Find Your Perspective
There's a rumour that we're not a very "artsy" place. Good thing it's just a rumour. Galleries, theatre groups, nostalgia museums, sculpture festivals and indigenous performances just brush the surface of a cultural canvas that goes far deeper. As they say - art is purely a matter of perspective after all. Looking for more inspiration? Check out the cultural highlights of the Gold Coast hinterland.
arts & culture
- Free Event
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14 May 2024
MySmallBiz Expo - Gold Coast
Event designed to showcase the best small businesses, self-employed individuals, and budding entrepreneurs. The MySmallBiz Expos are perfect for anyone looking to explore and support local small businesses while enjoying a day filled with engaging activities that highlight the diverse local community. During the expos, you'll have the opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions and presentations with various experts from ETC’s Business team, Self-Employment Ambassadors, and Subject Matter Experts, where you can gain valuable insights and advice tailored to small businesses and self-employment. But that’s not all – these expos are all about networking and fostering meaningful connections. You'll get the chance to meet and interact with other small business owners and industry professionals, building relationships that could open up new opportunities and collaborations. It’s a great place to learn and discover new things on your leisurely journey. By attending, you’ll support small businesses in the local community, allowing small business stall holders to showcase their products and services and practice their elevator pitches. This event is about learning and encouraging people to support the businesses exhibiting at the expo. So whether you're a seasoned traveller or just starting out, mark your calendars and join in promoting self-employment, small business, and entrepreneurship in the local community! Please visit the website for more info.
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23 May 2024 - 26 May 2024
2024 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show
Welcome to Australia’s must-see boating blockbuster! The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is the greatest show afloat! The Southern Hemisphere’s marquee marine event with a superstar lineup of more than 330 exhibitors across everything from the latest marine gadgets and must-have technology to a massive display of trailer boats, sail boats, motor yachts and superyachts plus a raft of exciting new product launches. The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show promises plenty of showstopping moments from exclusive VIP experiences in The Lagoon Lounge to boatloads of activities, including live entertainment stages, fishing demonstrations, street performers and a fun-filled kids activities. Get along to the biggest and best boating lifestyle show with over 600 boats and thousands of marine products. Don’t miss this full-on, four-day, action-packed event of all things aquatic. Save the Date - May 23-26, 2024
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05 Jun 2024 - 09 Jun 2024
Cooly Rocks On
Cooly Rocks On returns to Coolangatta on the Gold Coast to celebrate the motors, music and lifestyle of yesteryear. Featuring one of Australia’s best Show ‘N’ Shine displays, the festival showcases an impressive collection of hot rods, kustom vehicles, lowbrow art and more, with more than 900 vehicles lining the streets of Coolangatta. As for the music, some of the best rock ‘n’ roll, swing, rockabilly and tribute artists from around Australia and beyond will take to the stage throughout the festival, including international Elvis Tribute Artists Dwight Icenhower (USA), Louis Brown (UK) and Che Orton (NZ). Cooly Rocks On is also one of two festivals held in Australia to host an official preliminary round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, with the winner heading straight to Elvis Week in Memphis, USA. The annual Cooly Rocks Pin-up Pageant is another festival favourite and if you’re in need of some retro goods and memorabilia, make sure to check out the Nostalgia Markets on the Coolangatta beachfront. With many free and ticketed entertainment options across the action-packed five-day festival, we can’t wait to turn back the clock on Coolangatta!
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07 Jun 2024 - 08 Jun 2024
Gold Coast Disability Expo
The Gold Coast Disability Expo brings together a wide range of products and services to help people live their best life, including government and advocacy organisation, aids and equipment providers, financial and legal services, education, training and employment providers, social and leisure options, transport and vehicles, health and medical products and services, allied health professionals and support services, including in-home care providers The expo will also feature a range of informative and interactive presentations delivered by industry experts, all-abilities adult and children’s entertainment, and food vendors.
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07 Jun 2024
Untethered
UntetheredA selection of South-East Queensland’s most dynamic dance collectives take over HOTA’s small theatre space in a high-adrenaline night of contemporary dance. Join us for an exhilarating journey through dynamic choreography and bold artistic expression, where each piece offers a glimpse into the creative minds of today’s most contemporary movers. Be part of this unique opportunity to witness cutting-edge work being made right now, presented in bite-sized snippets by a range of local choreographers.
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27 Jun 2024 - 07 Jul 2024
The Doyles Art Award
An annual not-for-profit art award and exhibition held in the beautiful historic village of Mudgeeraba. Artists compete for cash prizes with the winner taking home $20,000. Focusing on representational art, The Doyles Award exhibits over 300 artworks entered by local and national artists. Categories include Landscape, Still Life, Figurative, Juniors and All Abilities. Start your art collection, or add to an existing one! All adult artwork is available for purchase. Entry is absolutely free. Come along and enjoy a few hours discovering the inspirational talent on display. Follow on socials or visit the website to see what activities, workshops and events are happening during The Doyles.
