Ipswich’s ultimate arts and cultural festival, SPARK Ipswich, returns for a third year. SPARK Ipswich, is an 11-day city-wide event celebrating the people, places, arts and culture of Ipswich.

The 2023 program will deliver up a fresh program of festival content. Music, comedy, arts, exhibitions, circus, projection, culture, technology, collaboration and discussion will take over the City.

For SPARK Ipswich 2023, Ipswich City Council commissioned local First Nation artist Jennifer Kent to create an artwork to showcase the festival and our region. Jennifer’s work depicts SPARK Ipswich’s role in bringing Light and Joy to the Community.

Jennifer Kent has resided in Ipswich for over a decade and has lived in Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Townsville, Mackay and Beenleigh. Jennifer identifies her First Nations ancestry with Quandamooka, Jinibara and Darumbal and has kinship with the Waluwarra and Kalkadoon of North West Queensland. Jennifer acquired a love for painting when she attended boarding school at Shalom Christian College in Townsville during the 1990’s, but didn’t start professionally until 2017. With a background in Education Jennifer enjoys sharing First Nations cultural art styles to students of all ages. Jennifer has a unique story telling attribute that allows her to engage and relate to audiences from all over the world.

Stay tuned for festival updates by following Ipswich Festivals on Facebook and Instagram.

Festival Snapshot:

6 JULY: IGNITE
Celebrate the opening of SPARK Ipswich 2023 with a ceremony that honours the stories, culture, and art of our First Nation people.

6–9 JULY: SPARK ON TOUR
SPARK hits the road with Nadia Sunde’s Twinkle and The Moon – an interactive children’s theatre experience for 2–7 year old’s.

6–16 JULY: SPARK AFTER DARK
Explore Ipswich’s cultural heart with music, projection, live performance, comedy and dance.

6–16 JULY: INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
The Creators of Ipswich Summit and Ipswich Has Comic Talent are key opportunities SPARK has on offer for our local artists.

7, 9, 15 AND 16 JULY: IMMERSE
An immersive playground of family friendly arts workshops and performances.

8 JULY: BRIGHTDAZE
Chart-topping hip-hop superstar Allday headlines SPARK’s all-ages takeover of the YMCA Springfield Central.

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

16 JULY: LITTLE DAY OUT
Ipswich’s signature children’s contemporary music and arts festival is little by name but BIG on fun.

16 JULY: COMMON PEOPLE DANCE EISTEDDFOD
The mighty dance battle between Ipswich suburban gladiators and other frenemy teams from across Brisbane.

3 JUNE – 30 JULY: RAUSCHENBERG & JOHNS – IPSWICH ART GALLERY
Significant Others draws upon the National Gallery’s Kenneth Tyler Collection of prints by both Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns produced between 1968–1973.

6–16 JULY: EXHIBITIONS
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.

Our Team:

Programming
Angie Dunbavan: Creative Producer (Red Chair)
Valkyrie Blacksmith: Event Producer (Ipswich City Council)
Ashton Greaves: Event Producer (Ipswich City Council)
Eliza Heath: Associate Producer (Ipswich City Council)
Andrew Veivers: Event Producer (Red Chair)

Leadership
Lauren Roche: City Events Manager (Ipswich City Council)

Partnerships
Jacob Morgan: Senior Partnerships Coordinator (Ipswich City Council)

Marketing & Communications
Alysha O’Connell: Marketing Services Officer (Ipswich City Council)