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Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC)

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Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC)

Creating a vibrant and diverse cultural scene in Yuggera and Turrbal Country.

𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩
BEMAC regularly shares content from other arts organisations and industry. Content may be a collaborative view and does not necessarily represent the view of BEMAC.

26/08/2026

This week!! Alcides Neto brings his debut record “Amù” up the east coast from Naarm/Melbourne to Gadigal/Sydney and Meanjin/Brisbane.

Joined by his 7-piece band, Alcides offers a fresh perspective on Brazilian music by blending folk tradition with jazz, samba and forró.

Thurs, Aug 27 - Naarm/Melbourne
The JazzLab / Bennetts Lane Jazz Club Brunswick
w/ Transatlantico

Fri, Aug 28 - Gadigal/Sydney
The Vanguard
w/ Selvagem Soul

Sat, Aug 29 - Meanjin/Brisbane
The Princess Theatre
w/ RAÍSSA

🎫 🇧🇷 Tickets in bio

Presented by BEMAC in partnership with Music in Exile

BEMAC is a subsidiary of SSI and supported by Arts Queensland

24/08/2026

TONIGHT 💫

Echo of Jade Music Collective present ‘Wu Xing: The Five Elements’ at Thomas Dixon Centre, West End’s Talbot Theatre accompanied by Brisbane Chinese Dance Collective

Blending traditional Chinese instrumentation with modern improvisation and contemporary movement, ‘Wu Xing’ bridges traditional concepts and innovative artistry within a unique space where audiences and performers share energy.

Musically directed by Ray Lin featuring:

Yuren (Cara) Shen - guzheng
Sally Xi - liuqin
Ziwei Wang - dizi and xiao
Jinqi Guo - p**a
Ray Lin - piano

Cara Shen
Sally Xi🇦🇺

⚙️🪵💧🔥🏔️
⭐️ Wu Xing: The Five Elements
⏳ 7:00pm, Monday 24 August
🌏 Thomas Dixon Centre, West End
📍 406 Montague Road, West End
🎫 via thomasdixoncentre.com.au
🎬 Thomas Oliver and Fausto Jose Vergara
🎵 ‘Dunhuang’ Echo of Jade
📷 ᴀɴɢᴇ ᴄᴏsᴛᴇs ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ
Editing: Thomas Oliver

Presented by BEMAC.
BEMAC is a subsidiary of SSI and supported by Arts Queensland

18/08/2026

Alcides Neto is a Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist based in Naarm/Melbourne. Drawing inspiration from the folk traditions of his homeland, he offers a fresh perspective on Brazilian music by blending traditional rhythms with contemporary Brazilian influences.

Released in February via Music in Exile Amú features eight original compositions and is a nostalgic yet celebratory journey through the landscapes of Alcides’ homeland, reflecting on the cultural traditions and family connections left behind while looking hopefully towards new horizons.

Amú was warmly received both locally and internationally, earning PBS FM’s Album of the Week, being named one of Bandcamp’s Best Latin Album releases of March 2026, receiving praise from UK label Mr Bongo as “one of the best releases of 2026 so far,” and attracting airplay on Jazz FM and Worldwide FM.

Neto brings the album to the stage with his seven-piece band across three shows this August, with local support acts joining him in each city.

Alcides Neto
🎫 via bemac.org.au

Naarm/Melbourne
🌏 The JazzLab / Bennetts Lane Jazz Club Brunswick Brunswick
⏳ 7:00pm, Thursday 27 August
Support: Transatlantico

Gadigal/Sydney
🌏 The Vanguard Newtown
⏳ 7:00pm, Friday 28 August
Support: Selvagem Soul

Meanjin/Brisbane
🌏 The Princess Theatre Woolloongabba
⏳ 7:00pm, Saturday 29 August
Support: RAÍSSA

Presented by BEMAC in partnership with Music in Exile.

BEMAC is a subsidiary of SSI and supported by Arts Queensland

Music In Exile is a not-for-profit record label and registered charity supporting musicians with lived experience of migration and displacement in Australia.

