THE Quandamooka community proudly announces the public opening of the QUAMPI Arts & Culture Centre, coinciding with the highly anticipated Quandamooka Festival 2025.
Set for September 13-14, this event will mark a new chapter for First Nations cultural expression and community-led creativity.
Overlooking the tranquil vistas of Deanbilla Bay, QUAMPI is the first ever First Nations-owned and operated Arts & Culture Centre on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
This state-of-the-art facility stands as a testament to the resilience, storytelling and ongoing creative spirit of the Quandamooka people.
Launching in tandem with the centre’s opening, the Quandamooka Festival 2025 will offer two days of celebration, featuring performances, art, storytelling and cultural activities that showcase the depth and diversity of First Nations culture.
It is a unique opportunity for all – community, collaborators and visitors – to honour Country and connect through creativity.
The annual Quandamooka Festival returns in 2025 with a wide variety of events including Kunjiel (corroboree, traditional dance), music, markets, workshops, weaving, arts and cultural talks, and First Nations dancers and performances.
An incredible roster of performers awaits, headlined by NIMA Artist Of The Year award-winner Emily Wurramara, along with Roger Knox, Fred Leone, Joe Geia, Jungaji, rising local band Birren, Quandamooka artist Sachem and much more hosted by comedian Sean Choolburra.
Accessible by a short 10-minute walk from the Dunwich (SeaLink) ferry terminal, QUAMPI and the Quandamooka Festival invites day-trippers from Brisbane and beyond to experience Quandamooka hospitality and heritage.
The Quandamooka Festival is a great opportunity for people to experience first-hand the continuing culture of the Nughi, Nunukul and Goenpul clans, which make up the Quandamooka people of the Redlands/Moreton Bay islands region.
Queensland Music Festival (QMF) has partnered with the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) to help deliver the 2025 Quandamooka Festival.
“We’re honoured to be partnering with QYAC to support the 2025 Quandamooka Festival, and equally proud that this marks the beginning of a three-year commitment to help deliver even more events in the years ahead,” said QMF CEO Daryl Raven.
“It’s a privilege to play a supporting role in this powerful celebration of culture and Country, led by the Quandamooka People.
“This partnership reflects QMF’s ongoing commitment to uplifting First Nations voices and working alongside communities across regional and remote Queensland to platform their stories, creativity, and leadership.”
Led by culture, guided by story, and grounded in Country, QUAMPI Arts & Culture Centre is designed to be a dynamic cultural hub.
It offers rich, authentic experiences that engage, educate and inspire visitors, tourists, and the local community alike.
Whether as a vibrant destination for travellers, a professional gathering place, or a nurturing ground for artistic partnerships, QUAMPI brings together the past, present, and future of Quandamooka culture.
Designed by COX Architects and QYAC with input from QAGOMA, the centre is a vital cultural landmark for the Quandamooka People, combining architectural innovation with deep cultural significance.
The inaugural exhibition, “ngaliya ngajagu wagari (ours to carry)”, features artworks across various mediums and cultural objects by Quandamooka artists.
Drawing from the QUAMPI Art Collection, Redland Art Gallery collection, and QYAC cultural heritage collection, this powerful display will run from September 2025 through February 2026, offering profound insight into the living stories and artistic legacies of the Quandamooka people. Entry to the exhibition and QUAMPI is free.
“QUAMPI is a facility of the highest art museum standards. Designed by one of Australia’s leading architectural firms, COX Architecture, it will host inspiring exhibitions by Quandamooka artists and other First Nations artists from Australia and around the world,” said QUAMPI Director Avril Quaill, a Nunukul woman of the Quandamooka People.
