New Independent Creation Fund supports Queensland arts organisations

A new Independent Creation Fund established by the Queensland Government to support independent artists and arts workers will see 21 Queensland arts organisations deliver exciting new projects and boost employment opportunities in the arts and cultural sector throughout 2022.

Queensland Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Independent Creation Fund will invest nearly $700,000 in Queensland arts and cultural organisations, producers and performing arts venues.

Minister Enoch advised “new work will be presented at venues including Somerset Civic Centre, Redland Performing Arts Centre, HOTA on the Gold Coast, the Kingston Butter Factory, Brisbane’s Metro Arts, and Cairns Performing Arts Centre.

“Projects will be delivered at festivals including the Sunshine Coast’s Horizon Festival, Swell Festival on the Gold Coast and Cairns Children’s Festival.

“The fund will deliver employment opportunities for artists and arts workers, with Everybody Now! employing a Storyteller-in-Residence, Backbone Youth Arts engaging early career artists through a new residency program, and Digi Youth Arts employing emerging Indigenous independent practitioners to create new work.

“Together, these 21 projects will lead to jobs and employment opportunities for artists and arts workers throughout the year.”

Minister Enoch said the Independent Creation Fund outcomes were the latest to be realised through the two-year dedicated $22.5 million Arts and Cultural Recovery Package to support the arts sector through the impacts of COVID-19.

Dee Steinfort, Executive Director, SWELL Sculpture Festival enthused “We are thrilled to be the recipients of Independent Creation Fund to produce a new element for our program for SWELL Sculpture Festival 2022.”

For more information on the Independent Creation Fund:

Image: Courtesy Backbone Youth Arts