Launch of PUNQ Festival

Pop Up North Queensland (PUNQ) is Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts’ premier festival which celebrates the most exciting visual and performance artists of North Queensland (NQ). It also welcomes renowned First Nations and Australian collaborations to engage audiences with exhibitions, installations, performances and workshops.

PUNQ 2021 celebrates the distinct landscapes of NQ to inspire cultural exchange and reimagine expectations, transform perceptions and provide unique creative experiences for locals and visitors alike.

This year’s festival expands across the region, from its roots on Wulgurukaba and Bindal Country (Townsville) to include Yunbenun (Magnetic Island), Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country (Hinchinbrook) and Gudjal Country (Charters Towers). Umbrella has partnered with arts and cultural organisations to showcase artists and creatives across these four locations.

New in 2021 is a series of site specific artworks comissioned for the festival. We have invited 11 local and interstate artists and organisations to respond to the histories, present, and futures of North Queensland spaces and places. The result is a unique offering of new work, including David Rowe’s crop circles installation in the sugar cane fields in Ingham Site #272, and performative art engaging with the land by Jill Chism on the Pallarenda beach Preserve/Conserve. This new program is sure to engage, entertain and challenge all audiences. Both Ways is a First Nations Billboard exhibition commission that connects our program on the mainland from Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country (Hinchinbrook) to Gudjal Country (Charters Towers) whilst illuminating often unheard stories of the Traditional Owners of Australia. On Yunbenun (Magnetic Island), Jenny Mulcahy invites you to explore the early quarantine history of the island in her immersive multimedia installation The Mark, while Jan Hynes’ Drop Bears offers a playful journey to spot the mythological drop bears on the Forts Walk. In Townsville Dancenorth are asking festival goers to step into the unknown in their mysterious new site-specific performance World Interior. You can find out more about these spectacular projects in the online program.

The mainstay of pop-up spaces and experiences returns this year with local artists presenting a stellar combination of exhibitions, performances and contemporary artisan workshops.

You can explore our program by Indigenous Country and schedule. We also have some suggested itineraries for you. Resonating across the PUNQ 2021 program is the notion of ‘place’. First Nations’ Arts and Culture are at the heart of this place we gather on. We are very pleased to be launching the festival at Big Eye Arts & Culture Centre, where we will reveal their major new mural commission and celebrate the work of emerging artist Stephen Oliver, who draws on his Waanyi, Kuku Yalanji, and Erub heritage in his new exhibition.

Please enjoy exploring all that PUNQ 2021 has to offer. We can’t wait to share North Queensland with you!

The PUNQ & Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts Team

Message from the Minister for Communities and Housing and Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, The Hon. Enoch MP

Presented by Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Pop Up North Queensland (PUNQ), celebrates the unique artists and landscapes of North Queensland.

PUNQ is a burst of creativity across the region, offering exciting exhibitions, installations, performances and workshops presented in partnership with local arts and cultural organisations.

Taking place from Wulgurukaba and Bindal Country (Townsville) to Yunbenun (Magnetic Island), Gudjal Country (Charters Towers) and Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country (Hinchinbrook), PUNQ demonstrates the wide variety of arts and cultural experiences on offer in North Queensland .

In Townsville alone, there will be more than 20 pop-up art spaces over ten days with activities such as pottery, fashion, painting, drawing, music, photography, digital projection, large-scale installations, jewellery, textiles, printmaking and puppetry.

The festival also includes the commissioning of 10 new ephemeral public artworks, a new regional art trail and a series of site-specific performances by Dance North.

The Palaszczuk Government is a proud supporter of PUNQ, providing funding through the Government’s $22.5 million Arts and Cultural Recovery Package to help support local artists, strengthen cultural tourism and connect locals and visitors alike to an experience that is uniquely Queensland.

Events like PUNQ are also helping to deliver our Government’s 10-year arts roadmap Creative Together 2020-2030, supporting our priorities to elevate First Nations Arts, strengthen Queensland communities, share our stories and celebrate our storytellers. 

Every year, the arts contributes $8.5 billion to the State’s economy and supports more than 92,000 Queensland jobs, which is why festivals like this are so important.

I encourage everyone to experience the fun and creativity of PUNQ 2021.

The Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP
Minister for Communities and Housing
Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts

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Message from Cr Jenny Hill, Mayor of the City of Townsville

As Mayor of Townsville, I am proud to welcome you to Pop Up North Queensland (PUNQ) Festival, ten days of vibrant artistry curated by none other than Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, quite literally popping up throughout our city centre and across North Queensland.

Over the years the Townsville community has gained a serious cultural appetite, and with it we are quickly establishing a name for ourselves as a city that embraces its cultural melting pot of heritage, passion and artistic flair.

A welcome addition to Council’s North Australian Festival of Arts’ event partners, PUNQ 2021 will have locals and visitors alike falling head over heels with the artistic opportunities here. Townsville will be the base for festival day trips across the North Queensland region as PUNQ extends from its roots to include Yunbenun (Magnetic Island), Gudjal Country (Charters Towers) and Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country (Hinchinbrook).

