More than 40 Queensland arts projects to share in over $1.6 million funding

The Queensland Government is delivering over $1.6 million in arts funding, aiming to help realise a diverse, rich and colourful range of projects covering contemporary art, festivals, circus, music, theatre, and dance. The funding will be shared by more than 40 artists and arts organisations allowing them to create vibrant arts experiences for audiences and communities across the state.

The latest arts funding outcomes were announced by Queensland Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch who explained that the $1.6 million investment will be made through Queensland Arts Showcase Program, Touring Queensland Fund and Touring Queensland Fund Quick response grants.

Minister Enoch advised “the latest QASP round will provide an almost $700,000 boost to the sector to accelerate new works and activate diverse arts and cultural initiatives from 19 individuals and organisations.

“QASP funding will see the return of Toowoomba’s Curious Arts Festival in 2022, engaging professional, Queensland-based artists to work alongside Toowoomba’s emerging artists, community creatives, arts workers and organisations.

“Aha Ensemble will develop The Work We Do Together, a 12-month program to showcase the stories and unique perspectives of artists with disability, to be presented on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.”

“The long-running Women in Voice performance showcase will support regional artist development, focusing on mentorships and partnering with venues in Cairns, Rockhampton and Bundaberg to build regional audiences and create employment opportunities for regional artists.

Ruth Atkinson, Festival Director, Curious Arts Festival said Arts Queensland’s support is critical in creating regional arts opportunities, employing professional artists and enticing curious local audiences back into theatres.” 

“Funding support is vital for the Curious Arts Festival to continue to employ Queensland artists, creating opportunities for emerging and international level performers and engaging a skilled local production team,” Atkinson said.

“Our third Curious Arts Festival in 2022 focuses on themes of connection and relationships.  It encourages arts participation and collaboration with professional artists and showcases a remarkable depth of creativity found on the Darling Downs.

“With a curious program of circus, dance, visual arts and music, the Festival will excite, influence and challenge its audiences.”

Minister Enoch said eight productions, exhibitions and artist-in-residence projects would tour Queensland thanks to nearly $675,000 invested through Round 3 of the Touring Queensland Fund.

“Queenslanders can see critically-acclaimed productions including shake & stir theatre co’s stage adaptation of Jane Eyre, and Karul Projects’ First Nations contemporary dance work Silence toured by BlakDance, which will both visit multiple venues across the state.

“Munanjahli and South Sea Islander author Chelsea Watego will visit Indigenous communities in Cherbourg, Thursday Island and Townsville, as well as prisons in South-East Queensland, to deliver writing workshops, while Flying Arts Alliance will tour Paint the Town, featuring the award-winning work from the latest Regional Arts Award exhibition.”

Minister Enoch said Touring Queensland Fund Quick Response Fund (TQFQ) delivered flexibility and a quick response for immediate touring opportunities.

“TQF Quick’s fast funding, which compliments the Touring Queensland Fund, is assisting arts companies and artists to tour a wide range of contemporary music and theatre.

“This includes the Queensland Youth Orchestra Big Band’s Summer swing and cool jazz, the Mau Power Awakening Tour and Woodfordia’s Festival of Small Halls Summer Tour 2021, along with Stephen Oliver’s Bigger and Blacker, a residency tour for Flipside Circus and Melissa Western’s The Last Minute Christmas tour.

Madonna Davies, Director of the Full Throttle Company, received TQFQ funding for the company’s touring production of Cosmological and advised “this funding will enable our regional theatre company to get back on the road again after COVID and to employ three emerging actors, a technician and a tour coordinator.

QASP Round 6 is now open and TQF Quick closes 31st March 2022 

Image top: Courtesy Curious Arts Festival; Image above courtesy Full Throttle Company