Brisbane Festival Art Boat becomes a floating success story

It’s fast becoming the hit of the Brisbane Festival and is proof that and artistic director Louise Bezzina’s bright idea has turned out to be one of her best, but you’d better hurry if you want to enjoy this experience for yourself.

Louise Bezzina, Artistic Director, Brisbane Festival Art Boat, a barge with art installations that will sail the river during Brisbane Festival, Wednesday 1st September 2021 - Photo Steve Pohlner

Ahoy! Avast me hearties! Shiver Me Timbers!

Why am I talking like that?

Because I have just been on Brisbane’s Art Boat, a new floating experience at Brisbane Festival which is on until September 25. It cruises between South Bank and Northshore, Hamilton or if your sea legs aren’t up to that it also does a nice one-hour cruise, a loop of the river from Northshore, Hamilton, one of this year’s festival hubs.

This is Brisbane Festival artistic director Louise Bezzina’s bright idea and it turns out to be one of her best.

It has been so popular that it booked out quickly and she has already promised it will be back next year. And here’s the thing ... they have just scheduled a couple of new cruises on Sunday 12 and Sunday September 19th but you had better hurry!

Airship Orchestra is an art installation that you will experience on Brisbane’s Art Boar during Brisbane Festival: Photo Steve Pohlner

Louise Bezzina wanted the river to be central to the festival and what better way to do that than to offer arty cruises with art installations on board, a bar, a DJ and live entertainment too.

I went on one of these cruises on the weekend and I’m not the best sailor I assure you. “Never throw into the wind” I was once told but you really can’t get seasick on Brisbane’s Art Boat. Can you?

The Art Boat is actually a very sturdy barge pulled by tug boats so it’s very safe.

Hamish Harvey and Tamara Grams aboard Brisbane’s Art Boat: photo by Steve Pohlner

And as Louise Bezzina is constantly pointing out, unlike the Titanic this boat has enough life jackets for everyone. Just saying.

The boat features ENESS’s installations Airship Orchestra on board with Sky Castle on land although this will flip halfway through the season and they will swap places. Even if you don’t go on the cruise you can pop over and see the installations any day of the week at the site at 89 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton where there is plenty of parking (the car park is vast! I love that!) which is helpful in a city where parking is now a bit of a nightmare. Kids are loving these installations.

Around 200 people can go on each cruise and entertainment on board includes Sahara Beck, Jaguar Jonze, Opera Queensland and plenty of other great acts.

The night I was on we were treated to a fashion and performance art experience from designer Gail Sorronda and her models which was terrific.

There’s a lively bar and an evening soundscape by Shannon Ruska of Tribal Experiences.

It’s lovely just cruising down the river, particularly at dusk watching the sunset and the lights coming on.

brisbanefestival.com.au