With more than 68-pop up spaces and program experiences sprawled throughout vacant sites around the CBD, PUNQ will bring people together to let their creative side free participating in a range of unique arts experiences including workshops, performances and exhibitions.  Celebrating the distinct landscapes of this region, PUNQ also welcomes a new site-specific installation and performance facet to their festival by renowned First Nations and Australian artists set to transform perceptions across the region.

Townsville City Council is extremely pleased to once again support PUNQ through our Community Grants Program, giving both artists and our community members an opportunity to continue moulding the arts and culture community here in North Queensland.

I look forward to embarking on a journey throughout our CBD and across the North Queensland to experience everything Pop Up North Queensland has to offer in 2021!

Cr Jenny Hill, Mayor of the City of Townsville.

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Message from the Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport, The Hon. Stirling Hinchliffe MP

Welcome to Pop Up North Queensland, a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in Townsville’s local culture and community, and hopefully explore some of the superb tourism experiences on offer here.

The impacts of the pandemic have provided incredible challenges, but thanks to the hard work of Queenslanders our state was one of the first to put in place a COVID Safe Event Framework which paved the way for events such as this one to take place.

The Queensland Government is proud to support Pop Up North Queensland, through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Destination Events Program and it is a feature on our It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.  Events are an important part of our state’s economic recovery from the pandemic because they attract visitors to the region which stimulates the local economy and supports local jobs.  Events are also an important opportunity for communities, friends, families and visitors to come together, creating community pride and reconnecting us.

Congratulations to the event organisers and all those involved in organising this event – may it be a successful one.

If you are visiting for the event, I encourage you to make some time to explore the diverse tourism experiences on offer in this beautiful region.

The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe MP
Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport.

This year’s PUNQ festival is a little different. When you arrive to a Pop-Up Program you will need to complete a check-in and register your details with the Queensland Government’s ‘Check In QLD’ app on your phone, for contact and tracing purposes. This application is free, downloadable on all mobile services, and is the most secure and convenient way to register and trace attendance at PUNQ events. Please ensure you have your mobile device with you, that it is charged, the app is ready to use, and you arrive to your event with time to complete your check-in.

PUNQ is following the advice from the state and federal health authorities, ensuring that we are working toward reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. If you are feeling unwell, please do not attend a PUNQ event. It is also asked that when you visit a PUNQ event you take additional measures to ensure good personal hygiene such as washing your hands or using hand sanitiser regularly and keeping appropriate distance to other members of the public where applicable.

At our selection of free site-specific performances and installations you will not be asked to complete a check-in. These parts of our program are outdoors in locations open to the public to freely roam and experience. It is asked that you maintain covid safe measures. If for any reason you need to cancel your attendance to an event due to contact with or transmission of COVID-19, or if you are seeking further details about our safe plan, please visit our COVID-19 Response website here:

https://www.umbrella.org.au/about/covid19/

Or alternatively please contact:
[email protected]
(07) 4772 7109

This year’s PUNQ is committed to assuring you have all the information you need to enjoy your visit and experience across our program. Within each listing you will find accessibility details which clearly outline how you can participate with different events. We recognise that knowing these details, prior to your visit, will create the best possible experience for your enjoyment.

All our venues have been assessed so that you are comfortable and feel welcome. Venue and location conditions can change, for instance with the weather, but we will assure to identify and reflect those updates on our social media accounts and on our webpage. We are committed to gathering together to celebrate local creative arts practice, which is why if you have any experiences you’d like to share please email us on the address below. Tell us what you've enjoyed, or what we need to amend, so that we can continue to organise accessible and inclusive celebrations, events and engagement activities for the PUNQ Festival in its 2023 iteration.

If you have any access or support requirements to participate fulling in any of the events, please let us know before your visit so that we can accommodate you comfortably. 

[email protected]
(07) 4772 7109

$150 per adult | 7am - 6pm Monday, 2 August 2021
BOOK TICKETS HERE UMBRELLA.ORG.AU/MUNGALLA

PUNQ and Mungalla Station have collaborated to create an exclusive bus tour, incorporating the PUNQ program with the Mungalla Station Experience. As you travel from Wulgurukaba & Bindal Country (Townsville) and make your way to Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country (Hinichbrook) you will see PUNQ’s Billboard Exhibition Both Ways, and hear about the Nywaigi land title. You will also stop at David Rowe’s art installation Site #272, to venture into the tall, swaying cane through crop circle formations while touching on blackbirding and the history of sugar-cane farm labor. After visiting some of the PUNQ pop ups around town, it will be time to head to Mungalla Station for a Kup Murri lunch, Mungalla’s traditional style underground cooking of assorted meats and vegetables. You’ll then enjoy the Mungalla Experience Tour before returning to Wulgurukaba & Bindal Country (Townsville).

