- Palaszczuk Government investment of nearly $3 million through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP) will support 36 projects and 11 new creative placements to develop and showcase new arts and cultural work and create jobs
- For the first time through QASP, multi-year projects have been supported to provide the sector the time and funding certainty to deliver high-quality and larger scale works
- QASP funding includes a $665,000 boost for creative employment with support for 11 industry placements, and funding for three organisations to commission new music by Queensland artists.
Palaszczuk Government investment of almost $3 million through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program is supporting 36 new and diverse arts and cultural experiences across the state from roller skating musical theatre on the Gold Coast to Queensland’s Texas Music Festival and capturing traditional songs from Moa in the Torres Strait.
The latest round of QASP funding is enabling new work, engaging audiences, activating communities, growing creative employment and capacity building across Queensland through 11 industry placements, and supporting the commissioning of new live or recorded music by Queensland composers and musicians through three projects.
The Immerse 2023 Installation project, part of the Great Barrier Reef Festival in the Whitsundays will engage seven local artists and a composer to produce new work, mentor young musicians and share skills through community workshops to extend the footprint and impact of the festival.
On the Sunshine Coast, Kabi Kabi artist Lyndon Davis will lead the development of a unique immersive event, the Dawn Awakening ceremony as part of the Horizon Festival, while Book Links Queensland in Toowoomba will create an exhibition of Queensland artist Lee FullARTon’s handcrafted children’s picture book, including engaging three local artists.
Queensland Writers Centre will take its community-based Writing Friday program on the road to rural and remote areas of Queensland to work with individual and community writers, supporting inclusion and development of diverse stories.
Quote attributable to the Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch:
“Funding through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP) is helping to realise the priorities of our 10-year strategy, Creative Together 2020-2030, with investment enabling new projects and events that will inspire and engage communities and visitors to our state, showcase the talent of Queensland artists and arts companies, and increase sector employment and skills development.
“For the first time through QASP, two-year funding is providing artists and arts companies with the critical time and funding certainty to support the creative development of new work through to the production and presentation of high-quality and larger scale work.
“Support for industry placements will help boost Queensland’s creative workforce, with 11 new employment opportunities growing the capacity of Queensland’s arts sector including skills in curation, event management, marketing, exhibition production and presentation to deliver extraordinary work to broader audiences and markets.”
Quote attributable to Margie Murphy, Chairperson – Great Barrier Reef Festival:
“Queensland Arts Showcase Program funding will allow the Great Barrier Reef Festival arts team to collaborate with the community and extend the footprint of our ‘Immerse’ installations,” Murphy said.
“We are so excited to have the opportunity to introduce a composed musical element this year.”
Quote attributable to Jenny Stubbs, President, Book Links Queensland
“We are looking forward to providing this Artist in Residence program with Lee FullARTon, in The Write Gallery at The Lighthouse Toowoomba.
“Children and adults alike will be delighted to view and participate in the exhibition of “Mr Chippa the Woodblock Carver of Bagru” and a selection of free artistic workshops.
“Just like the book, this exhibition promises to intersect story, art, culture, and place, transporting participants to a world of wonder, imagination, and storytelling through skilled and delicate craft.”
Background information:
- Queensland Arts Showcase Program funding supports the Queensland Government’s Creative Together 2020–2030: A 10-Year Roadmap for Arts, Culture and Creativity in Queensland and its key priorities.
- Applicants can apply for:
- Single-year (up to $70,000) or two-year funding (up to $150,000) for projects
- Additional funding of up to $60,000 towards 12-month industry placements with potential for a further $30,000 for two-year projects.
- Additional funding of up to $10,000 towards commissioning new music by Queensland-based composers, musicians or librettists a part of a project.
- To view the list of recipients for round 2 of the Queensland Arts Showcase Program visit: https://www.arts.qld.gov.au/aq-funding/aq-queensland-arts-showcase-program
