A new era for regional Queensland arts

Regional Queensland’s performing arts sector has never been short on talent or enthusiasm, but 2024 is a year of unprecedented change. While actors in Brisbane continue to fight for a fair go for local roles, regional counterparts are often caught between many governing bodies, each with different funding structures and operation models and at various stages of their life cycle.

In the far North, JUTE Theatre Company, located in Cairns, has spearheaded the creation of DARTS (Driving and Activating the Regional Theatre Sector). The three-year vision delivers skills development, artist residencies, interregional touring, creative development and production to the regional arts sector. Importantly, DARTS proposes artist-led touring models.