What is Test Drive the Arts?
Test Drive the Arts is a unique opportunity for you to be our VIP guest at a performance at one of Queensland’s leading performing arts venues. We’d like you, and your partner or friend, to attend a fabulous live performance – our shout.
How does Test Drive the Arts work?
You choose a performance from one of the specially selected Test Drive the Arts shows. What’s on offer will vary from venue to venue and seasonally depending on what our leading performing arts companies are staging. Throughout the 12 months of the Test Drive program there will be something to suit everyone – from hot ticket contemporary music to opera, modern dance to classical ballet, drama, comedy and much more.
What venues and companies have shows in Test Drive?
There are 29 outstanding performing arts venues and leading Queensland artistic companies participating in Test Drive across the state. We’re working with a number of others that we hope will soon join the Test Drive program to give you an even greater choice and opportunity to experience the best Queensland arts have to offer.
Brisbane Venues and Companies
· Brisbane Powerhouse
· Circa
· Harvest Rain Theatre Company
· Ipswich Civic Hall
· Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
· Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts· La Boite Theatre Company
· Logan Entertainment Centre
· Musica Viva
· Opera Queensland· Queensland Arts Council
· Queensland Ballet
· Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University· Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC)
· Queensland Theatre Company
. Queensland Youth Choir
· QUT Gardens Point Theatre
· Roundhouse Theatre
· The Queensland Orchestra
Regional Venues and Companies
· Cairns Civic Centre. Dancenorth (Townsville)
· Empire Theatre (Toowoomba)
· Gold Coast Arts Centre
· Mackay Entertainment Centre
· Mt Isa Civic Centre
· Pilbeam Theatre (Rockhampton Venues and Events)
· Proserpine Entertainment Centre
· The Events Centre (Caloundra)
· Riverway Arts Centre (Thuringowa)
· Just Us Theatre Company JUTE (Cairns)
· Tropic Sun Theatre Company (Townsville)
Are all shows at these venues part of Test Drive?
No. We’ve asked all of our participating performing arts venues and companies to select programming that we think people who are new to the arts will enjoy the most. So the shows on offer have been specially chosen with you in mind.
Does it cost to participate in Test Drive?
There is no charge for first round Test Drive the Arts tickets and no obligation to accept any subsequent offers from venues or companies. So it is truly a risk free way to ‘try-before-you-buy’.
Am I eligible for Test Drive?
The eligibility criteria may be a little different depending on the Test Drive special offer you are considering. To make things easier there is a general ‘3 year’ rule of thumb which applies to Test Drive offers.
· If the offer is from a participating performing arts company (eg Queensland Ballet), and you haven’t attended a performance by that company in the last 3 years you should be eligible.
· If the offer is from a participating performing arts venue (eg QUT Gardens Theatre), and you haven’t attended a performance at that venue in the last 3 years you should be eligible.
The individual performance details listed on this website will outline any specific eligibility criteria that apply.
Is Test Drive open to non-Queensland residents?
No. Since Test Drive aims to build long term audiences for Queensland performing arts venues and companies unfortunately we can only make Test Drive offers available to Queensland residents.
How do I participate in Test Drive?
Registration is simple. Just browse through the performances detailed on this site and follow the prompts and links. Some venues offer complete on-line registration and will link you to a special Test Drive part of their website to register for a performance. Other venues may ask you to complete a simple contact details form which will be forwarded automatically by e-mail to the venue from the Test Drive website. The venue will then personally contact you either by e-mail or phone to register you for Test Drive.
It sounds like a really good offer - what’s the catch?
The catch is we’d like you to come back. We’d also like you to tell us exactly what you thought of your Test Drive experience. Depending on the performance and venue you’ve attended you’ll receive either a printed feedback form with your tickets or a feedback e-mail after the performance. It will be quick and easy to complete and will help us to improve Test Drive. If you’ve really enjoyed your Test Drive experience, the company or venue who invited you to be their guest, will make other special Test Drive offers to you. While you are under absolutely no obligation to take up any other offers, we think you’ll find the next round of offers irresistible value. Second round offers will vary and may involve some cost (for example you may be offered a very substantial discount or a ‘two for one’ offer).
How do I receive my tickets?
Test Drivers will be issued with a complimentary double pass (2 tickets) by the venue or performing arts company staging your show for you to be their special guest. Normally they will be sent in the mail to you for your convenience although arrangements may vary between venues. Where different arrangements apply the venue or company will contact you to advise a convenient way to issue your tickets.
Can I choose what performance I want to attend?
Yes. You can choose the venue and time and date of the performance from those on offer. Test Drive offers will be popular and may be taken up quickly so unfortunately we cannot guarantee that tickets to your chosen performance will be available. However we have arrangements in place with the venues to keep our website as up to date as possible to minimise any disappointment.
Can I register more than once for Test Drive?
No. We want to give as many Queenslanders as possible the opportunity to Test Drive the Arts. Complimentary Test Drive tickets are only issued once to any individual. So please choose carefully the performance or venue you want to attend. Venues and companies reserve the right to cross-match Test Drive ticket holder details with their existing patron database.
Can I tell my friends and family about Test Drive?
Absolutely. As long as they meet the eligibility criteria, such as not having been to a specific performing arts venue in the last 3 years, they can be part of Test Drive too. We want as many people as possible to have the chance to Test Drive the Arts.
How many tickets are available?
We expect that there will be around 1,000 tickets on the day of our launch. Tickets to certain shows may be limited so you will need to be quick. If a show really appeals to you and all Test Drive tickets have been allocated why not check with the venue’s box office? They may have other special offers or discounts. You’ll be surprised how affordable tickets are.
Will there be more tickets available?
The Test Drive program will run for 12 months through to September 2008 so new performances will be added to the Test Drive offers all the time. Some venues have quiet periods particularly around the Christmas/New Year break when programming on offer is limited. Check our website regularly for the latest offers.
Why do some participating venues not have current Test Drive Offers?
There can be a number of reasons for this. The allocated tickets for Test Drive may have all been snapped up. When this happens we may remove the show from the website. We also have asked venues and companies to specially select programs for audiences who are new to the arts. So not all participating partners may have programming in Test Drive at any given time. Where possible we’ll try to highlight coming Test Drive attractions before tickets are released so you can plan your Test Drive experience ahead. Check our website regularly for the latest ticket releases.
Can I transfer my Test Drive tickets if I can’t attend?
Yes. Test Drive Tickets are transferable to another person if you can’t make a performance for whatever reason. However tickets are not for re-sale and transferred ticket holders must meet the same eligibility criteria for Test Drive and must advise the venue of their contact details.
Will my personal details and privacy be protected?
No personal information is stored on the Test Drive the Arts website. Personal information will be collected by a performing arts venue or company in order to issue tickets for Test Drive the Arts. Any information you might be asked to provide is subject to the full protection of relevant federal and state privacy provisions and legislation.
Is the government supporting Test Drive?
Yes. Both Arts Queensland, the state government’s arts body, and the Australia Council at the federal level, have committed funding to Test Drive the Arts. We want to give more people the opportunity to experience the world-class live performances that Queenslanders can now find right in their own back yard. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. We also want to support our performing arts venues and companies by growing audiences and making our performing arts sector economically and artistically more sustainable. Your support will really help achieve these goals.
