Brisbane Powerhouse is thrilled to appoint Louise Bezzina as its new CEO/Artistic Director. A leader in cultural innovation, Louise has delivered world-class events for Queensland audiences. She founded the highly successful Gold Coast Bleach Festival, served as Co-Creative Lead for the 2018 Commonwealth Games Cultural Program, and has been Brisbane Festival’s Artistic Director since 2019.
She will take up the new role in October after delivering her sixth Brisbane Festival, transforming the festival into Australia’s largest international arts festival through audience engagement. Her tenure at Brisbane Festival has been acclaimed nationally and internationally through the commissioning of major new work such as Salamander, Bananaland, Trent Dalton’s Love Stories as well as last year’s international hit, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freakshow as an Australian Exclusive.
Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner welcomed the appointment and congratulated Louise on her new role.
“Brisbane has incredible vibrant precincts such as Brisbane Powerhouse and I welcome Louise’s appointment to the role of CEO/Artistic Director at this iconic venue,” he said.
“Brisbane Powerhouse hosts more than 1500 performances and welcomes more than one million people each year and is a much-loved destination for both residents and visitors. Louise is a proven performer and leader in Queensland’s arts sector and I look forward to her joining Brisbane Powerhouse and us working together to create more to see and do in our suburbs.”
Chair of Brisbane Powerhouse, Valmay Hill, said she was thrilled to welcome Louise to the organisation.
“I am confident Louise shares our vision to make Brisbane even better by supporting our arts industry and cementing an exciting and bright future for Brisbane Powerhouse,” she said.
“Louise brings considerable experience in the Queensland arts sector and I can’t wait to see her take up this new role and help make Brisbane Powerhouse even bolder and better.
“Kate Gould has done an outstanding job in this role, championing extraordinary projects with incredible vision, from expanding the Brisbane Powerhouse precinct to include Vertigo and Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema, to delivering Night Feast and a city-wide celebration of Queer art and culture, Melt Festival,” she said.
“I want to sincerely thank her for everything she has contributed to Brisbane Powerhouse. We wish her every success in her next chapter as CEO at the Adelaide Festival Centre.”
Louise Bezzina said she was honoured to be selected for the dual role of CEO and Artistic Director.
“I remember attending the official opening of the Brisbane Powerhouse as a theatre student. I have so many fond memories attending shows, creating shows in my early years as a performer and now curating a program as part of the Brisbane Festival. Brisbane Powerhouse is an iconic Brisbane venue. It is very special to me as I know it is to residents and visitors,” she said.
“I appreciate all the hard work Kate Gould and the Brisbane Powerhouse team have done to create more to see and do and I look forward to contributing to the organisation’s next chapter. Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and precincts like Brisbane Powerhouse have helped shape our incredible city and I am so honoured to be chosen as the next guardian of its future.”
Kate Gould will depart at the end of June, with Brisbane Powerhouse Director of Programming Phoebe Meredith acting in the role until Louise commences at the end of October.
Visit https://brisbanepowerhouse.org/ for the latest news and updates.
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