The benefits for children engaging with the arts from their earliest years are well established and profound. The science of early childhood development points to the remarkably positive impact that participation in arts and culture, collaborative play and creativity can have on a child’s life outcomes.
With this in mind, we are consciously investing in presenting arts experiences for our youngest audiences throughout our annual programming but have also long been committed to playing a leading role in arts education. In 1992, QPAC established Out of the Box, Australia’s premier arts festival for children aged eight and under. To this day, Out of the Box is a hub of cultural activity curated especially for children to celebrate and support learning, play, curiosity and discovery for children and their families as they learn and grow together. For many children in Brisbane, Out of the Box is their first experience of the performing arts and it is our hope that this exposure fosters a lifelong love of the arts.
QPAC is seeking to build on its existing commitment to children’s programming by establishing a year-round education program catering to children of all year levels, recognising and demonstrating the importance of the arts in education and life-long learning.
In addition to engaging children in their earliest years, we also seek to offer training and employment opportunities for young people looking to work in the arts industry.
Through Tech Connect Queensland, a statewide training program led by QPAC, we are addressing the dire shortage of skilled theatre technicians and staging crew, whilst also providing the essential training to ensure the entire performing arts ecosystem thrives into the future.
Although Tech Connect is not limited to young people, the interest from young people seeking to enter the industry through this program is growing by the year, and we are proud of the important role the program plays in ensuring a sustainable arts industry locally and nationally.
Gallery
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Out of the Box - Tree of Hope, 2025.Photographer Peter Wallis. 
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Out of the Box - Wishing Wall, 2025.Photographer Peter Wallis. 
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Out of the Box - Gurril Storm Bird, 2025. Photographer Peter Wallis. 
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Oout of the Box - Wolfgang in the Stars, 2025. Photographer David Kelly. 
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Out of the Box - Let's Dance, 2025. Photographer Peter Wallis. 
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Oout of the Box - Welcome Ceremony, 2025. Photographer Peter Wallis. 
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Out of the Box Let's Dance, 2025.Photographer Peter Wallis. 
Case Study
In June 2025, Out of the Box made its welcome return to QPAC (after a seven year hiatus), taking over the whole venue and spilling into the wider Cultural Precinct welcoming our fellow cultural organisations as event partners.
More than a million children, their families, and caregivers have attended an Out of the Box event since its inaugural season in 1992, and the 2025 festival saw us deliver more than 80 performances by 180 artists. We welcomed 120 volunteers who gave 2,000 hours of their time to the more than 20,000 children, carers and parents who attended. Throughout the storied history of Out of the Box, we have commissioned over 100 new works especially for children, many of which have gone on to enjoy a rich and continuous touring life.
The success of Out of the Box lies in placing children at the centre of programming, as artistic collaborators and experts in imaginative play. Our approach is driven by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular the right of children to participate fully in artistic and cultural life.
A particular highlight of the 2025 festival was the production Wonderbox, presented in partnership with Sensorium Theatre. Wonderbox is a multisensory immersive theatre performance created with and for children and young people with disability, and their family and friends. Inside a giant puzzle-box of illusions, kooky-carnival friends with magic in their pockets lead audiences into an immersive multi-sensory wonderland of fantastical large-scale projects, strange tiny delights, and infectious live music. As boxes reveal boxes within boxes each child is given the opportunity to find a magical version of themselves. Each show caters for only 15 children, and each child’s experience is tailored to their specific needs. This unique production allowed extraordinary experiences for many children who would otherwise not be able to participate in the arts in a standard performance.
Fundraising Key Areas
Our fundraising focus spans six key areas that reflect the principles that guide QPAC as a Queensland cultural institution.
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Swan Lake – Ballet Preljocaj, 2025. Photographer David Kelly National and International Partnerships
QPAC has long collaborated and partnered with the most original, compelling and ambitious performing arts companies and artists, as well as their equivalents, from Australia and around the world to establish QPAC as a centre of arts excellence.
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Digital Stage - Partnership launch at Arcare, 2025.Photographer Sam Mellor. Access and Outreach
QPAC's long-standing public engagement program seeks out opportunities to partner with external community organisations, establish community-based participatory experiences and identify regional outreach possibilities.
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First Gathering – Clancestry, 2023. Photographer Jo-Anne Driessens. First Nations Voices
Created, produced and managed by a team of First Nations creatives, our program supports new works in development and trains and upskills new artists and arts workers through full scale stage works, festivals, and community events.
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QPAC New Performing Arts Venue - Exterior Concept Only Fit-for-purpose Infrastructure and Facilities
A key part of the leadership and investment role that QPAC plays in the performing arts industry is providing the resourcing and facilities needed for artists and arts companies to flourish.
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Love Stories, 2024. Photographer David Kelly. Queensland Artists and Stories
Through meaningful collaborations, strategic investments and partnerships, QPAC is committed to sharing Queensland stories by providing artists and creatives with the time and resources they need to turn their ideas into new works of scale.