Investment supports First Nations arts and cultural businesses

• Eleven recipients of Miles Government First Nations Arts Business Grants are sharing $104,541 to boost business skills and capacity.
• First Nations arts businesses deliver services and products including cultural tourism experiences, visual and performing arts, jewellery, fashion and social enterprise.
• The grants will help First Nations businesses maximise opportunities ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Miles Government has announced the inaugural recipients of First Nations Arts Business Grants.

More than $100 000 is being invested in 11 Queensland-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural businesses to grow skills and capacity.

The successful First Nations Arts Business Grant recipients include:

• $6,160 to Erub Arts for a new business and strategic plan
• $10,000 for Hopevale Arts and Culture Centre’s new website, database and online shop offering local artists’ work for sale.
• $6,963 for business development and an online platform for Ngaro/Gia Nations’ Aboriginal Cultural experiences, tours and hand-made artefacts enterprises in the Whitsundays
• $10,000 to Woorabinda-based social enterprise Mailaur for business planning and development
• $9,865 to expand the skills of Gungarri maker Judy Kirby into ceramics and local native timber
• $9,482 for Sunshine Coast-based Take Pride Movement to develop business planning and digital platform services.
• $9,090 to Torres Strait Kaziw Meta Inc for building a Thursday Island sales channel for outer island students’ artwork.
• $10,000 for Ganhaarr Cultural Education and Entertainment Indigenous Corporation to deliver a new website and booking platform for cultural tourism
• $10,000 to Munimba-ja Pty Ltd for business and governance planning for their contemporary Aboriginal arts gallery, studio and shopfront  
• $11,000 for Weilwan singer Danielle Teveluwe to expand her music business
• $10,981 for business and strategic planning support to grow learning and performance opportunities for local artists at Townsville-based Big Eye Theatre.           

First Nations Arts Business Grants are part of the First Nations Arts Business Hub, launched by Arts Queensland in October 2023 to connect Indigenous artists, arts workers and organisations with information and opportunities to strengthen and grow their businesses.

Quotes attributable to Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch:

“Queensland is uniquely home to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and First Nations arts and cultural businesses make an important contribution to the economy and community identities across our state.

“As we prepare to welcome the world to the Brisbane 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, our government is working to ensure First Nations artists and arts businesses can leverage the opportunities presented by the games.

“The First Nations Arts Business Grants and First Nations Arts Business Hub supports the priorities of our Creative Together roadmap, elevating our state’s international reputation for exceptional and unique First Nations arts and cultural products and experiences.”

Quotes attributable to Employment and Skills Minister Lance McCallum:

“Small businesses are the backbone of regional Queensland, connecting communities and providing more local jobs than ever before.

“Backing our First Nations arts and cultural businesses boosts local economies, creates jobs and provides our uniquely Queensland Indigenous arts enterprises with opportunities and expertise to grow.” 

Quotes attributable to Judy Kirby, Gunggari maker, Toowoomba:

“Funding from the First Nations Arts Business Grants will help me to grow my business and showcase Australian native timbers in my contemporary and traditional jewellery designs. 

“By assisting me to engage experts to present my products through beautiful photography on a new website and consult with professional advisors to streamline my business processes, the grant will enable me to realise the dream of selling my work in local, national and international markets.”

More Information

For more details about First Nations arts business grants, and the First Nations Arts Business Hub’s resources to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led arts and cultural businesses are at:   https://www.arts.qld.gov.au/projects-and-initiatives/fnabh

Applications are now open for First Nations Arts Business Grants of up to $10,000.

Media: 0427 475 089