New streamlined funding opportunities create good jobs in the arts sector

The Palaszczuk Government has launched new and streamlined arts funding programs to supercharge the sector, deliver social and economic outcomes and growth, and embrace the opportunity of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said critical investment into Queensland’s arts sector will boost creative employment and skills development, grow First Nations arts, provide increased funding certainty and foster partnerships and collaborations to increase new investment into the state’s creative industries.

“Building on the foundation of the first two-years of Creative Together, the ten-year roadmap to renew and transform the state through creativity, and in response to arts sector feedback, I am thrilled to launch these investment opportunities underpinned by a $50 million funding boost over four years to realise the roadmap’s next action plan, Grow 2022 – 2026,” Minister Enoch said.

“These funds include a streamlined and refreshed Queensland Arts Showcase Program, First Nations Commissioning Fund and Touring Queensland Fund.

“In addition, a new Strategic Partnerships Fund is now available with a focus on leveraging State Government investment into our arts sector through co-investment and collaborations, strengthening creative business growth, and delivering inclusive, high-quality arts and cultural experiences that enhance our great Queensland lifestyle.

“These new funding programs strongly back the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to grow jobs and skills, with additional funding of up to $60,000 also available for 12 months to support dedicated industry placements across all four programs,” the Minister said.

“We know that the pandemic significantly impacted Queensland’s arts sector, including creating skills gaps, and we have moved quickly to introduce this capacity boost to develop a creative talent pipeline and increase employment opportunities across the state.

“Importantly, new multi-year project funding across these programs recognises the sector’s need to secure funding certainty to support the development and presentation of new work and deliver larger scale projects and cultural experiences.

“This investment will enable the development of a significant body of new Queensland creative work and events that will activate Queensland communities and showcase uniquely Queensland stories as we look to sharing our arts and culture on a global stage.

“To celebrate and amplify Queensland music, additional support of $10,000 is also available through the First Nations Commissioning Fund and the Queensland Arts Showcase Program to commission new live or recorded music by Queensland-based composers, musicians, or librettists as part of a project.

“These funds will be underpinned by our Cultural Engagement Framework and will be the first to be assessed through a new peer assessment panel model, with 50% First Nations representation on all panels and 100% First Nations representation for First Nations-specific funds.

“These assessors will provide strategic oversight across specific funding programs for up to two years,” Ms Enoch said.

“In addition, following a recent EOI process, investment through Grow 2022-2026 is supporting bursaries for ten First Nations delegates from Queensland to attend the Purrumpa First Nations Arts and Cultural Gathering in Adelaide later this month, providing an important opportunity to inform the national conversation and elevate First Nations arts in Queensland.”    

Georgina Richters, Chair First Nations Arts and Cultures Panel and Deputy Chair Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Committee said, “Brisbane 2032 provides us an extraordinary catalyst to celebrate the diversity and quality of Queensland arts and cultures nationally and internationally. 

“The new and reimagined funds provide exciting opportunities to apply the principles of the Cultural Engagement Framework and elevate First Nations arts and cultures in readiness to thrive beyond 2032.”

“The Touring Queensland Fund will focus on growing audience access to high quality arts experiences, no matter where you live, and ensuring our artists in regional and remote areas have exciting new arts employment opportunities,” Minister Enoch said. 

“Building on the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to ensuring regional, rural and remote schools also have access to engaging and curriculum-relevant arts and cultural experiences, Arts Queensland will soon seek expressions of interest from arts providers for multi-year, curriculum-aligned schools touring programs through a separate funding opportunity.

“The launch of these funding opportunities is a significant step forward in paving the way to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and strengthening the move to greater reconciliation through Path to Treaty.

“They reinforce the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to fostering deeper partnerships and collaborations that strengthen and celebrate Queensland’s unique stories, culture and country, and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts as unique and powerful expressions of Queensland’s cultural identity,” Ms Enoch said.

For more information on these new funds, go to: https://www.arts.qld.gov.au/aq-funding

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Walker 0437 859 987