BrisAsia Festival is one of Brisbane’s premier events for cultural placemaking, creative and artistic innovation and community wellbeing. Celebrating Brisbane’s cultural and creative voice, our Asian cultural heritage and our place in the world, the sounds, sites and tastes of Asia flow through a three-week-long cultural immersion of concerts, parties, community events, cultural learning experiences and storytelling across live and digital platforms.
Supporting our next generation of creatives, the festival forges meaningful creative partnerships with industry stakeholders, emerging artists and experienced professionals, helping to drive cultural change, ignite creative and economic innovation and build bridges between the local economy and the creative sector to support our future social, cultural and economic wellbeing.
BrisAsia Festival is one of Brisbane’s premier events for cultural placemaking, creative and artistic innovation and community wellbeing. Celebrating Brisbane’s cultural and creative voice, our Asian cultural heritage and our place in the world, the sounds, sites and tastes of Asia flow through a three-week-long cultural immersion of concerts, parties, community events, cultural learning experiences and storytelling across live and digital platforms.
Supporting our next generation of creatives, the festival forges meaningful creative partnerships with industry stakeholders, emerging artists and experienced professionals, helping to drive cultural change, ignite creative and economic innovation and build bridges between the local economy and the creative sector to support our future social, cultural and economic wellbeing.
About the Festival Producers: Sounds Across Oceans
Sounds Across Oceans is a not-for-profit arts organisation dedicated to promoting community harmony and wellbeing through innovative cultural programming across styles, genres and artforms. Inspired both by ancient and contemporary values SAO works to generate creative platforms where people from all walks of life can reach their creative potential. Through workshops, residencies, concerts, education programs and discussion forums SAO builds bridges between cultures and communities, supports cultural knowledge sharing and uplifts and connects people of diverse cultural and creative backgrounds.
Our team of producers for BrisAsia 2025 includes Gemma Truong (Utopia Entertainment), Menaka Thomas, Minh Nguyen, Lani Gibbins and Loic Robillot. 2025 festival program partners include the Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane Powerhouse, Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Fish Lane Arts Precinct, Big Fork Theatre and Shoku.
Sun 16 Feb '25 3:00pm (duration 1:55 hours) QPAC, Cultural Precinct Cnr Grey, Melbourne St, South Brisbane
Experience a captivating afternoon of Romantic masterpieces with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by visionary Hans Graf, as part of BrisAsia Festival 2025. Featuring violinist Chloe Chua, cellist Ng Pei-Sian and Luciola singapura by Koh Cheng Jin, a stunning new composition evoking the luminous beauty of Singapore's rare fireflies.
Sat 8 Feb '25 4:00pm (Matinee) 6:30pm (Evening) Thomas Dixon Centre, 406 Montague Rd, West End
Get ready for Brisbane’s most electrifying night of 2025! Dance the night away, where Korean pop culture meets high-energy performances in an eclectic fusion. This is a summer celebration you won’t want to miss!
Sat Jan 31 '24 - Feb 9 '25 10:00am - 5:00pm Museum of Brisbane Level 3, Brisbane City Hall King George Square, Brisbane 4000
Museum of Brisbane (MoB) is excited to welcome Sara Nejad as their upcoming Artist in Residence. Sara's residency will harness the mandala as a motif to explore themes of identity and belonging. Mandalas have a rich history in Persian art and architecture. Sara is drawn to the significance of these symbols in her own life, but also their resonance across other cultures and spiritualities. During her residency, she will engage with various Brisbane communities to create a series of collaborative mandalas.
Sat 8 Feb '25 4:00pm - late Warehouse 25, 25 Finchley Street, Milton
Get ready to vibe at BEAT STREET, where beats hit harder, art runs wild and creativity knows no bounds. Kick off the day with the SHOKU SOUND LAB, an immersive workshop for emerging DJs, producers, and musicians. Collaborate with industry pros, and bring your music to life in an inspiring setting, supported by Focusrite and Shoku. As night falls, the energy flows and Warehouse 25 morphs into an all-out BEAT STREET party.
