SPARK Ipswich kicks off with plenty to Immerse yourself in
30 June 2023
Ever wanted to learn circus tricks, how to mural paint, dance like a Bollywood star, create Latin music or make a clay echidna?
These workshops are just a small part of Immerse, held 7, 9, 15 and 16 July, which will help to kick off SPARK Ipswich this year.
The event sees Tulmur Place transform into an immersive playground of family-friendly arts and workshops, live performances, food trucks. There’ll even be a special SPARK edition of the Handmade Expo Markets Saturday 8 July.
Mayor Teresa Harding said Immerse was a great example of SPARK Ipswich showcasing the city’s creative flair through people, connections and culture.
“Immerse is five days of riveting free fun that is chock-a-block full of activities for every age group, from painting to dancing, crafting, singing and creating,” Mayor Harding said.
“It joins BRIGHTDAZE and the Common People Dance Eisteddfod as this year’s signature new events, along with returning favourites such as deLight, Little Day Out and WOMI (World Of Music Ipswich).
“SPARK Ipswich is now one of council’s signature festivals and has grown in recent years to be a highlight on the calendar, joining the likes of Planes, Trains & Autos, the Festival of Horsepower and Galvanized as must-see events in South East Queensland.”
Economic and Industry Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Nicole Jonic while there was plenty to see and do during the day, there were also outstanding events at night.
“We’re really spoiled this year with Spark After Dark programming venues, as well as Pixel, deLight, Follow the Light and Inhabited Ipswich,” Cr Jonic said.
“Light, projection and contemporary art installations will activate vacant shop fronts and non-traditional art spaces for Inhabited Ipswich, while Pixel will transform 1 Nicholas Street with incredible animations.
“We haven’t even mentioned Undergrowth, from artist Tim Glorious, that creates abstract, surreal and playful worlds in d'Arcy Doyle Place. There’s just a myriad of things to see.”
One returning event will be deLight, which this year sees 143 Brisbane Street and St Paul’s Church transformed into a visual spectacle that profiles local artists and architecture.
Eulalia Martin is a Bunuba woman from the Kimberley, Western Australia, and currently lives in Ipswich.
She will have her artwork projected this year and said the inspiration for her art was her grandmother, who was a member of The Stolen Generations.
“My beautiful grandmother Maude Bedford passed at the age of 94 years old. She was the most beautiful and humble woman,” Ms Martin said.
“This year's NAIDOC theme is ‘For our Elders’ and I hope my artwork is a gentle voice for her, reminding us all of the importance of elders and of being good examples ourselves.”
SPARK Ipswich is delivered through the support of the following partners:
Foundation Partner: Ipswich City Council; Event Partners: Ripley Town Centre, Orion Springfield Central, The Y Springfield Central; Media Partners: Nine News Queensland, Bishopp, Scenestr; Development Partner: SAE Creative Media Institute; Support Partners: SIG Group, Ipswich Junior Grammar School, Sobah Beverages, Quest Springfield Central, Imbibis Craft Distillery; Programming Partners: Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich Civic Centre, Ipswich Studio 188, Ipswich Libraries, Ipswich Waste Services, Banshees Bar and Artspace, Inhabited Ipswich.
SPARK IPSWICH 2023 Festival Snapshot
IGNITE: 6 July
Celebrate the opening of SPARK Ipswich 2023 with a ceremony that honours the stories, culture and art of our First Nation people.
SPARK ON TOUR: 6 to 9 July
SPARK hits the road with Nadia Sunde’s Twinkle and The Moon - an interactive children’s theatre experience for two to seven-year-old children.
SPARK AFTER DARK: 6 to 16 July
Explore Ipswich’s cultural heart with music, projection, live performance, comedy and dance.
INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT: 6 to 16 July
The Creators of Ipswich Summit and Ipswich Has Comic Talent are key opportunities for our local artists to shine!
IMMERSE: 7, 8, 9, 15 and 16 July
An immersive playground of family-friendly arts workshops and performances, with a special SPARK Edition of the much-loved Handmade Expo Markets.
BRIGHTDAZE: 8 July
This new, all-ages music festival will be headlined by chart-topping hip-hop superstar Allday.
WOMI: 9 July
Ipswich’s signature world music event returns to Springfield Central with music, workshops, food and crafts from across the globe.
LITTLE DAY OUT: 16 July
Ipswich’s signature children’s contemporary music and arts festival is little by name but BIG on fun.
COMMON PEOPLE DANCE EISTEDDFOD: 16 July
The mighty dance battle between Ipswich suburban gladiators and other frenemy teams from across Brisbane.
RAUSCHENBERG & JOHNS – IPSWICH ART GALLERY: 3 June to 30 July
Significant Others draws upon the National Gallery’s Kenneth Tyler Collection of prints by both Robert
Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns produced between 1968–1973.
EXHIBITIONS: 6 to 16 July
Explore exhibitions such as 50 Years of NAIDOC Week Posters, Architectural Layers: New work by Grant Quinn, Make Some Noise, and local artist Eva Fritz’s Little Things Big Things: Interactive Installation for Children.
For more details, visit the Ipswich Festivals website.