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Celebrating Creativity

Spend a little time in Toowoomba and you’ll notice creativity takes many forms. There are dance troupes, music venues, writers’ workshops, book clubs, language schools, choirs and a myriad of craft networks to keep you inspired and busy. Toowoomba is proud of its rich traditions too which is why we have enthusiastic history groups, cute museums and fabulous pioneer villages dotted around the region.

Street Art

The streets and laneways of Toowoomba are open air galleries featuring a mix of local artists as well as celebrated graffiti artists from throughout Australia.

Toowoomba Repertory Theatre

If you’re a keen actor, set or stage manager, you’ll love being involved in Rep Theatre – it’s where you’ll see local teachers, accountants, doctors and tradies all working together to entertain the community for the sheer love of it. They also raise money for charities along the way.

Music

Summer Tunes happens every weekend in February and it’s all about live music in our parks and gardens. If you love bands with a pub vibe then head to The Met Hotel where there’s always a variety of local and travelling performers. If it’s just locals you’re interested in, then Café Guitar in Russell Street is the place to go.

Galleries

Toowoomba Regional Council operates a number of fantastic galleries in Toowoomba including Goombungee (Rosalie), Crows Nest and Pittsworth. Toowoomba Art Society, University of Southern Queensland, Murrays Art & Framing and Feather & Lawry also have regular exhibitions. If it’s aboriginal art you’re interested in, head to Doolamai Designs.

History

Cobb + Co Museum is the centre of history for the region but you’ll also find fascinating stories at Toowoomba Historical Society, Highfields Pioneer Village, the National Trust’s Bulls Head Inn and the Historic Walks listed on Toowoomba Regional Council’s website. Family researchers will enjoy the Family History Centre at the Toowoomba Cemetery.

Empire Theatre

Some big names have visited the Empire Theatre in recent years, have you had a chance to catch one of their shows?

• Carl Barron (7 performances in 2020)
• Jimmy Barnes
• Johnathan Thurston
• Kitty Flanagan
• Tina Arena
• Jimmy Carr
• Arj Barker
• Anh Do
• Lee Kernaghan
• Bill Bailey
• Suzi Quatro

Each year our Empire Theatre produces a stage show with feature artists as well as local talent.  Over the past few years those shows have included:

• Mamma Mia! (a record 11, 189 audience members)
• Kinky Boots
• Wicked
• The Phantom of the Opera
• Mary Poppins