Advantages keep coming from popular arts funding

Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

Five vibrant arts and cultural projects will make a positive impact on people, places and communities thanks to Palaszczuk Government funding of $226,080 through Round 6 of Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP) – Arts Advantage stream.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said Arts Advantage supported projects delivering social benefits and outcomes to diverse communities across Queensland.

“The five successful recipients will deliver high impact and inspirational projects, ranging from the Djabugay Art Centre in Far North Queensland which will engage young and emerging First Nations Artists in fashion design, to Brisbane’s MELT Festival of Queer Arts 2022 curating a nationally significant arts and cultural program,” Minister Enoch said.

“Children and adults from the outback Central West region of Queensland will engage with authors and books at the StoryFest Out West workshops.

“Merry-Go-Round, Cootharinga North Queensland’s circus and dance training for young deaf and disabled people will culminate in work showcased at Townsville’s prestigious North Australian Festival of the Arts (NAFA) this year.

“The performing arts can be transformative for people with disability; enabling them to express themselves in new and different ways,” Chief Executive Officer of Cootharinga North Queensland, Matt Kinnane, said.

“Alongside the direct benefits to participants, we believe this program will help to build community understanding of disability and provide future opportunities for people with disability to be included in more events like NAFA.

“We hope Merry-Go-Round is just the start of a broader program of visual and performing arts delivered in North Queensland in conjunction with Access Arts.”

Minister Enoch said the funding support from QASP Round 6 – Arts Advantage delivers on the key priorities of the Palaszczuk Government’s Creative Together roadmap for arts, culture and creativity by elevating First Nations art, activating local places, driving social change, strengthening Queensland communities, and sharing our stories.

“All applications are assessed by external peer assessors with relevant social impact and art form expertise including First Nations representation,” Ms Enoch said.

“Including this current round, QASP, in 2021-22, has supported 82 applications with a total funding of $3,275,805.”

QASP Round 7 funding is now open for application, with information available at the link below:

https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/funding/organisations/arts-showcase

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