Brisbane’s Art Boat is a floating art experience linking the Brisbane Festival 2021 precincts at South Bank and Northshore, Hamilton. A 75-minute open-air cruise on the Brisbane River, Brisbane’s Art Boat offers an art installation, a bar and pop-up performances from a range of genres and performers; the Northshore Loop cruise on 10 September featured beatboxer Tom Thum as the guest artist.

ENESS Airship Orchestra. Photo © Ben Weinstein

Departing from the Brisbane Festival precinct at Northshore, Hamilton, Brisbane’s Art Boat – Northshore Loop travelled downriver towards Hawthorne before returning to its point of departure. A South Bank Loop, Northshore to South Bank cruise, and South Bank to Northshore cruise are also on offer, with times including daylight, sunset and night cruises. Light food and drinks were available for purchase from the onboard bar but seating was limited, especially with portions of the boat roped off for a private function. Patrons were otherwise free to move around for the duration of the cruise, viewing the art installation from all angles and moving to the front of the boat for Tom Thum’s performance.

Airship Orchestra, an installation by Melbourne-based art and...