Brand New Queer Arts and Culture Festival MELT Coming to Brisbane Powerhouse

Summer's set to bring a celebration of queer arts and culture to Brisbane Powerhouse, with the venue announcing plans for a new festival in 2015.

From February 5 to 15, MELT will shine a light on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) performance, art, music and film in Brisbane’s answer to Sydney's Mardi Gras and Melbourne's Midsumma.

Under the guidance of newly appointed festival director James Lees, a veteran of producing events for Brisbane Pride Festival, Brisbane Carnivale and Brisbane Cabaret Festival, MELT is designed to become a highlight of Queensland’s annual queer and cultural calendar.

"The opportunity to bring the first MELT to life is like a dream job to me. I believe in breaking down the artificial barriers that can exist between artforms and artists. I'll be bringing this approach to MELT, as seen through the lens of the ever-evolving LGBTIQ community, which I have also been proudly involved with, and a part of, for many years," says Lees.

The Brisbane Queer Film Festival (BQFF), now entering its 16th year, has also been absorbed into the new festival. BQFF will be brought forward from its recent April timeslot to run in February as part of MELT's varied program.

MELT is the fourth new festival to join Brisbane Powerhouse’s busy calendar of events under artistic director Kris Stewart’s reign. The inaugural Queensland Cabaret Festival took place in June, carnie-style event Wonderland has its first outing in December, and the digital-centric IRL will be unveiled in May 2015. The Powerhouse also hosts the World Theatre Festival, Brisbane Comedy Festival and children’s festival Powerkids. Never a dull moment.

MELT runs February 5 to 15 at Brisbane Powerhouse. More details over here.

Top image: BQFF.