Arts & Culture

Bundaberg offers a rich experience for those who enjoy the arts. With over 50 arts, crafts, historical and cultural organisations and facilities, Bundaberg is fast becoming one of the most dynamic regions in Queensland. A number of professionally practising artists live and work in our City. Bundaberg's Moncrieff Theatre has an 865 seating capacity and provides cinema, live performances and conferences via the use of state of the art equipment. On average 90 stage shows a year are held in this modern community facility and are drawn from international, Australian and local organisations including commercial and school based bodies. There is a strong local following in the performing arts with two amateur theatre groups, Bundaberg Players Incorporated and the Bundaberg Amateur Theatrical Society. Moviebuffs are well served with screenings of current movie releases at the Moncrieff Theatre and the commercially operated Readings Theatre Complex.

Musically, the City enjoys the services of the Bundaberg Symphony Orchestra, with up to 8 concerts given each year, The Bundaberg Strings and the Bundaberg Youth Choir who also perform for the general public. Bundaberg has an active Poet's Society who meet regularly and perform their works for the public. Live Band performances are held every weekend at local hotels and sporting clubs.

Since 1996, the Bundaberg Arts Centre has established itself as the hub for arts and cultural activities in Bundaberg and surrounding areas, with up to 45 exhibitions per year of local , regional, state and national visual arts. It is a large multi-purpose facility consisting of three distinct exhibition spaces, an artist in residence apartment and large studio space. The Arts Centre offers a range of artists' talks, tours, adult workshops and a school holiday program.

The School of Arts Building was refurbished as a Centenary of Federation Project. It now plays host to a number of local arts, crafts and community organisations such as the Bundaberg Art Society and the Bundaberg Spinners and Weavers.

The Bundaberg Art Festival is held every October in the Civic Centre. Artists from around the world enter the competition that offers substantial prize money.

The Burnett River Arts Network was established to nurture and promote the arts and cultural development of Bundaberg and the surrounding region. A culture of volunteering underpins the delivery and success of the arts and projects by community based service clubs in the region.

Bundaberg boasts a rich and diverse cultural character. The character reflects the historic settlement pattern from the indigenous people, pioneer settlers and farmers, South Sea Islander imported labourers and today's multi-cultural population. Several groups and associations meet to develop and promote their individual cultures. These include the Australian South Sea Islander Group, Bundaberg District Australian Filipino Association, the Bundaberg Multi-Cultural Association, the Jukanyula Aboriginal Corporation, Caledonian Pipe Band Association and square and Scottish Country dancing clubs.

The Bundaberg Sunrise Rotary Club hold an annual multi-cultural festival which attracts people from all around the region to celebrate cultural diversity through performances, entertainment and culinary dishes.

Bundaberg has Sister City Agreements with Nanning in China and Settsu Sity in Japan. Such agreements offer this City and its citizens opportunities for a variety of mutual exchange programs in such fields as education, sport, industry and commerce, technology, as well as the possibility of visit by professional groups, youth groups and service clubs etc.

There are several museums that provide a window to Bundaberg's past. Bundaberg's Botanical Gardens host the Bundaberg Gardens Railway, Fairymead House Sugar Museum, Bundaberg Historical Museum and Hinkler House Memorial Museum. The Bundaberg Railway Historical Society's Museum is located nearby. The Bundaberg Distillery has a display of photographs and memorabilia from the sugar industry located on site in historic Springhill House.

The Bundaberg Library is one of the largest and busiest libraries in regional Queensland. Resources available in the library include books, videos, CDs, magazines, books on tape, large print, children's and teenage sections, newspapers and reference collections. Services provided at the library include photocopying, internet and email access, children's activities and display areas for community groups.