Pride of place

Brisbane is set to come alive when a celebration of queer art and culture hits the River City.

With a flourish of immersive art, glitterbombed jet skis and neon-lit food fairs, Brisbane (Meanjin) is ready to dazzle. From 23 October to 10 November, Melt Open (meltopen.org), a new openaccess festival that celebrates queer art, culture and inclusion will offer a rainbow of vibrant events. Don’t miss these highlights.

Spencer Tunick’s Story Bridge installation

Approximately 10,000 naked volunteers will head to Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge to strike a pose for an art installation that captures the human form in all its colours, shapes and sizes. New York photographer Spencer Tunick, who is renowned for his large-scale nude photo shoots at famous locations, is behind the project. It’s a fitting tribute, according to Luke Furness, the chair of Melt Open’s reference group. “The city’s LGBTQIA+ community is eager to shine. Just like Brisbane’s personality, the festival and its installations will be full of thought and humour.”

River Pride Parade

Brisbane-bred performer and Melt Open’s “Queen of the River”, Courtney Act (above), will lead a procession of fanciful watercraft on the Brisbane River. The parade will cruise through the city from William Jolly Bridge to Brisbane Powerhouse on Saturday, 9 November. “Picture dykes on jet skis, a First Nations flotilla, drag-clad waterskiers, queer boat parties – and that’s just the beginning,” says Furness. Catch the action from the riverbank, join a boat float or register your own vessel to take in the spectacle.

Night Feast 24

For hungry revellers, Melt Open coincides with Night Feast, Brisbane’s month-long annual celebration of food and art. Visitors can enjoy signature dishes from some of the city’s top chefs at a luminescent pop-up village staged at the Brisbane Powerhouse Precinct (above). Complete with a line-up of interactive art, performances and live music, the free event spans up to 25 kitchens and bars, and is open until 9pm each evening, from Wednesday to Sunday.