BAD times are coming… but don’t freak out – it’s actually a good thing! Brisbane Art Design (BAD) is a city-wide art and design program bringing the Sunshine State’s exemplary creative scene to the fore throughout the month of May.

Sixty venues across four sections of Brisbane (CBD, Fortitude Valley, Northside and Southside) will be activated with events over four jam-packed weekends to celebrate the city’s vibrant visual arts scene. Each section of the city is allocated a separate weekend in May in which to be activated by BAD events (see below for the exact dates and locations).

Expect broadcast illustration workshops from LA-based creative Steve Alexander, immersive gallery installations, fashion shows, site-specific outdoor exhibitions from leading contemporary artists and galleries, photography exhibits, studio tours, panel discussions, performances and more populating the diverse multimedia program. Of particular note is the Outdoor Gallery’s Indigenous art exhibition, a block party featuring an all-First Nations lineup of performers, musicians and artists, and Botanica – a series of installations and light projections – which returns to illuminate the City Botanic Gardens for a third time.

Alongside the programmed weekends, the ‘BAD in the ‘Burbs’ program of satellite events will run throughout the month in a smattering of Brisbane suburbs. It’s a seriously stocked festival! No bad energy here, just BAD energy!

The BAD program is made up of free and ticketed events. See more here.

Brisbane Art Design (BAD)
Friday 7th – Sunday 9th May: CBD
Friday 14th – Sunday 16th May: Fortitude Valley
Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd May: Northside
Friday 28th – Sunday 30th May: Southside