BRISBANE ARTS BRIEFINGS BEGIN NEXT WEEK

The Brisbane arts community will have the opportunity to learn more about the new directions for Queensland’s arts and cultural sector at an information session next week.

Arts Minister Rod Welford said special information sessions would be held at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts and Metro Arts to outline the recently released Queensland Arts Industry Sector Development Plan 2007-2009 and the new funding guidelines for arts project grants.

“This sector plan aims to better focus our arts resources, continue developing Queensland’s artistic and cultural strengths and help make our state a leader in creativity and innovation,” Mr Welford said.

“Senior Arts Queensland staff will be at the information session to outline this new direction to the local community and answer questions from the public.

This is an important opportunity for Brisbane artists, artsworkers and the arts community to meet and discuss the changes.

“The Brisbane briefings will include a session on the new guidelines for the Arts Sector Project Grants Program, one of the most popular and important funding programs for Queensland’s arts and cultural community.”

Mr Welford said the project grants funding was changed in response to community consultation and had been simplified into two flexible categories:

·Career Development Grants of up to $5000 for individual artists, artsworkers and designers; and

·Development and Presentation Grants of up to $50,000 for creation and presentation of new work, or promotion and showcasing of commissioned and existing work. These grants are open to individual artists, artsworkers, designers, community groups, and arts and cultural groups, organisations and creative businesses.

Applications for the grants are now open and funding decisions are made twice a year. The information sessions will be held at:

• Metro Arts, 109 Edward Street Brisbane, on Monday 2 April, 2-3.30pm and 5.30pm to 7pm (focusing on Visual Arts, Craft and Design) and Tuesday 3 April, 5.30pm to 7pm (focusing on Creative Communities)
• the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, 420 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, from 2pm to 3.30pm and 5.30pm to 7pm on Monday 2 April (focusing on dance and music) and from 2pm to 3.30pm and 5.30pm to 7pm on Wednesday 4 April (focusing on Theatre, Writing and New Media).

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985