Thursday 17 + Friday 18 + Saturday 19 July, 2025

QATACON25 PROGRAM

The full program will be available in term 2 2025. It will contain all the important details, including artist bios, contact details, workshop descriptions, schedules for each day, venues, what to bring and what you can look forward to.

Looking for a past program? All of the QATACON programs can be found in Downloads or scroll down and click on the cover images below.

Download the 2025 teaser program now

QATACON25 Program selection guide

Are you registering for other people? There are quite a few options to select during registration. Use this handy guide to make sure you have all attendees’ preferences before starting the registration process. 

Download the guide

Early bird tickets on sale 31 March 2025

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Get tickets here (...soon)

QATACON25 Opening event

Our QATACON opening events  are a great way to kick start the conference. Enjoy delicious food and drinks, catch up with colleagues and maybe make some new friends. 

You can purchase tickets for this event during QATACON25 registration.

We’ll put all of the details here soon.

The theme of QATACON25 is Celebrate creativity.

Creativity should be celebrated because it fuels innovation, problem-solving, and personal growth, impacting many areas of life and society. Here are some key reasons why creativity is worth celebrating:

  1. Problem-Solving: Creativity enables us to approach challenges from new angles, generating unique solutions. This applies to everything from day-to-day obstacles to complex global issues. By thinking creatively, we can break free from conventional solutions and find effective, sometimes unexpected ways forward.

  2. Innovation and Progress: Creativity is the driving force behind new ideas, inventions, and advancements. In the arts and other fields like technology or medicine, creative thinking leads to discoveries that can enhance quality of life, improve processes, and spark cultural shifts.

  3. Adaptability and Resilience: Life often presents uncertainties and change. Creative people are often better at adapting because they’re more willing to experiment, rethink, and adjust their approaches. Creativity fosters resilience by promoting flexibility in the face of setbacks or obstacles.

  4. Personal Expression and Fulfillment: Creativity allows us to express who we are, our values, and our perspectives, whether through art, music, writing, or problem-solving. This expression can be deeply fulfilling and is linked to better mental health, providing a sense of accomplishment, purpose, and self-understanding.

  5. Cultural and Social Growth: Creativity encourages diversity of thought and helps us see the world through others’ eyes, fostering empathy and open-mindedness. It enriches our cultures, arts, and social experiences, creating communities where people feel connected through shared expression.

  6. Economic Impact: Creativity is a key asset in the workplace, especially in a world that increasingly values innovation. Many industries, like design, entertainment, and technology, depend on creative thinking. Companies that cultivate creativity can often find competitive advantages in the market, leading to economic growth and job creation.

Overall, creativity isn’t just about artistic pursuits; it’s a core skill that enhances critical thinking, enriches our lives, and contributes to broader societal and cultural progress.

At QATACON25, we invite you to

  • explore these ideas through the keynote addresses
  • participate in the discussion
  • challenge yourself in workshops
  • create opportunities for your own future .

See you there.

 Any other questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected]

We’ll be gathering a terrific group of artists, teachers and inspirational presenters to celebrate creativity through art practice, pedagogy and new ways of working with curriculum.

Tickets will be on sale through Humanitix. While we can’t avoid ticketing fees for registration, we are pleased to support Humanitix which sends 100% of registration fees to charities that support disadvantaged kids around the world to access education. (It’s also a bit cheaper for you and your school budgets.)

Featured Artists & Presenters

KEYNOTE PRESENTER

FRIDAY 18 JULY

MEGAN COPE

Megan Cope is a Quandamooka artist from Moreton Bay/Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). Her site-specific sculptural installations, public art projects, paintings and video works investigate issues relating to colonial histories, the environment and mapping practices. Her work often resists prescribed notions of Aboriginality and examines psychogeographies that challenge the grand narrative of ‘Australia’ and our sense of time and ownership in a settler-colonial state. 

KEYNOTE PRESENTER

SATURDAY 19 JULY

WENDY SHARPE

Wendy Sharpe AM is one of Australia’s most acclaimed and awarded artists. She lives in Sydney and Paris.
Sharpe  has won an extensive list of prizes, residencies and scholarships; including: the Archibald Prize, the Sulman Prize, the Portia Geach Memorial Award  (twice ), the Calleen Art Prize, the Adelaide Perry Art Prize, the Gold Award and many more. She has had many Australian and international artists residencies in places as diverse as Antarctica, China and Egypt.

Simon Degroot

Creative Director, QCAD LiveArt

Clare Poppi

Visual Arts Lecturer

Emma Gardner

Lecturer, Visual Art

Hayley Davis

Creative Director, Parados Productions

Teresa Small

Painter

Marian Drew

Photographic artist

Donna Davis

Multidisciplinary artist

Phoebe Paradise

Artist & Director of Merivale Studios

Claudia Williams

Wearable artist

Summa Shing

Educator & art enthusiast

Marg Kewley

Multidisciplinary artist & fashion teacher

Andrea Huelin

Painter

Click the artists' tiles above to find out more about their practice.

