Jazz festival fights on despite core funding loss

Despite having had its funding axed by Queensland’s now-ousted Newman Government, the festival is fighting on.

South Korea’s Near East Quartet; image supplied.

The Brisbane International Jazz Festival is in a precarious position. Arts Queensland cut its funding under the previous state government; nor was the festival successful in applying for Australia Council funding in the most recent round.

Nonetheless, Artistic Director Lynette Irwin remains optimistic and unbowed.

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Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts