Community, inclusion and empowerment
Upbeat Arts delivers arts programs to adults experiencing a mental illness, disadvantage or marginalisation. The weekly programs foster a safe, fun environment where members learn new skills, make connections, and find joy through participating in choirs and creative writing programs.
For 10 years State Library has been supporting Upbeat Arts to deliver the writing program and annual concert, through Queensland Writers Centre.
This year Upbeat Arts will deliver a special concert to honour a decade of resilience, creativity, and the transformative power of the arts with their performance of Echoes of a Decade at The Edge Auditorium at State Library on Saturday 26 October at 2 pm.
The concert will feature presentations of the work from creative writing programs, and the release of their 2024 anthology. Also, for the first time, all three Upbeat Arts choirs will perform together.
The concert will showcase inspiring performances and heart-warming stories of Upbeat Arts members, highlighting the essence of community engagement.
Members of the Absolutely Everybody Brisbane and North Brisbane Choirs, two of three Upbeat Arts choirs.
Q&A with Susan Gilmartin
Upbeat Arts Queensland Operations Manager Susan Gilmartin talks about the concert and the impact that the programs have had on communities.
What impact have you seen Upbeat Arts have on communities over the past 10 years?
Upbeat Arts has had a huge impact on both individuals and the wider spread communities, by building confidence, capacity and opportunity for connection. Our programs help foster a sense of identity and pride in the community and raise social awareness that inspires conversations and positive action.
Inclusion is at the heart of Upbeat Arts, what has this looked like over the past 10 years? Do you have any favourite stories?
Participating and engaging in Upbeat Arts programs has shown significant improvement to our members’ mental health. Community and connection are vital for all of us, and for many that struggle with their mental health, isolation can be disabling.
Over the past ten years, we have seen many positive outcomes and lots of good stories. One of our members tells us that the weekly creative writing classes held at State Library give him purpose, direction, and a reason to ‘stay engaged in life’.
An original member has openly attributed her absence from the mental health hospital wards over ten years, to joining the Brisbane Choir. Since attending the launch of our programs in The Edge Auditorium on World Mental Health Day in 2014, she has found joy and family in the choir and looks forward to rehearsals each week, and to performances throughout the year. A favourite performance is always the annual Upbeat Arts concert supported by State Library.
Why should people come along to the event this year?
The Echoes of a Decade concert will be celebrating Upbeat Arts' 10-year anniversary. It will feature an impressive showcase of local talent including performances from all 3 choirs, short storytelling of written pieces, and the opportunity to witness courageous and heart-warming people. The best performances need a great supportive audience so please join us!
What is the value of State Library of Queensland's support for Upbeat Arts?
State Library's support for Upbeat Arts significantly enhances our organisation's ability to provide a creative outlet for our members. This partnership not only offers a safe and familiar environment for self-expression but also lends credibility and visibility to Upbeat Arts, helping to attract more participants and resources.
A decade of collaboration with a high-profile venue like State Library reinforces the importance of accessible arts’ programs in the community and demonstrates a commitment to fostering creativity and connection amongst individuals. We are very grateful to the teams at State Library, through Queensland Writers Centre who facilitate
this partnership.
To learn more about Upbeat Arts and to book to see them perform you can head to their website.
To book to see them perform this Saturday at State Library, head to their Echoes of a Decade event page.
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