$40 per adult | 9:15am - 2:15pm Sunday, 1 August & Saturday, 7 August 2021
BOOK TICKETS HERE UMBRELLA.ORG.AU/MAGNETIC

Discover Magnetic Island’s stories with this exclusive PUNQ Tour that will take you around to the island’s pop ups and public artworks. Crafted specifically for the Yunbenun PUNQ program, passengers will stop at public artworks The Mark by Jenny Mulcahy and Drop Bears by Jan Hynes, visit pop up exhibitions at the Jungle Club and the Old School House as well as explore local artist’s home studios. There will be a stop at Horseshoe Bay for lunch where passengers can choose from a range of cafes and restaurants. The bus pick up times for each tour will be 9:15am from the Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal, in time for the arrival of the 8:45am ferry from Townsville. The bus will drop everyone back at the ferry terminal around 2:15pm.

$150 per adult ($140 concession) | 7am - 6pm Wednesday 4 August 2021
$110 per child | Day Tour | 8+ (Children under 8 years are not able to attend)
BOOK TICKETS HERE UMBRELLA.ORG.AU/HINCHINBROOK

Delve further into North Queensland and the full PUNQ experience with this exclusive bus tour. Crafted for the Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country (Hinchinbrook) program, audiences will travel and explore with a focus on food and art. Experience the scenic landscapes on the drive with stops at PUNQ's Billboard Exhibition, Both Ways. Stop at David Rowe's art installation, Site #272, to venture into the tall, swaying cane through crop circle formations. View art exhibitions and markets , and stop along the way for pizza at Halifax Hotel and antipesto and a gourmet platter at Forrest Beach Hotel for lunch with a few wines!

$150 per adult ($140 concession) | 7:15am - 6pm Tuesday 3 August 2021
$110 per child | Day tour | 16 bookings maximum | 8+ (Children under 8 years are not able to attend)
BOOK TICKETS HERE UMBRELLA.ORG.AU/CHARTERS

Delve further into North Queensland and the full PUNQ experience with this exclusive bus tour. Crafted for the Gudjal Country / Charters Towers program. Experience the scenic landscapes on the drive with a stop at PUNQ’s Billboard Exhibition Both Ways. Try gold-panning and view art exhibitions in the town and admire the architecture of the region’s historic buildings such as the World Theatre and Don Roderick Assay Room at the Stock Exchange. Join Raven Tours for a bus tour travelling from Townsville to Ingham and back again. Audiences can relax and experience the scenic landscapes, art exhibitions and gourmet food and wine from the region. More details of bus pickup points on the website.

If you would like to donate to the PUNQ Festival, please direct your donation to Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts as it is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) with the Australian Taxation Office. Donations to Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts are tax deductible for amounts of $2 or more.

Together since 1986 Umbrella members and supporters have created a vibrant community of participating, sharing and innovation. We take pride in our unique part of the world and celebrate our difference.  We strive to create a vibrant city by supporting the arts in education, job creation, skills development and community engagement.

Umbrella is its members and supporters and continues on with support from people like you.

Income from donations is not used for any administrative costs, which means that 100 % of your donation will go directly towards one of our arts initiatives.

New for 2020: Ongoing donations make the most impact, so consider joining one of our donor circles:

$500+ Donation – Friends Circle – Name published on the Umbrella website and in the next Annual Report.

$1,000+ Donation – Benefactors Circle – Name published on the Umbrella website and in the next Annual Report, plus a gallery tour with the Director and artist guest.

If you’re not comfortable donating on our website, you can direct credit our bank account:

BSB: 064-817
Ac: 00922059

ACCT Name: Umbrella Studio

Reference: Please use your first initial and last name, plus “Donation”. For example:

“J Smith Donation”. Then use the contact page of the website to let us know so we can send you a receipt.

PUNQ is looking for individuals to participate as volunteers in all areas of festival operations, offering valuable industry experience and professional guidance in all aspects of contemporary visual and performing arts. We are particularly looking for friendly volunteers who are enthusiastic and reliable for May and June training, to volunteer through the intensive festival period of July and August.

Volunteering is a great way to engage regularly with our art and creative projects, boost your network, make new friends and learn new skills. We offer a supportive environment, inductions and ongoing training. There are additional benefits for volunteering with our PUNQ 2021 festival:

– Specialist mediators from UQ Art Museum will be on site to present a mini workshop to volunteers about Centre of the Centre and share the principles and practical tools of cultural mediation. Cultural mediation is an emerging practice that can help museum and gallery staff and volunteers develop a vocabulary to talk about the themes and ideas raised by exhibitions and collections with the local community, to simply provide fodder for conversation, and allow meaningful connections, stories, experiences and ideas to lead interaction between the exhibition, the gallery, and its public.
– Work with nationally recognised artists
– Be part of a regional arts festival with a growing audience
– Be part of a festival that is growing the audience and recognition of North Queensland as an arts cultural destination
– Be part of a network of artists, arts organisations and businesses
– Enhance your resume with experience working in tourism & events, marketing and visual arts

These will be competitive positions, so we encourage getting your interest and CVs in early. Apply via the form at the link here.

This program is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Townsville City Council is proud to support the Pop-Up North Queensland under our Community Grants Program.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.