In a creative and collaborative approach to supporting the growth of Queensland arts organisations, the Palaszczuk Government will invest up to $376,500 to enable nine arts organisations to leverage additional revenue through the new Strategic Partnerships Fund.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said, "The Strategic Partnerships Fund will support Access Arts, Australasian Dance Company, Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Ballet Theatre of Queensland, Camerata, Dancenorth, Institute of Modern Art, La Boite and Topology to strengthen their fundraising efforts, secure good jobs and grow new investment in the arts sector.
"These nine arts companies were identified through a Palaszczuk Government partnership with the national Creative Partnerships Australia (CPA) Plus1 program.
"Our investment for nine Queensland arts companies builds on CPA's support for five arts organisations that secured Plus1 funding earlier this year (QMusic, BlakDance Australia, Vulcana Women's Circus, Red Ridge Interior Queensland and Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts), boosting arts sector access to revenue streams through matched-funded donor campaigns.
"Our partnership with CPA will help ensure that funding organisations, philanthropists, government and community members can work together to accelerate the growth of our arts sector and to amplify positive arts impacts and investment outcomes.
"This commitment has the potential to raise at least an additional $376,500 in funding from non-Government sources, boosting the overall investment in small to medium arts organisations in Queensland," the Minister said.
The CPA Plus1 program identified a number of high-quality Queensland applications as part of a peer assessment process, and through the Strategic Partnerships Fund investment, the Palaszczuk Government has almost trebled the number of Queensland organisations to benefit from the program in its latest round.
"The two programs share key priorities for small to medium arts recipients to leverage their funding and grow new income streams through co-investments, and philanthropic and financial partnerships," Minister Enoch said.
"By extending our investment to high-quality applicants through the CPA Plus1 program, we are enabling more Queensland organisations to secure new co-investments and secure fundraising collaborations.
"This will help to build sector sustainability and prepare these organisations for the significant opportunities of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games"
Creative Partnerships CEO Fiona Menzies said, "Over the last ten years, the Plus1 program has been a turning point for many organisations in their fundraising.
"Matched funding provides an incentive for donors, while the program provides an opportunity for organisations to succeed and gain momentum in fundraising," Ms Menzies said.
"Fundraising is, of course, about more than just money, it is about building a community of supporters for arts organisations and the impact they have on their communities. We are thrilled that this opportunity is being extended to additional organisations in Queensland through this partnership."
Access Arts Chief Executive Officer Pat Swell said, "We are incredibly excited to receive funding to support Undercover Artist Festival, which has grown to become Australia's premier performing arts and disability festival, produced/performed by artists with disability.
"This unique festival nurtures individual artistry, culturally educates and presents experiences to community that move beyond stigmas associated with disability, creating career pathways and recognising excellence," Ms Swell said.
"We are looking forward to using this support to springboard further engagement with the many individuals and organisations who share our aspirations for the Festival."
The Strategic Partnership Fund is a new initiative of Grow 2022-2026, the second action plan for the Queensland Government's 10-year Roadmap for arts, culture and creativity, Creative Together.
