The Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO), the largest performing arts company in the state of Queensland, has become the second Artist-in-Residence to entertain passengers at Brisbane Airport in Australia.
Brisbane is the first airport in Australia to have an Artist-in-Residence program, which was launched in 2015. QSO will follow realist painter Robert Brownhall, who created a series of works featuring different views of the airport, including passengers, aircraft and the general landscape.
Brisbane Airport has long invested in art projects and organizations across the state, from music and theatre to ballet, exhibitions and festivals. It has also commissioned dozens of works for one of the biggest and most significant collections of public art in Australia valued at more than A$10m (US$7.5m).
Julieanne Alroe, managing director and CEO of Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), the airport operator, said, “There’s a growing awareness of Brisbane as a city dedicated to the arts, and Queensland as a cultural destination, and we want to add momentum to that.
“We are extremely lucky to have an abundance of creative artists and performers in our own backyard and, through our Artist-in-Residence program, we’re able to showcase these talents to a broader audience and hopefully inspire visitors to our city and encourage locals to take a closer look at what Queensland has to offer.”
Queensland Symphony Orchestra is renowned for its performances of both classical and modern compositions that engage audiences of all musical tastes, interests and ages. During the residency the QSO will undertake six ‘pop-up’ performances in the international and domestic terminals, with three of these performances taking place before the end of the year.
Rodney Phillips, interim chief executive, QSO, said, “The experience of hearing orchestral music live is like the anticipation people feel at an airport – there’s the excitement of new places and new sounds as well as the memories and warm embrace of family, much like the feeling you get when you hear favorite pieces of music.
“We hope our airport performances will encourage people to take full advantage of Queensland’s vibrant cultural landscape when they are visiting.”