The Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts provides teaching excellence and innovation in contemporary performance.

Our vibrant and diverse training centre offers performing arts courses in the genres of dance, song, stage and screen.

ACPA students come to our state-of-the-art studios at the Judith Wright Arts Centre to experience a learning environment which is challenging, demanding, motivating and, above all, nurturing of the talents of our young and emerging artists.

ACPA’s performing arts courses emphasise individualised learning, developing each student’s potential to become an arts leader of the future.

Our strong global network ensures ACPA students are trained by industry experts to build the technical capability and confidence they need for professional public performances, and to launch careers in the arts and entertainment sectors.

ACPA is a Registered Training Organisation registered by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and delivers vocational education and training (VET) services.

Our Commitment:

ACPA commits to honouring tradition in a contemporary context.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures tell stories and teach values through performance. ACPA’s programs honour this rich heritage in a modern context.

We encourage excellence, professionalism and respect for all cultures, and the expression of a student’s culture through contemporary performance.

Our work also contributes to the Australian Governments’ Closing the Gap initiative – improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s skills and employment outcomes.

Our Vision:

ACPA, an exemplary centre for contemporary performance arts training and innovation, nurtures excellence in the next generation of Australia’s performing artists and arts professionals.

Our values

INTEGRITY – COURAGE – EXEMPLARY

Our efforts to achieve this vision are guided and strengthened by

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ethics and protocols
  • Respect, responsibility and relationships
  • Creativity and encouragement
  • Accessibility
  • Diversity

Our one-word intent is to be the CHANGE we wish to see

Our vision is BOLD

How will we know if we are successful?

Because of ACPA …

  • We will have created a new normal
  • We will have had frank and robust public conversations
  • Our students will embody our values and take these into their careers and into our future

Because of ACPA …

  • The story of Australia is an Indigenous story
  • We change lives through stories

Because of ACPA …

  • We have open conversations
  • Barriers are removed
  • Our work is not a place or a space, it’s everywhere

Our History:

A national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts training institution was first proposed in 1994, in the then Prime Minister’s national arts policy, Creative Nation.

The Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, responded by engaging Indigenous impresario Michael Leslie to establish ACPA in 1997. The first classes were held in 1998, at the Metro Arts Building in Edward Street. Only one accredited performing arts course was offered at this time.

Student numbers grew as additional qualifications were offered, so ACPA relocated to new premises in South Brisbane, then a campus in Kangaroo Point. In December 2016, ACPA moved to the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts.

Thanks to the dedication and commitment of staff, board members, alumni and supporters, ACPA has become a national centre of cultural and educational significance.

ACPA now offers four nationally recognised and accredited vocational qualifications, with an average of 70 enrolled students each term. A recent destination survey revealed that 90 percent of ACPA graduates are employed, either full time or part time, or are undertaking further education.

ACPA alumni include:

  • Danzel Baker OAM a.k.a. Baker Boy (Young Australian of the Year 2019)
  • Yolanda Lowatta (Bangarra Dance Company’s Russell Page Fellowship recipient; 2016 Helpmann Award for Best Female Dancer)
  • David Biondi-Odo (The Banff Centre’s Indigenous Dance Residency Program, Canada)
  • Keia McGrady (Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (KCDC) Residency Program, Israel)
  • Liam Talty (Ready for This, TV Week Logie winner for Most Outstanding Children’s Program)
  • Jeremy Ambrum (Channel 7’s major new drama series, The Secret Daughter)
  • Jalen Sutcliffe (Deadly Funny Award, 2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival)
  • Dale Woodbridge-Brown (Circus Oz)