Leisure, arts and culture

The Queensland Police and Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) run free blue-light discos and dance parties for young people. They provide safe, healthy and supervised entertainment that is alcohol and drug free. Contact your nearest PCYC.

There are many things to consider when planning a party, and good planning can reduce the risk of potential problems on the night. The Queensland Police: Party Safe website provides some great ideas to help you make your party safe, lawful and enjoyable for everyone concerned including parents, hosts and guests.

Theme parks in Queensland offer leisure, adventure and cultural activities.

Restrictions apply on who can buy computer games and movies in Australia. Understanding classifications will help you decide which movie or computer game is suitable for you. More information is available from the Classification Board.

As well as lending books, local libraries offer free events for young people, including training courses, learning workshops, performances, and reading or discussion groups. Other free materials and services include:

• movie hire or viewing
• newspapers or magazines
• access to the internet, computers and ebooks
• room hire
• book clubs.

The State Library of Queensland is the leading reference and research library in Queensland and provides free access to information for all Queenslanders. It includes The Edge, which is the library's space for creativity, ideas and experimentation.

• Artforce Brisbane
  A community art project that enables local artists to paint their original works on traffic signal boxes around Brisbane suburbs.
• Circa
  Explore Circa shows, find which circus class is perfect for you or discover ways of being part of the Circa experience.
• Crossroad Arts
  Develops opportunities for people who experience a disability to access and participate in the arts. Crossroad Arts creates theatre and multi-art events for people in Mackay, Isaac and the North Queensland region.
• Empire Youth Arts
  Based in Toowoomba, Empire Youth Arts offers workshops in drama and performance, as well as school holiday workshops.
• Flipside Circus
  A unique circus company that not only teaches circus to children and young people but takes it to the next level by creating exciting and innovative performances and shows.
• Lord Mayor’s Young and Emerging Artists Fellowships
  Supports young and emerging Brisbane artists and arts workers aged between 17 and 30 and aims to develop creatives who wish to join national or international training and development programs through participation in training programs, mentorships and structured experiences.
• QMusic
  QMusic is a not-for-profit music industry development association located in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, delivering sector development and major music events, including BIGSOUND.
• Queensland Theatre Company Youth Programs
  Queensland Theatre is committed to nurturing the next generation of theatre makers, actors and audiences. They offer a variety of opportunities for young people to become more involved with their state theatre company.
• Queensland Youth Orchestras
  Queensland’s major orchestral training and performance organisation for young musicians aged 9 to 25. Find out how to apply and audition to join Queensland Youth Orchestras.
• Regional Arts Development Fund
  Supports professional and emerging professional artists and arts practitioners living in regional Queensland.
• The Stitchery Collective
  A Brisbane-based design collective that facilitates community engagement programs including art, design and sewing workshops, clothing swaps, exhibitions and public education programs.

Many cultural venues offer student discounts. Speak with the venue or visit their websites to find out more.

• Brisbane Powerhouse
  Brisbane Powerhouse is one of the busiest performing arts centres in the Asia-Pacific region, offering a year-round program featuring some of the best events and stage shows in Brisbane.
• Bulmba-ja
  Bulmba-ja is a theatre, gallery and creative development space managed by Arts Queensland that plays a vital role in the Cairns arts scene, showcasing unique stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Judith Wright Arts Centre (JWAC)
  JWAC is a vibrant and contemporary visual and performing arts hub located in the heart of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. JWAC is a creative space for exciting visual arts programming and for the development and presentation of original and innovative contemporary performance works, including cabaret, circus, dance, music, spoken word and multi-disciplinary arts.
• Museum of Brisbane (MOB)
  MoB explores the people, places and stories of Brisbane through an ever-changing exhibition program.
• Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
  See the world from a new perspective at QAGOMA. Together, these galleries offer compelling experiences that will move and surprise you. QAGOMA is also home to a Children’s Art Centre that presents interactive artworks for kids and families, and a cinema that celebrates film from around the world.
• Queensland Museum Network
  The Queensland Museum Network includes:
  - the Queensland Museum, including the Sciencentre
  - the Workshops Rail Museum
  - the Cobb+Co Museum
  - the Museum of Tropical Queensland.
• Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC)
  QPAC is Queensland’s entertainment destination and the leading presenter of performing arts in the Asia Pacific.