Published May 2025
This year Louise Bezzina will swap one iconic Brisbane arts organisation for another as she steps into the top job at the Brisbane Powerhouse and marks her final year at the helm of the Brisbane Festival.
As incoming CEO/Artistic Director at the Powerhouse, Ms Bezzina reflected on her journey from creating shows there in her early years as a performer.
“I remember attending the official opening of the Brisbane Powerhouse as a theatre student,” she said.
“I have so many fond memories attending shows, creating shows in my early years as a performer and now curating a program as part of the Brisbane Festival.
“Brisbane Powerhouse is an iconic Brisbane venue. It is very special to me as I know it is to residents and visitors,” she said.
Ms Bezzina has been at the forefront of cultural innovation, founding the Gold Coast Bleach Festival as the Artistic Director and CEO and acting as a Co-Creative Lead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games Cultural Program.
Since 2019, she has served as Brisbane Festival’s Artistic Director.
Her tenure has been marked by ambitious and inclusive programming, including large-scale free events like public drone show Skylore, and the Brisbane Serenades concerts.
Ms Bezzina has championed local talent through high-profile commissions including sold-out seasons of Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe and Love Stories, and brought world-class experiences like Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show to Brisbane audiences.
Brisbane Festival CEO Charlie Cush said: “Louise has led Brisbane Festival through a period of extraordinary growth, creativity and resilience.”
“She leaves the organisation in a position of immense strength — financially secure, artistically ambitious, and deeply embedded in the life of this city. Her legacy is not just in the programs she’s delivered, but in the values she’s instilled across the Festival,” Mr Cush said.
She will take up the new role after delivering her sixth Brisbane Festival, transforming the festival into Australia’s largest international arts festival through audience engagement.
Chair of Brisbane Powerhouse, Valmay Hill, said she was thrilled to welcome Louise to the organisation and acknowledged the work of outgoing CEO/AD Kate Gould.
“I am confident Louise shares our vision to make Brisbane even better by supporting our arts industry and cementing an exciting and bright future for Brisbane Powerhouse,” she said.
“Kate Gould has done an outstanding job in this role, championing extraordinary projects with incredible vision… I want to sincerely thank her for everything she has contributed to Brisbane Powerhouse,” she said.
Kate Gould will depart at the end of June, with Brisbane Powerhouse Director of Programming Phoebe Meredith acting in the role until Louise commences at the end of October.
