02 October 2025
A TASTE OF AUSSIE ICONIC COLOUR: KEN DONE INSPIRES BOLD NEW MENUS AT HOTA
What happens when you mix a rule-breaking artist, a fearless chef, and a cocktail magician… Bold, joyful art straight off the canvas and onto your plate—and into your glass. Palette Restaurant and The Exhibitionist Bar are serving up vibrant new menus inspired by KEN DONE: NO RULES now showing at HOTA Gallery.
At Palette, Executive Chef Dayan Hartill-Law reimagines native ingredients. Expect vibrant plating that draws inspiration from Done’s iconic brushstrokes and unexpected flavour pairings transforming the freshest Queensland produce into edible masterpieces.
Upstairs at The Exhibitionist Bar a kaleidoscope of colourful tropical flavours, wild garnishes, and drinks that are almost too pretty to sip (almost) awaits. Our Master Mixologist Tom Angel has designed a menu that doesn’t just pair with art—it is art, served over ice.
Book your table. Order the art.
ONE SHOW ONLY - JIMMY BARNES WORKING CLASS MAN
In a Queensland exclusive, the brand-new documentary from Aussie rock icon Jimmy Barnes lands at HOTA for one show only. A raw, unfiltered look at fame, addiction, and redemption - told through Jimmy's eyes with his trademark honesty and insight. This showcase screening tells his story – through the excess and success of Cold Chisel, to the ups and downs of his solo career.
TRENT DALTON’S LOVE STORIES SET TO SWEEP THE GOLD COAST
Fall in love all over again with Trent Dalton’s Love Stories - real tales of love, laughter, and hope from everyday Australians, proudly showing at HOTA from Thu 9 – Sat 11 Oct. Created by best-selling author Trent Dalton and the creative team behind the page-to-stage adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe, it’ll send audiences back to the streets feeing just a little more alive. In the spirit of love, audiences are also invited to share their own stories at Relationship Australia Queensland’s Love Stories Listening Booth, located at HOTA before and after the show.
CALLING ALL ARTISTS AND CREATIVES! EOI OPEN FOR EGC ARTS FUND 2026
We’re excited to announce that Expressions of Interest are now open for the Experience Gold Coast Arts Fund, with $1.5 million in funding available to support local artists, collectives and organisations.
This initiative is designed to bring bold, innovative, and community-connected creative projects to life across all artforms. Successful projects will be showcased at some of our city’s most iconic festivals and events, including BLEACH*, Kids Take Over, Blues on Broadbeach, Groundwater Country Music Festival and more.
The Arts Fund features three key grant categories:
• Gold Coast Stories – Support for the development of new, culturally significant content by local artists and communities for presentation across EGC platforms and events.
• Gold Coast Creates – Funding to attract high-calibre artists with strong ties to the Gold Coast to return and create bold new work in partnership with local creatives.
• Gold Coast Presents – Support for the presentation of high-quality, readymade local works, including:
• Local Works – Theatre, dance, installations, digital projection
• Local Music – Performances alongside headline acts (Tier 1 only)
Expressions of Interest close at midnight (AEST) on 16 October 2025.
VIEW THE 18 SEP 2025 ARTS & CULTURE UPDATE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.