The Gold Coast has undergone a renaissance with stylish cafes, an upmarket dining scene and now, a very cool new cultural precinct.
Welcome to the great new Home of the Arts (HOTA) at Surfers Paradise, a creative hub set across 17 hectares of parklands. The precinct is home to five galleries, including a special children’s gallery, an outdoor stage, a cinema and a sprinkling of fine eateries.
The galleries are home to over $32 million worth of art. As well as rolling exhibitions, HOTA has an impressive permanent collection which includes one of the largest collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in regional Australia and pieces from Archibald-winning Ben Quilty, Gordon Hookey and many others.
On balmy evenings and summer days, HOTA is buzzing with events for both adults and kids.
Until January 23, the precinct has a special pop-up Roller Rink to entertain the kids during the school holidays. And at the children’s gallery, Brisbane-based artist Yeah Yeah Chloe has created an exhibition called Dumpling Dreams, which includes augmented reality experiences and interactive activities like creating dumpling characters.
Also starting on January 23 is the Art Mixtape Mini Film Festival, highlighting films like the avant-gard Birdman starring Michael Keaton, the family friendly animation Surf’s Up and the classic Hitchcock spy thriller, North By Northwest.
On Saturday evenings during January, HOTA hosts a Comedy Underground Showcase in the Basement. The 90-minute shows include big name acts and some up-and-coming comedians that will have you in stitches.
HOTA also has fantastic dining options. Here, you’ll find the Exhibitionist Bar, a slick watering hole with stunning views and a fine cocktail menu. Sitting high on the new gallery’s rooftop, take in the views across the coast to the hinterland. The bar’s cocktails are inspired by HOTA’s major art exhibitions. Dishes have an Asian flair, combined with the best of Australian seafood and produce. The potato gems with dashi salt and Avruga caviar go perfectly with that sundowner cocktail.
Palette restaurant that has a farm-to-table tasting menu which showcases not only fine local ingredients but some of the best wines in Australia – the southern squid with sesame, dashi, silver and shitake custard is washed down with a 2021 Garagiste Le Stagiaire Rose from the Mornington Peninsula. And the HOTA café boasts Asian-inspired dishes such as Peking duck spring rolls and red lentil dahl.
It’s worth spending a day at this cultural wonderland and enjoying a new side of Surfer’s Paradise.
Explore more: hota.com.au
