Doing What Matters: Four-year core funding opportunity to open for Queensland arts companies

• A new dedicated festivals stream to open January 2025 and close on 10 March 2025 for Queensland organisations whose primary purpose is to deliver festivals.

The Miles Government today announced the State’s small-to-medium arts organisations can secure multi-year operational funding, with applications for the Organisations Fund 2026-2029 opening on 30 September 2024. 

The Organisations Fund supports the critical role of Queensland small-to-medium arts companies in delivering programs, exhibitions, festivals, events and workshops that share Queensland stories, grow employment opportunities, inspire and engage audiences and strengthen communities across the state.

It is anticipated the Organisations Fund will be highly competitive, recognising the expansion of Queensland’s arts and cultural sector, and the ambition to grow quality, impactful arts delivery ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, alongside the challenge of cost-of-living impacts across the sector.

Eligible organisations include First Nations-led and non-Indigenous performing arts, visual arts, literary, multi-arts, and arts industry service organisations.

A new dedicated festivals stream within the fund will open in January 2025 for arts organisations that primarily deliver a festival. This stream will recognise the unique business models and planning cycles of festival-focussed small-to-medium arts organisations, and the significant employment outcomes festivals deliver for Queensland artists and arts workers.

The Organisations Fund plays a vital role in realising the Miles Government’s ten-year Creative Together arts roadmap and its vision for a state renewed and transformed by arts, culture and creativity.

Applicants to the fund will be required to demonstrate how their work supports employment of Queensland creatives, the priorities of the Creative Together Roadmap and key outcomes of the Elevate 2042 legacy strategy. 

Approximately $38 million over four years will underpin the Organisations Fund 2026-2029.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch:

“Small-to-medium arts organisations are the engine room of the State’s arts and cultural sector, generating significant social and economic impact in communities across Queensland,” Minister Enoch said.

“The small-to-medium arts sector contributes to cultural tourism, drives arts and cultural employment, and develops new audiences and markets for Queensland works and stories through tours of local works and stories across the State, nationally and internationally.

“As we prepare for the opportunities of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Miles Government recognises the essential role of independent artists and small-to-medium sized arts companies in sharing our rich stories and shaping the cultural identity of this State.

“Our Government is backing the future of the state’s arts sector and the delivery of arts and cultural experiences across Queensland, with investment through the Organisations Fund 2026-2029 fund and its new festivals stream.

“This support is vital in ensuring Queensland’s arts sector is best positioned to leverage the once in a generation opportunity to deliver arts fueled legacy for the state.

“We know that the Miles Labor Government invests in the arts, artists and arts workers, while the LNP cuts arts investment. The Newman-Crisafulli Government was devastating to the arts sector – in fact, one of their first actions was to tear up the Premier’s Literary Awards. Only our Labor Government will ensure that the Queensland arts and cultural sector has the investment it needs to thrive.

Further information:

• The Organisations Fund 2026-2029 will open on 30 September 2024, and close on 20 January 2025.
• The Organisations Fund 2026-2029 supports core operational and program delivery costs of Queensland-based small-to-medium arts organisations.
• A new dedicated festivals stream within the Fund will open Monday 13 January 2025 and close on 10 March 2025 for Queensland organisations whose primary purpose is to deliver festivals.
• Questions about the Fund can be emailed to organisationsfund@arts.qld.gov.au, and a recorded information session will be available on Arts Queensland’s website on Thursday 10 October 2024.

ENDS

Media contact – Kim Sweetman 0457 600 237