Fri 31 Jan '25 5:00pm - 9:00pm Unidos Community Centre, 204 Sherbrooke Road, Willawong
Get ready for the ultimate night out—Southside by Night is back, and it’s going to be next-level! Coming home once again to the iconic Unidus Community Centre on Friday, January 31st, 2025, this event is set to be the highlight of the year. We’re bringing together the southside’s hottest talent and some of the culture's most influential artists in the scene, all under one roof. Expect to see insane cars from the city's best car crews and grab tasty eats from your favourite street food stalls. You don’t want to miss this epic night—mark your calendars now!
Sat 8 Feb - Sun 9 Feb '25 Day 1: 10:00am - 8:00pm Day 2: 4:00pm - 9:00pm Vent Space , 23 Glenelg St, South Brisbane QLD 4101
BrisAsia Dance is Queensland's largest street dance battle event, returning February 8th and 9th to showcase the very best in Australian and Asian street dance. Featuring 2 days of exhilarating freestyle dance battles across dozens of dance styles, the competition will attract Australia's finest street dancers and welcome internationally renowned artist "KrazyBonez" from Taiwan as a judge. With a prize pool that includes a qualification and paid trip to Asia's biggest independent dance festival, Radikal Forze Jam, this is a weekend that is not to be missed.
Sat 8 Feb '25 5:00pm - 8:30pm Sunnybank Plaza, Cnr Mains Road & McCullough Street, Sunnybank
Sunnybank's Lunar New Year Rooftop Party is a free, family-friendly event with fireworks, live entertainment, lion and dragon dances, and kids’ activities. The celebration starts at 5:00 pm on Saturday, 8 February, with fireworks at 8:00 pm. Plus, enjoy a delicious meal from Sunnybank’s authentic Asian restaurants.
Fri 7 Feb / Sat 8 Feb '25 7:30pm - 8:30pm Big Fork Theatre, Level 2, 252 Saint Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley
Experience a madcap fusion of comedy, culture and language in this hilarious improvised show from some of Big Fork Theatre's best multicultural performers! From true stories about growing up BrisAsian to wild characters and situations created in the moment from audience suggestions - meet your new best friends in comedy!
Fri 31 Jan / Sat 1 Feb '25 7:30pm - 9:15pm Big Fork Theatre, Level 2, 252 Saint Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley
Get ready to laugh out loud at BrisAsia Stands Up – the home of Brisbane’s top Asian-Australian comedy talent! Celebrate the unique voices lighting up stages across Australia and bringing down the house on TV, radio, and online. These comedians are on fire and ready to tear up the stage, delivering punchlines you won’t forget. After selling out in 2023 and 2024, tickets are limited, so grab yours fast and support the hottest acts in town at BrisAsia Stands Up!
Sun 2 Feb '25 4:00pm - 6:00pm The Band Stand, Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens
Celebrate the Year of the Snake in 2025 with Lunar New Year in the Gardens, an exciting cultural event for the whole family. Enjoy captivating performances, including Lion Dancers and a Martial Arts display by the International Wushu Academy, live music from Sitar virtuoso Sudha Manian, traditional dance, Henna face painting and more. Relax to chill beats by Brisbane’s best local DJs and explore a vibrant array of traditional music, dance and theatre from across Asia. Bring your picnic rug, unwind in the shade of the beautiful botanic gardens whilst you savour delicious Asian street food. This family friendly celebration offers a joyful blend of tradition, flavour and festivity.
Sat 1 Feb / Sun 2 Feb / Fri 7 Feb '25 Feb 1: 7:00pm - 8:00pm Feb 2: 2:30pm - 3:30pm Feb 7: 7:00 - 8:00pm Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Mt Coot-tha
Gifts of a Blue Pearl Vol 2 is a visual and audio meditation experience that is beyond language and thoughts that celebrates the magnificent life forces at play on this glorious blue pearl - Earth, and pays homage to Guanyin - the deity of mercy and compassion. Man&Wah are twin brothers and artistic duo, their creative works are inspired by nature from a cosmic perspective. Using photography, video, audio and physical installations Man&Wah create immersive experiences that invite slowing down, wondering and reflection in the mysteries and beauty of the cosmos.
