2014 Out of Box Festival Receives Extended Run; Set for 25 June - 2 July

Today, the news was let 'out of the box' at the 2013 Educators Performing Arts Market (EPAM) that there are extended dates for the 2014 Out of the Box Festival.

Out of the Box is the much-loved biennial festival for children eight years and under, presented by the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).

The 2014 Out of the Box Festival will be held from Wednesday 25 June to Wednesday 2 July.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said that the 2014 Festival will be extended from previous years by two days to become an eight-day event, running across the end of the school term and the beginning of the June school holidays.

"Out of the Box is about children. By extending the Festival we're trying to make sure as many children as possible are able to participate either with their school or with their families and carers.

"Out of the Box will be an exciting program of free and ticketed events, including theatre performances, interactive workshops, and outdoor events," Mr Kotzas said.

John Kotzas said that EPAM was an ideal setting at which to make the first announcements for the 2014 Festival because of Out of the Box's significant education and learning credentials garnered over 22 years.

"With our core aim being to enable children to seek out and connect with experiences that resonate with them, we have built on our knowledge, fine-tuned our program and incorporated the latest in early childhood education research into each Festival.

"Out of the Box provides a platform where artists, educators, carers, and corporate partners can all join together to support a child's experience.

"One of our most loved and landmark events, Out of the Box marks a special time when QPAC's staff and the Centre become completely focused on our youngest artists and audiences, with every stage and public area taken over with children's performance and activities.

"As part of the Festival, South Bank's Cultural Forecourt will also be activated each day and will be a lively place for children as they participate in meaningful arts experiences. There will be sites for learning, talking and putting on daily performances where artists and carers all are involved together," said Mr Kotzas.

The Festival hub will be at QPAC and throughout the Cultural Precinct at South Bank, Brisbane, including events at the State Library of Queensland, Queensland Museum and the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA).

In 2014 Out of the Box will present its 11th Festival and celebrate 22 years of nurturing children's creativity and imagination. In 2012 the Out of the Box Festival had an estimated 91,700 attendances across performances, free events, workshops and a symposium.

Details of the program and on sale dates for the 2014 Out of the Box Festival will be announced in coming months. For more information and Festival updates visit www.outoftheboxfestival.com.au.