1-11 August 2024  View all  2023 events

BLEACH* is the Gold Coast’s annual contemporary arts festival. It started as a small fringe event alongside the World Championship Tour Quiksilver Pro surfing event, held on the Southern Gold Coast. This festival, Bleach* Surfing the Fringe, launched in 2012 as a pilot with a budget of $40,000 and attracted an audience of 30,000 people over the 16-day duration. The founding director was Louise Bezzina.

Its early success demonstrated the strong demand for the performing arts in the Gold Coast region and led to a commitment of ongoing funding and support from the City of Gold Coast.

From humble beginnings, the festival, has become one of Australia’s leading and most exciting place-based contemporary arts festivals and has entertained close to one million people.

We’re really proud of some other things we have achieved along the way including:

We won a Helpmann Award for Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production for TIDE by acclaimed Gold Coast Dance Company, The Farm and BLEACH* in 2018. BLEACH* has also received an additional four Helpmann Award Nominations.

And in 2019, BLEACH* was awarded Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award (Group Award).

Employment of over 6,000 artists and creatives with more than 3,000 of these being Gold Coast locals. More than 1200 performances  including World, National and State premieres and over 100 key commissions created.

We love our City and we’re passionate about the work we do.

Past Festivals

Bleach* 2022

Bleach* 2020

Bleach* 2019

Bleach* 2018

Bleach* 2017

Bleach* 2016

Bleach* 2015

Bleach* 2014

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Yugambeh Language Region and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People of the Gold Coast. We recognise their continuing connection and contributions to country and culture. We pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. 

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