Sun 9 Feb '25 3:00pm Queensland Multicultural Centre, 102 Main Street, Kangaroo Point
Visual artist Yao Mikami and vocalist Mico Sundari join forces to deliver a spiritual, multidimensional performance combining captivating melodies and evanescent visual art made with liquid light. In ‘Liquid Memory’, the ancient sounds of Japan come to life in a meditative space where sound and visuals unite, slowing down time and encouraging deep reflection.
Fri 7 Feb - Sun 9 Feb '25 11:00am – 9:00pm Longwang, 144 Edward St, Brisbane
Longwang invites you to experience “A Weekend in Seoul” for BrisAsia Festival 2025. Celebrate Head Chef Andy Choi’s Korean heritage with a menu that brings the spirit of Seoul to Brisbane. Enjoy vibrant, locally-sourced dishes infused with Korean spices and fermented flavors, reimagined with a contemporary twist. Set in a chic urban space inspired by the Dragon King of the Sea, Longwang offers an immersive dining experience that blends Brisbane’s multicultural vibe with Seoul’s culinary essence. Don’t miss this exclusive, limited-edition journey through Korean flavors. Presented by Longwang.
Sat 1 Feb '25 5:00pm - 8:00pm Fish Lane Arts Precinct, South Brisbane
Lush on Fish Lane returns in 2025 as part of BrisAsia's Lunar New Year celebrations! Join us in the Fish Lane Arts Precinct for a contemporary Asian Street Festival that merges food, culture, and creativity. Celebrate the Year of the Snake, symbolizing transformation and renewal, with a fantastic lineup of traditional performances, live music, street theatre, breakdancing, and cosplay. Enjoy delicious Asian cuisine from top local vendors Southside Restaurant, Hello Please, Chu the Phat, and Bird’s Nest. Lush on Fish Lane promises a unique, festive experience for everyone, blending art, music and family fun.
Sat 30 Nov '24 - Sun 27 Apr '25 All day Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Stanley Place, South Brisbane
Immerse yourself in the most compelling new artwork being produced across Asia, the Pacific and Australia. The Asia Pacific Triennial promises bold, groundbreaking contemporary works from over 70 emerging and established artists, collectives, and filmmakers spanning 30+ countries. Best of all, it's free, making it the must-do experience this summer. Spend time with family and friends, broadening your horizons as you explore the future of art and the world we inhabit together.
Sat 1 Feb '25 10:30am - 12:00pm Everton Park Library, 573 S Pine Rd, Everton Park
Experience Maal (One Spirit): Connection Through the Senses, an enchanting workshop series celebrating Asian and Indigenous Australian cultures! Part of BrisAsia Festival 2025, these interactive sessions feature the talents of Indian fusion singer Menaka, Japanese Koto master Takako Haggarty, and Indigenous artist Glenn Barry. Designed for all ages and abilities, including special needs and neurodiverse participants, this inclusive program invites you to explore music, movement, and storytelling, creating unforgettable connections and joyful memories.
Sat 30 Nov '24 - Sun 27 Apr '25 All day Outdoor Gallery, Brisbane
Brisbane City Council, in collaboration with the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), presents the latest Outdoor Gallery exhibition, Asia Pacific Triennial Kids: Outdoors, from 30 November 2024 to 27 April 2025. Asia Pacific Triennial Kids: Outdoors features eye-catching displays made especially for children and families by artists included in QAGOMA’s 11th Asia Pacific Triennial exhibition (and Asia Pacific Triennial Kids). Council’s Outdoor Gallery transforms Brisbane’s laneways and city streets into imaginative, curious and engaging spaces.
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Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Virtual Keyboard
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
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Highlight Hover
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Navigation Keys
SAO
Accessibility Statement
soundsacrossoceans.com
12 Dec '24
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all of the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside of it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over 7 different coloring options.
Animations – epileptic users can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers), both for Windows and for MAC users.
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
