved.

Following these presentations, a facilitated conversation will draw connections between these opportunities, offering insight into how producers can strategically engage with the sector. Attendees will leave with a clearer map of available pathways and practical ideas for next steps.

This session explores how regional festivals create opportunities for artists to extend their work and for communities to access rich cultural experiences—highlighting how and why local councils, performing arts centres, and state governments invest in them as drivers of cultural vitality, community connection, and regional identity. Risk sharing – how presenters and producers are working together, delivering to communities.

It will offer insight into festival programming priorities and selection processes, alongside practical strategies for positioning work, building relationships with presenters, and engaging with regional festival networks to sustain and grow artistic practice.

This inspiring conversation will examine how strategic arts and cultural programming can transform a destination’s identity into a powerful economic engine. It explores how authentic storytelling and local creative experiences and major one-off events attract high-value visitors while ensuring the long-term social and environmental resilience of regional communities.

Get a taste of upcoming work by Queensland's artists and producers. Discover in-development and tour-ready works from across Queensland in the arts market program, featuring spotlights on standout companies and artists, live pitches, and performance excerpts.

Take part in a variety of catered face-to-face networking sessions with Queensland’s industry leaders, regional presenters and major organisations. Make meaningful connections with this unique opportunity to take part in the conversations that shape Queensland’s touring landscape.

Experience an exciting mix of keynote speeches, panel discussions, practical workshops, and Q&A sessions with leading industry experts and major arts organisations, alongside curated networking events focused on developing our touring ecology.

Formerly the Locals Expo, any attending artists, producers and presenters are invited to take part in an informal and face-to-face pitching opportunity during Tuesday and Wednesday's lunch sessions.

There's so much to be revealed in QShowcase's upcoming full program released at the end of May, including Roundtable Sessions, Venue Tours, Funding Discussions and more...