Qantas has teamed up with some of Australia’s leading artists, photographers and digital influencers to feature their work on the airline’s international Business class amenity kits.
With artworks named Fairy Bread, 7000 Ironbarks and Maaate, the initiative called ‘Qantas Curates’ has seen the airline work with professional Australian contemporary art curators to select artworks from 16 Australians specialising in a variety of different styles including pop culture, photography, fine art, abstract landscape, Indigenous art and textile design.
From 1 May the new range of amenity kits (eight types for men and eight for women) will be offered to Business class customers on international flights, with two designs launching every few months.
Qantas Group Executive Brand, Marketing & Corporate Affairs Olivia Wirth said the airline’s vision is to grow awareness of contemporary Australian art and give travellers a collectible piece to take with them.
“As the national carrier, we’re pleased to support talented Aussies telling uniquely Australian stories through their artwork and share them with a global audience,” she said.
“Along with inflight pyjamas, we know amenity kits are an important part of the international Business class experience. Customers love the functionality of our kits and many use them after their flight as make-up bags, an evening clutch or to carry their mobile phones. So, the exposure is broad.”
Billie Justice Thomson, whose artwork Fairy Bread will feature on an amenity kit for women said she was proud to be part of a program that showcases artwork in such a unique way.
“It’s really exciting to be part of an art exhibition at 38,000 feet. This is a powerful way to share contemporary art, particularly alongside some of Australia’s most talented artists,” she said.
The amenity kits include ASPAR products by Aurora Spa (hand cream, lip balm and face moisturiser), a wrap-around eye mask in the same artwork as the kit, Colgate toothpaste, toothbrush, earplugs and travel socks.
Qantas has a long history of providing opportunities for Australian artists to connect with global audiences. Most recently Qantas joined Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art and Tate in the UK in an International Joint Acquisition Program for contemporary Australian art made possible through a corporate gift from the Qantas Foundation.
Qantas also has an Indigenous art aircraft series and is a longtime supporter of various arts organisations including the National Gallery of Australia, Opera Australia, Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre.
The full list of artists, photographers and digital influencers involved in the collaboration is below, with a detailed fact sheet on each design and artist attached separately: