- Palaszczuk Government investment through the Strategic Partnerships Fund is strengthening the Queensland arts sector through co-investment and partnerships.
- 10 Queensland arts organisations will share in more than $3 million over three years to deliver new partnership initiatives and programming that strengthen their arts businesses and deliver impactful arts and cultural experiences.
- A further $429,836 will support five Industry Placements for up to two years, boosting creative employment opportunities and skills development.
Palaszczuk Government investment of more than $3 million over three years will be leveraged by ten organisations to strengthen their creative business growth, boost income streams, drive collaboration and deliver inclusive and impactful arts and cultural experiences.
The latest outcomes of the Strategic Partnerships Fund incentivise arts businesses to establish partnerships with businesses, communities, and philanthropists to grow sustainable business models, develop new audiences and markets, and deliver employment opportunities.
Additional investment of up to $429,836 over two years will support five of the Fund recipients to secure industry placements within their arts businesses, which will support on the job skills development and further strengthen the state's creative workforce across the state.
With a focus on delivering social outcomes for Queensland, Music Broadcasting Society of Queensland (4MBS radio) will receive $100,000 to expand its award-winning, aged care nostalgia music service Silver Memories.
Australasian Dance Collective (ADC) will receive three-year support of $250,000 to build its Youth Ensemble and School Workshop program and introduce a new Pre-Professional Year vocational training program. While Ausdance Queensland will deliver a dance education program, SafeDance for Kids, which will teach children about First Nations cultural safety, and physical, social and mental health safety supported by $312,987 over three years.
Indelabilityarts, which engages artists and community members who identify as disabled or neurodivergent, will receive $458,294 over three years to grow its internal capacity to deliver accessible programs with a focus on growing income streams to help secure the company's longevity.
Solar Productions will receive $400,000 over three years to establish and grow Roster Agency - a new content creation, artist development and promotion arm of iconic Brisbane music venues, The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre, and Cairns- based JUTE Theatre will receive $400,000 over three years to grow regional theatre, local story telling and nurture the next generation of artists.
Gympie based Testimony Arts will receive $125,000 to support an arts-led social enterprise initiative to enhance at-risk young regional Queenslander's connection to creative skills and employment pathways, and the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance will leverage its creative business incubator, The Refinery, to become a regional hub for creative practice at the intersection of art, design, environment and technology supported by $257,600 over two years.
In Townsville, Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts will expand PUNQ festival to become an event of national significance and drive local sector capacity building supported by $390,000 over three years, and Dancenorth Australia will receive $355,000 over three years to implement a new Regional Gravitation initiative to grow creative collaborations and develop and present new work.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch:
"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to building a sustainable arts and cultural sector that is well positioned to support Queenslanders' engagement with arts and culture in the decades ahead.
"The Strategic Partnerships Fund is supporting arts organisations to secure diverse revenue streams, develop sustainable business models and deepen their impact for Queensland communities.
"Today's announcement delivers on key actions and priorities of Creative Together 2020-2030 and its second action plan Grow 2022-2026, with a focus on amplifying the growth, scale and sustainability of the state's arts sector, and working to drive social and community outcomes for Queenslanders.
"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to fostering strong partnerships that strengthen and celebrate Queensland's unique stories and cultures, positioning our arts and cultural sector for the significant opportunities of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
Quotes attributable to Tammy Brennan, Cultural Strategist and Managing Director Testimony Arts
"Testimony Arts is fundamentally enshrined and action purposed to civic inclusion and participation for all, particularly the voices, agency and participation of all young people.
"We believe that funding from the Strategic Partnerships Fund will strengthen this purpose and continue to ensure that young regional Queenslanders thrive, with the arts providing a place where everyone can have the opportunity to have a voice, contribute and to shine.
"The funding builds upon already existing change work, that continues to create a galvanised youth collective in Maryborough as a prototype for State-wide replication and adaptation."
Explainer/fast fact and or further information:
- The Strategic Partnerships Fund and Industry Placements are initiatives supported by the Queensland Government's commitment of $50 million over four years to deliver Grow 2022-2026, as the second action plan of Creative Together 2020-2030.
- A full list of previous Strategic Partnership Funding recipients can be found at here
