The Gold Coast's signature arts and culture festival, BLEACH* Festival is back for 2023, boasting the largest program in BLEACH* history to celebrate its massive 12th anniversary. Running from Thursday 3 August to Sunday 13 August 2023, BLEACH* will soon transform the city’s landscapes through unique celebrations of live music, performance and art installations and we couldn't be more excited.
With over 300 artists, 218 performances and 38 arts and cultural events popping up across the Gold Coast over the 11-day festival—including various international and Australian premieres—this year's BLEACH* is set to go down in the history books as the biggest and best on record. The BLEACH* program is full of award-winning artists, nine new work commissions all made on the Gold Coast, and 15 Queensland premieres, making it the most ambitious BLEACH* festival yet.
One of Australia’s fastest growing and most dynamic festivals, BLEACH* Festival 2023 will traverse five main hubs across the Gold Coast, from the lush Currumbin Valley to the North Burleigh shoreline to the Regional Botanic Gardens and HOTA. BLEACH* is also launching a brand-new festival hub in the recently opened Broadbeach Cultural Precinct this year, with five huge tents showcasing 22 individual performances, a floating barge, food trucks, bands and more.
If that wasn't enough already, BLEACH* will also have a city-wide footprint in 2023 with an eye-catching convoy of Monster Trucks, a fleet of 8 colourful cement trucks roaming across the Gold Coast featuring commissioned work by local artist, Dion Parker.
Headed up by Placemakers* and with Artistic Director Rosie Dennis at the helm, BLEACH* continues to push boundaries, delivering a cutting-edge program of contemporary art, music and theatre that challenges perceptions and embeds art into our everyday, all framed by the magnificent Gold Coast coastline.
Over 11 electrifying days, you’ll be hard-pressed to pack in all the incredible events you want to see, but we suggest you peruse the mind-bogglingly packed schedule and start creating your must-do list. Some key BLEACH* Festival highlights include: the magnificent opening event First Light: Heartland at North Burleigh Beach; the explosive music theatre production Roller Coaster at HOTA; the vibrant Broadbeach Hub activations from 10 to 12 August; a floating barge performance by Shugorei; and the electrifying world premiere of Tower Divas at Last Light.
"Great art piques our imaginations and often leaves us with more questions than answers," said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. "Having seen a sneak peek of the 2023 BLEACH* line-up, I know visitors will be left amazed at the incredible depth of artistic talent we have in our city. I can't wait for BLEACH* to come alive in August."
Undoubtedly the Gold Coast’s flagship arts and cultural celebration, BLEACH* Festival is truly a dazzling celebration of our region and the people that call it home. Check out more details here.
Image Credit: BLEACH*