So many ways to be involved in 2025

Want to be involved?

  • Create our hero image! We’re looking for a wonderfully skilled teacher/creator to make an artwork that says, ‘Celebrate creativity’, to feature on the front of our program and across our communications. Featured artists receive a complimentary ticket and feature through our program.
  • Nominate to be part of our teacher showcase – an incredible event where we hear from our subject-matter experts (you) about practical teaching methodology. Showcase teachers receive a discounted ticket. This is also a great opportunity to gather evidence towards Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher certification.
  • Submit a middle-years (Years 5-9) student’s artwork to feature on our QATACON25 tote bags (submissions open Term 1, 2025). The artwork must be made in the year of the conference. The student will receive a complimentary tote bag, and the teacher will be invited to present the associated learning activity.

Scroll down for more information and to apply.

Submit your student artwork to feature on the QATACON tote bag. If selected you receive free registration and an art pack for your student.

Click here to submit a tote bag artwork

Regional Teacher Bursary

If you teach outside of South East Queensland you can apply for this bursary. Recipients receive complimentary registration, travel and accommodation.

Click here to apply for the Regional teacher bursary

Design the hero image for QATACON25 in response to the theme Celebrate creativity.

If selected, you will receive a 50% discount on your registration and be featured on the QATACON program. Open to all QATA members. You can see our previous program covers above.
Click here to submit an artwork for the hero image

Educator showcase

This year the Educator showcase has ramped up a notch!

QATA members are invited to unpack, share and teach their colleagues an innovative and effective practical 90-minute workshop, suitable for a primary, middle years or senior visual art context.  You can present individually or in small teaching teams. Workshops should include a practical aspect. We’d like the participants making and doing.  We are looking for innovative, practical and relevant experiences. Educator Showcase presenters receive a 30% discount on QATACON registration.

Click here to be an Educator Showcase presenter

Facilitate your regional cluster

More fun in our cluster muster sessions in 2025. Get ready to enjoy some time and share ideas with your colleagues!

Clusterer Musterers receive a 10% discount on QATACON registration.

Click here to muster your cluster
2 day Metropolitan member$285
2 day Metropolitan non-member$335
2 day Regional member$225
2 day Regional non-member$275
2 day Tertiary student$215
1 day Metropolitan member$180
1 day Metropolitan non-member$230
1 day Regional member$120
1 day Regional non-member$170
1 day Tertiary student$110

Ticket types, prices & FAQs

Please note ticket prices are subject to registration fees of 2.5% + $0.50 per paid ticket. We use Humanitix for ticket registration who donate ticketing fees to education charities.

What is included in my ticket?

Your choice of the presentations listed in the program, morning tea and lunch, workshop art materials,  membership for the remainder of the year for non-members, downloadable workshop and presenter resources, and our wonderful QATA merchandise.

Can I change my order after registration?

Yes you can. If you change your mind about your session or workshop selections, log back into Humanitix and update your order. You will be able to change into other selections until they reach capacity.

 Who can purchase member tickets?

Member tickets are for 2025 financial QATA members Institutional, Institutional sponsored or Individual members.

Who can purchase regional member or non-member tickets?

You can purchase a regional ticket if you live or work more than 70km from the Brisbane CBD. We know you need to travel to get to QATACON and we want to help you out as much as we can.

How can I pay?

Preferred payment method is credit card directly through Humanitix.

Can I pay by invoice for my order?

Yes you can. Select pay by invoice during registration. You will receive an invoice with our direct bank details so you can transfer payment. You won’t need to pay via credit card. Tickets will be confirmed and issued after payment is received. Payment is due within 14 days of invoice.

I just bought a ticket. Where is my invoice as receipt of payment?

Please note: QATA is a non-profit association and is not registered for GST.

An invoice will be issued in your confirmation email if you pay by credit card. 

What is the refund policy?

Refunds are available up to 14 days before the event. 

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No, individual conference programs, session allocations and rooms will be provided. Please register on arrival to collect your personalised program, lanyard and QATACON tote bag.

Can I attend the Thursday night event or the drinks and networking event on Friday evening if I am only attending on Saturday?

Yes, you can. We hope you will! Please rsvp for either event during registration. Thursday is a ticketed event and Friday is complimentary.

Why are some of the workshop choices unavailable when I register in Humanitix?

Workshops have capacity of between 15-25 participants depending on the room capicity, material use or presenter preferences. Some workshops have filled and will be unavailable.  But don’t worry, all of the remaining choices are just as valuable. Be sure to check both morning and afternoon sessions as most are offered twice and each one may not be full.