THE city’s popular, new arts event Spark Ipswich returns next month with a music festival featuring as one of the program highlights.

Brightdaze music festival will be headlined by chart-topping Australian hip-hop artist Allday and indie folk singer Hope D.

An all-ages event, Brightdaze will be held at the YMCA Springfield Central on July 8.

The festival will feature some of the best local and national artists, including the cinematic Blak Folktronica of GLVES and Ipswich’s own 2022 Queensland Music Awards Youth Award winner Paulina.

There will also be workshops on the craft of mixing songs.

Brightdaze joins the Common People Dance Eisteddfod and Immerse as signature new events, along with the return of perennial favourites deLight, Little Day Out and WOMI, supported by other programmed events.

Spark, the reimagined Ipswich Festival, runs from July 6 to 16 showcasing the city’s creative flair with innovative programming, activations and performances reflecting the people, places and culture of

Ipswich.

Spark has become one of Ipswich City Council’s signature festivals and has grown in recent years to be a highlight on the calendar, joining Planes, Trains & Autos and the Festival of Horsepower as the city’s main events.

Economic and Industry Development Committee Chairwoman Nicole Jonic said Spark celebrated the diverse and creative communities that made the city special.

“Ipswich is a city steeped in magnificent heritage, but at the same time, our cities fast-paced growth is helping evolve our social fabric through diversity and connection,” Cr Jonic said.

“In turn, our character is strengthened from all our people sharing our unique stories through beautiful art, riveting music and plenty of fun.

“Our opening event, Ignite, honours the stories, culture and art of our First Nations people, while WOMI brings together music, workshops, foods and crafts from all around the world.

“Our many events and exhibitions also highlight this, with interactive installations from Eva Fritz and NAIDOC Week posters from 50 years ago to now.

Unifying all the elements of Spark through her art is Ipswich artist Jennifer Kent, whose work can be seen on the festival program cover, street banners and programmed on the façade of 1 Nicholas Street throughout the festival.

Ms Kent said the work depicts the light, joy and colour that Spark brings to everyone in the community.

“This is such a big event for the city with everyone coming together to enjoy all the different performances, workshops and visual art,” Ms Kent said.

“It’s a great chance for Ipswich residents to connect with the local art scene and it is also a valuable opportunity for local artists to show what we can do, particularly as it’s held during NAIDOC week with its highlighting of First Nations art and culture.”

Ipswich artist Paulina, who took out the 2022 Queensland Music Awards Youth Award, will perform at Brightdaze.

SPARK IPSWICH 2023

IGNITE: July 6

Celebrate the opening of Spark Ipswich 2023 with a ceremony that honours the stories, culture and art of our First Nation people.

SPARK ON TOUR: July 6-9

Spark hits the road with Nadia Sunde’s Twinkle and The Moon - an interactive children’s theatre experience for two to seven-year-old children.

SPARK AFTER DARK: July 6-19

Explore Ipswich’s cultural heart with music, projection, live performance, comedy and dance.

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT: July 6-16

The Creators of Ipswich Summit and Ipswich Has Comic Talent are key opportunities for our local artists to shine.

IMMERSE: July 7, 8, 9, 15 and 16

An immersive playground of family-friendly arts workshops and performances.

BRIGHTDAZE: July 8

This new, all-ages music festival will be headlined by chart-topping hip-hop superstar Allday.

WOMI: 9 July

Ipswich’s signature world music event returns to Springfield Central with music, workshops, food and crafts from across the globe.

LITTLE DAY OUT: July 16

Ipswich’s signature children’s contemporary music and arts festival is little by name but big on fun.

COMMON PEOPLE DANCE EISTEDDFOD: July 16

The mighty dance battle between Ipswich suburban gladiators and other frenemy teams from across Brisbane.

RAUSCHENBERG & JOHNS – IPSWICH ART GALLERY: June 3 - July 30

Significant Others draws upon the National Gallery’s Kenneth Tyler Collection of prints by both Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns produced between 1968–1973.

EXHIBITIONS: July 6-16

Explore exhibitions such as 50 Years of NAIDOC Week Posters, Architectural Layers: New work by Grant Quinn, Make Some Noise, and local artist Eva Fritz’s Little Things Big Things: Interactive Installation for Children.