17/08/2026

One week to go!

Do not miss virtuoso musicians Echo of Jade Music Collective when they present ‘Wu Xing: The Five Elements’ at Thomas Dixon Centre, West End’s stunning Talbot Theatre accompanied by Brisbane Chinese Dance Collective

Blending traditional Chinese instrumentation with modern improvisation and contemporary movement, ‘Wu Xing’ bridges traditional concepts and innovative artistry within a unique space where audiences and performers share energy.

Musically directed by Ray Lin featuring:

Yuren (Cara) Shen - guzheng
Sally Xi - liuqin
Ziwei Wang - dizi and xiao
Jinqi Guo - p**a
Ray Lin - piano

Cara Shen
Sally Xi🇦🇺

⚙️🪵💧🔥🏔️
⭐️ Wu Xing: The Five Elements
⏳ 7:00pm, Monday 24 August
🌏 Thomas Dixon Centre, West End
📍 406 Montague Road, West End
🎫 via thomasdixoncentre.com.au
🎬 Thomas Oliver and Fausto Jose Vergara
🎵 ‘Dunhuang’ Echo of Jade
📷 ᴀɴɢᴇ ᴄᴏsᴛᴇs ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ
Editing: Thomas Oliver

Presented by BEMAC.
BEMAC is a subsidiary of SSI and supported by Arts Queensland

13/08/2026

World of Cultures is a celebration of Logan’s diversity.

Now in its fifth year, World of Cultures is officially part of Multicultural Queensland Month. Enjoy authentic food from all around the world, an incredible lineup of artists, lively cultural performances on an outdoor stage and a spectacular fireworks finale.

With family-friendly activities and music that will transport you to other continents, the stage is set for a truly atmospheric cultural experience like no other, in the heart of one of Australia’s most multicultural cities.

SSI

⭐️World of Cultures 2026
⏳ 3:00-7:00pm, Saturday 29 August
🌏 KBF Cultural Precinct
📍 270 Jacaranda Ave, Kingston
🎫 Free. Register via events.humanitix.com/world-of-cultures-2026

Presented by SSI with support from BEMAC

31/07/2026

‘Wu Xing: The Five Elements’

Wu Xing (五行) reimagines the ancient Chinese philosophy of the Five Elements —Metal 金, Wood 木, Water 水, Fire 火, and Earth 土— as a living, dynamic cycle.

Blending traditional Chinese instrumentation with modern improvisation and contemporary movement, Wu Xing bridges traditional concepts and innovative artistry within a unique space where audiences and performers share energy.

Musically directed by Ray Lin, the performance is brought to life by the Echo of Jade Music Collective featuring Yuren (Cara) Shen (guzheng), Sally Xi (liuqin), Ziwei Wang (dizi and xiao), Jinqi Guo (p**a), and Ray Lin (piano), alongside Brisbane Chinese Dance Collective.

⭐️ Wu Xing: The Five Elements
⏳ 7:00pm, Monday 24 August
🌏 Thomas Dixon Centre
📍 406 Montague Road, West End
🎫 via thomasdixoncentre.com.au
📷 Ange Costes Photography

Presented by BEMAC.
BEMAC is a subsidiary of SSI - Settlement Services International and supported by Arts Queensland

29/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended ‘BEMAC Discussions: Breaking and Becoming, Together, in Liminal World’ on 12 July Thomas Dixon Centre, West End

Inspired by Kanako Enokida’s work ‘軌跡: paths’, Kanako and panelists discussed how contemporary artists engage with liminality.

Special thanks to our panel of artists
Kanako Enokida Kanako Enokida Cristine Ko Christine Ko
Sachi Mehta SACHI
SHA Sarwari Sha Sarwari

Moderator
Lubi Thomas Lubi Thomas

Producer
Aleea Monsour Aleea

Photographer
ᴀɴɢᴇ ᴄᴏsᴛᴇs ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ

Presented by BEMAC with support from Thomas Dixon Centre.
BEMAC is a subsidiary of SSI and supported by Arts Queensland

18/07/2026

SSI Homelands: Chameleon premieres tonight Sydney Opera House

Take a sneaky peek backstage 👀

14/07/2026

Metro Arts & BEMAC Creative Development: Running with Wild Horses
Metro Arts
1 January – 31 December 2026

Running with Wild Horses is an interdisciplinary performance in development with Metro Arts and BEMAC blending theatre, Persian electro-acoustic music/sound, autobiographical spoken word/rap, and immersive staging.

