Overview
The lines between physical and virtual are blurring at Brisbane Powerhouse, with the iconic arts centre announcing their first digital-centric festival, IRL, to take place in May 2015.
A convergence of live arts and gaming culture, IRL (as in, 'in real life') bridges the gap between the venue’s performance focus and the changing online landscape. The festival aims to create unique multimedia experiences and celebrate the increasingly interactive, interconnected realm that now encompasses all arts endeavours.
Artistic director Kris Stewart, who has been at the helm of Brisbane Powerhouse since July 2013, said the festival is being developed to embrace and enable the new wave of national and international digital creatives.
Thinking local and acting global, IRL will harness the power of leading Queensland-based organisations such as Queensland University of Technology, The Edge, Halfbrick Studios, Brisbane International Game Developers Association (brIGDA) and The Cube, as well as showcasing international partnerships with The Sundance Institute (home of the Sundance Film Festival), Electrofringe and LA-artists I Am 8 Bit.
Further programming and curatorial decisions are still in development, with more details to be announced closer to the event.
Organised and hosted by Brisbane Powerhouse, from 2015 IRL will sit alongside the World Theatre Festival, Brisbane Comedy Festival, Brisbane Queer Film Festival, Queensland Cabaret Festival and children’s festival Powerkids in the venue’s annual calendar of festivals.