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07 Jul 2024
HOTA Collects: Made in Surfers Paradise
HOTA Collects: Made in Surfers ParadiseThis HOTA Collects exhibition explores the vibrant fashions of Surfers Paradise in the 1950s and 60s. There through a newly commissioned film, we discover the story of six incredible women who brought fashion to the Gold Coast and, in doing so, turned a laid-back seaside town into a cavalcade of golden girls in bikinis, fabulous resort wear and glamorous evening wear fit for poolside cocktail parties.
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04 Aug 2024
Your Local Wedding Guide Gold Coast Expo
When you visit Your Local Wedding Guide Gold Coast Expo, expect to be inspired by exciting new products and ideas, see gorgeous displays, listen to live music, plus go in the draw to win great prizes! Register Online for Free Tickets to their Gold Coast wedding expo at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach. Loads of inspiration in a friendly and fun atmosphere! Showcasing reception venues through to cars, beauty, gowns, cakes, photographers, entertainment and much, much more, their amazing expo is the largest and longest running wedding expo on the Gold Coast. They help you plan your wedding using the most reliable and trusted wedding industry suppliers from the Gold Coast and South-East Queensland. All weddings are unique, so whether you're dreaming of a bohemian beach wedding, a rustic, vintage or modern styled wedding, let them help turn your dreams into reality. They don't cater to any one 'style' of wedding - everyone is welcome! See you there!
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13 Sep 2024 - 14 Sep 2024
Redemption - An evening of Burlesque
Redemption - An evening of BurlesqueJoin Sass and Soul Dance as they take you on the ultimate hypnotic escape at their 2024 annual show - Redemption! Immerse yourself in a breathtaking evening of Burlesque, featuring tasteful but tantalising costumes dances, comedy, and more! Joining for his second year is host, the sensational Terry Daktyl, Gold Coast's Gender Flipping Drag Artist, who'll have you mesmerised with his infinite world of drag. Perfect for ladies night, an evening with a loved one or a group night out like no other. Indulge your senses and get ready to immerse yourself in the hypnotic world of Burlesque Cabaret, with access to an evening of unrivalled indulgence in this one-of-a-kind experience that is Redemption.
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23 Oct 2024
Waru - Journey of the Small Turtle
WARU - JOURNEY OF THE SMALL TURTLEUnder the star-illuminated skies of the Torres Strait, a green turtle navigates her way back to the beach where she was born. The season has started, the turtles are returning to nest, and soon the island will welcome a new generation of hatchlings - amongst them, our small turtle friend, Migi! In Bangarra’s first dedicated work for children, join our heroine Migi as she undertakes a journey of discovery and survival. A contemporary saltwater Lagaw Kazil (Island Children) story inspired by the totemic system of the green turtle, Waru - Journey of the Small Turtle is an interactive and immersive introduction to Torres Strait Islander culture and dance for 3-7-year-olds. Created by Stephen Page, together with Hunter Page-Lochard and Bangarra alumni Dancers and Choreographers Sani Townson and Elma Kris, Waru provides teachers, parents and caregivers with a unique opportunity to open up conversations about climate change, caring for the environment, and the traditional cultural values of respect and reciprocity. Waru – journey of the small turtle has been generously supported by the Girgensohn Foundation, the Knights Family Jabula Foundation and the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative. This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
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01 Nov 2024 - 02 Nov 2024
Coppélia
Love and mayhem collide in this airy, light-hearted ballet with Australian flair.A beautiful, life-like doll and two quarrelling young lovers create comic chaos in this spirited Romantic-era ballet with a distinctly Australian flair. Six years after the arrival of Dr Coppelius in their village, Swanilda and her friends are intrigued by Coppélia - the luminous young woman that appears on his balcony. Jealous of her sweetheart Franz’s interest in the doctor’s mysterious ‘daughter’, Swanilda sneaks into his house to confront her rival. But all is not as it seems - and when the doctor discovers Franz is another intruder, delightful mayhem follows! Set in the sun-drenched South Australian town of Hahndorf in the late 19th century, Greg Horsman’s Coppélia is a light-hearted, mischievous ballet that will charm audiences of all ages. ‘This is a beautiful looking Coppélia; Hugh Coleman’s sparse set design is awash with the browns, creams and greys of the Australian outback, framing a wide-open Australian sky of a cyclorama evocatively lit by Jon Buswell’ Dance Australia Presented by HOTA, Home of the Arts in association with Queensland Ballet
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Destination Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.