Deliberately dissolving boundaries between theatre, concert, and protest ritual Running with Wild Horses translates lived refugee experiences into a powerful narrative of displacement, resistance, and survival.

The production follows an Iranian-born refugee activist whose past resurfaces when mistaken for an escapee during the 2002 Woomera protests. As memory and the present collide, Running with Wild Horses explores displacement, survival, and belonging through rhythm, storytelling, and striking stage imagery. An immersive environment dissolves traditional audience–performer boundaries, inviting audiences into a shared, embodied experience.

Siyavash Doostkhah ssiiyyaavvaasshh – Director, composer, performer
Greta Kelly – Musician, live processing, composer, producer
Courtney Stewart-Smith Courtney Stewart-Smith – Directorial consultant
Kathryn Marquet – Dramaturge
Andrew Gibbs Andrew Gibbs – Live video installation artist
Arash Zanganeh - Musician, composer
Benjamin Shannon – Musician, composer
James Clark / Tonepacer - Sound engineer
Stephanie Ganfield – Stage manager

The Metro Arts & BEMAC Creative Development Residency is a dynamic 12-month program supporting Australian artists to develop ambitious contemporary works from concept to presentation-ready stage. This collaboration combines Metro Arts’ expertise in artist pathway development and industry connections with BEMAC’s specialised knowledge in cross-cultural collaboration and cultural safety, creating a comprehensive support ecosystem.

Image: ᴀɴɢᴇ ᴄᴏsᴛᴇs ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ and Morteza Esmaili

BEMAC is a subsidiary of SSI and supported by Arts Queensland
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia its principal arts investment and advisory body.

08/07/2026

BEMAC Discussions: Breaking and Becoming, Together, in Liminal World

“How do we navigate trajectory of intercultural identity, and what role does the language of liminality play in that space?”

Join us for a panel discussion inspired by Kanako Enokida’s work 軌跡: paths where Kanako and panelists discuss how contemporary artists engage with liminality.

Panelists
• Kanako Enokida
Multidisciplinary artist born in Japan and based in Meanjin. Working across installation, papermaking, and performance, her practice brings together fibre and the body to create fragile yet intimate encounters for viewers.

• Cristine Ko
Brisbane-based visual artist whose practice spans installation and photo media. Drawing on her Chinese-Australian migrant experience, Christine uses personal storytelling and autoethnographic methods to examine spaces of liminality andhybridity.

• Sachi Mehta
A freestyle vocalist, Channel 10 featured vocalist, and QPAC headline performer who has graced the stages of Woodford Folk Festival, JungleLove, and the Brisbane International Jazz Festival. Sachi’s artistry is defined by powerful performances that merge Jazz and freestyle lyricism.

• SHA Sarwari
Hazara-born Afghan multidisciplinary visual artist based in Australia. Working across diverse media, his work captures the experience of existing between two worlds, examining the social and political realities that shape migration and nationhood.

Moderator
• Lubi Thomas
Cultural strategist, independent curator, and artist with over two decades ofexperience curating at the nexus of art, technology, science, and society. Lubi has developed numerous transdisciplinary exhibitions and programs and forged partnerships with institutions like Ars Electronica and Lego Education.

🌒 4:30pm, Sunday 12 July
🌍 Thomas Dixon Centre, West End
📍 406 Montague Road, West End
🎫 Free. All welcome.

Presented by BEMAC with support from Thomas Dixon Centre.
BEMAC is a subsidiary of SSI and supported by Arts Queensland

Address

Queensland Multicultural Centre, Level 1/102 Main Street
Brisbane, QLD
4169

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.bemac.org.au/

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