Brisbane Festival expresses its respect for and acknowledgement of the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of country, including the custodial neighbouring communities on whose land works are created, performed and celebrated by Brisbane Festival. We acknowledge the continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We also pay our respects to Elders, past and emerging.

We recognise the integral role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to play in the creative and artistic events and celebration spaces. Brisbane Festival and the Indigenous Advisory Group will meaningfully engage, embrace culture and commit to a progressive future together.

Brisbane Festival is unlike anything else you can experience in the world. We redefine what an International Arts Festival looks and feels like, staying ahead of the game and bringing the next generation with us. We are future focussed, and we care about the planet.

We are:

• Working with venues to provide recycling bins
• Reducing single use plastic, including straws, single-use water bottles, plastic bags, balloons and disposable coffee cups
• Encouraging attendees to bring their own water bottles and coffee cups
• Encouraging low emissions transport options, like cycling, scooting, walking, trains, buses and ferries. Or carpooling.
• Providing drinking fountains or water stations for refilling water bottles
• Promoting the use of reusable water bottles over single-use bottles
• Discouraging the use of single use materials, and encouraging recycling of everything
• Talking with staff, volunteers, vendors, venues, partners, audiences, sponsors and donors about greening the planet
• Encouraging caterers to use reusable, compostable or recyclable serve ware
• Considering the full lifecycle impacts of products (economic, environmental and social)
• Avoiding single-use and overly packaged items where possible
• Referring all suppliers to the BCC environmental guidelines
• Developing an environmental impact strategy which will measure usage and reduce emissions