KRIS STEWART
Artistic & Executive Director
WELCOME
Kris Stewart is a senior executive with more than 25 years' experience founding, scaling and transforming organisations - taking them through periods of significant change, financial turnaround, and sustained
growth across Australia, New Zealand and the United States.He has served as CEO or Executive Director of major public-facing organisations with complex stakeholder environments, government funding relationships, and large-scale event and program portfolios, and has founded more than a dozen significant ventures across Australia and the United States.
His career spans commercial and not-for-profit sectors, with a consistent record of financial turnaround, revenue growth, audience development and government advocacy. At QMusic (2021–2026), he led a 2.5x increase in organisational income and secured more than $20 million in Queensland Government investment for the music industry. At Brisbane Powerhouse (2013–2021), he oversaw eight consecutive years of audience and revenue growth, delivering $60m in ticket sales and 275 world premieres.
Kris brings deep expertise in event strategy and production, stakeholder and government relations, board leadership, and creative sector development — with a particular track record in building programs and organisations that endure.
Please explore the site for more on Kris' career
CAREER SNAPSHOT
Most recently, Kris wass the Chief Executive Officer of QMUSIC, and the producer of Australia's largest music industry event BIGSOUND, as well as the Qld Music Awards, Valley Fiesta and Tropic Fiesta, amongst other things.
Previously he has been -
- Artistic Director of BRISBANE POWERHOUSE (2013 - 2021), where he presented more than 2,500 shows at Queensland's home for contemporary culture;
- Founder and Creative Director of CURIOCITY BRISBANE (2018 – 2020), a city-wide celebration of art and technology;
- Founder and CEO of the SYDNEY FRINGE FESTIVAL (2009 - 2011), NSW's biggest festival for independent artists;
- Founder and Executive Director / CEO of the NEW YORK MUSIC THEATRE FESTIVAL (2003 - 2008), the first and largest music theatre festival in the home of the artform;
- Current member of Sunshine Coast Arts Advisory Board, The Empire Theatre Toowoomba board, the Arts and Cultural Advisory Panel for The Queen’s Wharf Precinct and on the Queensland Government’s Gambling Community Benefit Fund; previously Stage Queensland Executive Committee, PAC Australia Board, The QUT Creative Industries Advisory Board and The Queensland Conservatorium Advisory Board.
- Director of BRISBANE COMEDY FESTIVAL (2013 - 2021), a multi-venue ticket selling phenomenon;
- Artistic Director and CEO of FESTIVAL OF VOICES (2011 - 2013), Hobart's major destination event;
- Organisational Producer of the AUSTRALIAN PERFORMING ARTS MARKET (2014 – 2018), the national performing arts market development event;
- Australian Resident Director of the musical Wicked (2009 – 2010), which sold more than $100m of tickets during Kris' time;
- President and Director of RED SAND MEDIA PARTNERS (NYC), where he produced films and Broadway musicals;
- and Founder and Director of events such as
- MELT Festival
- Wonderland Festival (2015 - 2019)
- Queensland Cabaret Festival (2015 - 2018)
- Director of World Theatre Festival (2014 – 2018)
- IRL Digital Festival (2015)
- New Musicals Australia (2010 - 2013)
Earlier: Executive Director at National Music Theatre Network (NYC), Asst. to Artistic Director at Melbourne Theatre Company; Creative Director at Jacobsen Corp; Director of the Lygon Street Festa, Geelong Waterfront Festival, the Williamstown Festival, the LIVE Youth Festival, VIVA Cultural Diversity Festival, others
Contact Kris
This is direct to Kris' personal email, so shoot him a note!
Copyright 2018. Thanks for coming by!