Queensland communities and arts sector to benefit from boost in arts touring services

• Queenslanders will enjoy increased access to quality arts and cultural experiences through increased support for arts touring across the state.
• A refreshed model of state-wide touring services will be delivered by Stage Queensland supported by investment of $1.3 million over three years.
• Leading arts organisation Shake & Stir will deliver curriculum connected school touring services for regional and remote kindergartens and schools with $2.5 million over three years.
• This investment builds on the boost of almost $1 million in contestable touring funding in 2022-2023 with a total $4.2 million approved across 39 grants including 10 paid industry placements to deliver diverse tours across the state.

Communities throughout Queensland will access high quality arts and cultural experiences through investment in arts touring services of $3.8 million over three years.

Shake & Stir, a Queensland arts organisation renowned for its repertoire of high-quality curriculum-connected performances in schools, will be contracted to deliver Schools Touring Services for children and young people in kindergartens and schools in regional and remote communities.

Palaszczuk Government investment of $2.5 million over three years will support Shake & Stir’s delivery of schools touring services, including performances and workshops that enhance curriculum, as well as arts education resources and professional development for teachers.

Investment of almost $1.3 million over three years will support Stage Queensland, the industry peak body for performing arts centres in Queensland, to deliver a new model of State-wide Touring Services.

These services will support presenter and producer partnerships across the state, create new employment opportunities and activate halls, theatres, galleries, outdoor venues and festivals.

Stage Queensland’s touring services will grow sustainable touring approaches, provide vital touring brokerage support and market growth.  A First Nations tour coordinator will help activate opportunities for First Nations arts touring including audience development and use of diverse presentation spaces.

These new services build on Arts Queensland’s Touring Queensland Fund, which supports single and multi-year tours, accompanying workshops and school programs.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch MP:

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to increasing Queenslanders’ access to high-quality arts and cultural experiences, no matter where they live and learn.

“These new touring services are part of a clear strategy to strengthen local creative economies and great community lifestyles, grow jobs and support social and cultural wellbeing.

“Arts in education has never been so important, with the need for creative and critical thinking to drive our future communities and workforce in Queensland. Shake and Stir’s Schools Touring Services, in response to the needs of schools in remote and regional communities, will support students and teachers to engage with a rich heritage of stories, arts and cultural practices to enhance learning across the curriculum.

“Stage Queensland, as a state-wide peak body, is well positioned to deliver state-wide touring services, to drive outcomes for regional communities, including the strengthening of local touring circuits.

“These services build on strong investment of $4.2 million in 2022-23, which provided new employment opportunities including 10 industry placements, and connected Queenslanders living in 461 communities from Thargomindah to Toowoomba and Cairns to Cunnamulla with access to new and innovative works developed, performed and presented by Queenslanders,” the Minister said.

Third-party quote attributable to Shake and Stir:

“Shake & Stir is thrilled to deliver the Schools Touring service with the funding support of Arts Queensland.

“Since 2006, Shake & Stir has had a deep commitment to regional touring, students and communities. The company looks forward to touring further for longer, specifically into remote Queensland, and to continue inspiring young audiences with our passion for delivering the highest quality, live arts experiences.

“We are delighted that through the delivery of this service, Shake & Stir will also create new opportunities for regional and early career artists and celebrate and share new Queensland stories.

“This service also enables Shake & Stir to deepen our engagement with First Nations communities - helping us better understand how we can work together to bring Queensland’s rich First Nations cultures into schools across the state."

Third-party quote attributable to Stephen Foster, President, Stage Queensland

"Stage Queensland is delighted to collaborate with Arts Queensland to deliver a contemporary and revamped approach to touring and engagement right across the state,” Mr Foster said.

“Priorities over the next three years include supporting skills development for presenters and producers and broadening the connection between artists and audiences.

“Our vision is to support and enable the delivery of sustainable touring of arts and cultural experiences to engage and connect communities around the state."

Further information:

• Touring high-quality arts and cultural experiences into Queensland schools and communities is a key priority of Grow 2022-2026, the second action plan of the Queensland Government’s Creative Together, a 10-year Roadmap for arts, culture and creativity.
• Schools Touring Services and state-wide touring services were procured following EOI processes.
• The next round for the Touring Queensland Fund will open mid-August. For more information visit: https://www.arts.qld.gov.au/aq-funding/aq-touring-queensland-fund

ENDS

Media contact – Pema Bastin 0422 655 582