Since March, most performing arts organisations across Australia have had their doors shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some smaller organisations have begun opening their doors to socially distanced audiences, this tends to be much harder for larger venues where from both a financial and experience viewpoint, they need theatres to be full. Rather than wait out the pandemic which has its own risks, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has this morning announced the QPAC Unlocked initiative.
Outlined in a statement attributed to QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas (full statement at the bottom of this post), they are “ready to welcome you back in late August for some smaller events”. This will be accomplished through their theatres and other spaces being reimagined in ways they claim will “ensure a unique and safe experience for (their) audiences”.
More information about what QPAC Unlocked entails has yet to be detailed, but expect to hear more in the next week or two.
Full Statement
Dear QPAC Friends,
When I last communicated with you back in March, I never imagined that our theatres would still be closed. So much has happened since then and the world is a different place. Although we haven’t been in touch in a while, you’ve never been far from our minds.
In fact, it has certainly been our loyal and passionate QPAC community that has kept us going during these challenging times. Our communities are central to what we do and I couldn’t be happier to share the news with you first that after months of planning we are ready to welcome you back in late August for some smaller events that will allow us to step confidently into this new COVID Safe world.
We’ve reimagined the use of our theatres and other spaces in ways that will ensure a unique and safe experience for our audiences.
This will be QPAC like you’ve never seen us. Small audiences and different formats.
Capacity will be limited for these events and it’s important to us that you have the opportunity to join us. To be amongst the first to come back and experience live performance at QPAC, I encourage you to sign up for our exclusive QPAC Unlocked waitlist to be the first to hear about the upcoming events.
Too often we’re told that art can’t change the world. I believe it can. I look forward to welcoming you back to a live performance very soon.
John Kotzas
Chief Executive, QPAC
