Queensland Government investment of $1.165 million will support tours of visual arts, music, theatre and dance productions in 2023, along with full-time industry placements, announced Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch.
"The newly streamlined Touring Queensland Fund (TQF) is investing nearly $892,000 for 11 tours with performances from Mapoon and Normanton in the far north to Mount Isa, Thargomindah and Barcaldine in the outback and to the Sunshine, Central and Gold Coasts," Minister Enoch said.
"In addition, five of the recipients will also be supported with a further $273,203 to secure full-time industry placements that will boost touring management and production capacity, grow skills and capacity, and create new employment opportunities for emerging arts workers.
"Support for industry placements is a new feature integrated across arts funding programs to address skills gaps and grow the scale and capacity of the creative workforce ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"Through the Palaszczuk Government's investment in arts touring, audiences will have the opportunity to see established productions such as Dead Puppet Society's Ishmael, a modern take on the classic tale of Moby Dick which had its world premiere at Brisbane Festival 2021, and JUTE's popular Dare to Dream program, which will tour to five Cape York schools as part of the company's commitment to present new work.
"Camerata - Queensland's Chamber Orchestra will perform classical music performances to smaller communities in North Queensland and Sunshine Coast, while Flying Arts will tour its annual exhibition of award-winning regional art alongside music performances in a collaboration with QMF's Queensland Music Trails, Opera Queensland, and Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
"Students in remote schools will experience the magic of theatre, many for the first time, while older audiences can enjoy a soulful journey of contemporary music from the last 50 years including country and jazz."
Minister Enoch said many of the tours incorporated accompanying workshops and school programs focused on dance, drama, music, visual arts and theatre.
"Shake & Stir and Shock Therapy are both touring extensively, presenting multiple productions to Queensland schools," Ms Enoch said.
"These are the first touring outcomes supported through Grow 2022-2026, the second action plan of Creative Together: A 10-Year Roadmap for arts, culture and creativity in Queensland, which is supported with an additional investment of $50 million in new money from the Palaszczuk Government.
"Touring Queensland Fund is also the first to be supported by a new approach to funding assessment with a peer assessment panel comprised of 50% First Nations panel members."
Monica Stevens, First Nations Creative Producer, Dare to Dream Program said JUTE was thrilled to receive the funding.
"This fund is supporting an all-First Nations show and residency program to get to some of the most remote communities in Far North Queensland," Ms Stevens said.
