Brewing Local Artists is a Burleigh Brewing initiative that celebrates and showcases the work of emerging artists in our community, to reach audiences far and wide.

Big thanks to all involved who helped bring the vision to life;

Local comedian Dusty Rich, our hilarious MC.
DJ Adam Sillars who delivered the smooth beats throughout the afternoon.
Haylee Coulter from local band Hihaze, who finished the night off with a live acoustic set.
Our amazing judges; Chad Calderon (BLEACH* Festival), Larissa Klerck (Gold Coast Film Festiva) & Amanda Gorman (Blank Magazine).

Our People’s Choice Award Winner, Matty Nyhuis & our Judge’s Choice Award Winner, Ellamay Fitzgerald, both took home a Golden Growler trophy each filled with Burleigh beer and $2500 to put towards their future art projects.

Matty, after winning hearts over with his miniature models, was selected through a People’s Choice voting system designed for attendees on the day to vote for their favourite artists to win. Matty creates his artwork under the alias of Boy Scouts, which he regards as “a step back in time, a simpler time – where all you need is a trusty knife and your imagination”.

Photographer, Ellamay Fitzgerald amazed the Judges with her emotive visual project “MIXED EMOTIONS PART l” for which she has a sequel in the works.

“Having never held a solo exhibition before, the funds would support me to publicly exhibit my current project ‘Mixed Emotions Part II.’ This project highlights marginalised Asian Australian voices in Southeast Queensland and increases their visibility through a photographic body of work”

Ellamay also moved the Judges with her response when prompted how she would utilise her prize money for betterment of the local art community.

“As an emerging POC artist and photographer, some challenges when creating and presenting work locally are finding inclusive and BIPOC-led spaces. The funds would support my future goals to run a BIPOC-led arts space on the Gold Coast and create more accessible platforms for artists and audiences of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.”

Check out the gallery below to see all the action from Brewing Local Artists 2022!