Pop Up North Queensland (PUNQ) is Australia’s premier contemporary arts festival combining groundbreaking performances and projects with a celebration of Australia’s vital First Nations history.
This year, the two-week-long event will open with a history-making First Nations performance, followed by a program of local, national and international artists engaging with the history and culture of the North Queensland region.
Discover the top experiences at PUNQ 2024 and immerse yourself in this exciting program for adults and children alike.
PUNQ opening event
This milestone work is the first time First Nation’s history and connection to the land will be officially celebrated on this site for more than 100 years.
It takes the form of Gundil Released, a work that explores the significance of ‘The Strand on Promenade’, the location of several lagoons in the pre-colonisation era. The Wulgurukaba people seek to share the true name and history of the lagoons as a ceremonial and gathering site through the work. In ancestral times, the lagoons saw First Nations people performing the brolga (gundil) dance and song. Recently, Wulgurukaba Walkabouts have begun performing this dance again.
Thursday 1 August, free
Still
Still is an immersive sound journey created by Dancenorth’s Artistic Director Kyle Page.
Join 21 other guests in an architecturally designed liminal space as you watch the dawn of a new day while surrounded by the sounds of Canadian composer, Jessica Moss.
Tuesday 6 August – Sunday 11 August, ticketed
PUNQ Art Fair
During the first weekend of the festival, PUNQ Art Fair: A Constructed World, will fill the Old Bank of New South Wales building. Gurambillbarra/Townsville artists will take over this heritage-listed space with art installations, workshops and works for sale. Guests can wander the maze of offerings while engaging with local talents such as Jan Hynes and Candace Miles, and kids will love the chance to try crafting and making for themselves in a selection of artist-led workshops.
Saturday 3 August – Sunday 4 August, free
Discover, Dive, Draw
This underwater art experience is located on the Great Barrier Reef. Join artist Kerrie Everett Horrocks in a two-day workshop where participants will visit the Great Barrier Reef and Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) to draw and sketch on boats, in the water, or on the shore.
On the first day, participants will dive to view the Coral Greenhouse, a submerged artwork by Jason deCaires Taylor featuring life-like figures and coral gardens at a depth of 16 metres, before drawing their own work inspired by the diving experience
Saturday 10 August – Sunday 11 August, ticketed
Indentured
Indentured is a major public art installation created by Gail Mabo which tells the story of the often overlooked history of South Sea Islander indentured labour in the early colonial era. Part of the artist’s family history, the installation seeks to question and expose the trafficking trade in Queensland which took place during the 19th century.
The piece will be displayed on the facade of the Bank of New South Wales building as a direct response to the bronze statue of Robert Towns erected just 50 meters away. The namesake for the city of Townsville, Towns played a direct role in the indenture of over 62,500 Indigenous people into forced labour in the sugar cane fields and maritime industry
Thursday 1 August – Sunday 18 August, free
Twilight Arts Market
The Twilight Arts Market is a family-friendly event celebrating creativity and community through a range of stalls offering handmade crafts, jewellery, artwork, and more.
Opening once the sun sets, visitors will find live music, mouthwatering food, and a bar serving up delicious drinks. Plus, there will be plenty of activities for the kids, and entertainment for everyone to enjoy. Each stall provides unique wares, showcasing the creativity of local artists.
Saturday 17 August, Free
In Conversation: Shapes of Listening
Locals and visitors alike are invited to watch this sensorial video and sound installation highlighting the work of researchers, scientists, rangers and artists who have contributed to the creation and understanding of the Shapes of Listening.
Learn about the act of listening, how it occurs and what impacts it has on our society as artists Sonia Leber and David Chesworth engage a bat researcher, land and sea ranger and experimental scientist in conversation on how listening can help to investigate local ecologies
Sunday 28 July, free
Curated PUNQ tours
To engage with everything on this list in greater detail, PUNQ is hosting three unique tours designed to celebrate the beautiful works and breathtaking landscapes that make up this festival
Warrgamay, Nywaigi and Bandjin Country/Hinchinbrook is an exclusive tour of the best local lookouts and cafes as participants engage with the land and history of the region. On this tour, visitors will also stop at several major PUNQ installations, studios and local hotspots for a deeper appreciation of the region.
Yunbenun/Magnetic Island tours through the tropical landscapes of this island as participants discover the exhibitions, cafes and works exclusive to the site.
Finally, Gudjal Country/Charters Towers offers a similar experience of this specific region while also including a history of the Gold Rush era and its stories.
Saturday 10 August and Sunday 18 August, ticketed
PUNQ 2024 will run between 1-18 August. Opening image: Anida Yoeu Ali’s film, The Red Chador.
To read about our favourite Indigenous tours and experiences on Australian islands, click here.
