Theatre, Writing and New Media Sector Development Plan (PDF 1413KB)

Arts Queensland funds artists, companies, festivals, community organisations and events in the areas of theatre, writing and new media. Some of the organisations and initiatives funded in 2007-2009 are:

• Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts - The Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts is a Registered Training Organisation developing and training Indigenous Performing Artists in acting, singing, dance and music.

• APAM - Arts Queensland is committed to showcasing Queensland artists and arts organisations at the biennial Australian Performing Arts Market 

• Brisbane Powerhouse

• Backbone Youth Arts - to partner young Australians to inspire the nation

• Brisbane Writers Festival

• Circa

• deBASE productions for production of Popping Lead Balloons

• Frank Theatre

• Interplay - International Festival of Young Playwrights

• Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts

• Just Us Theatre Ensemble

• Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts

• La Boite Theatre Company

• Lowdown magazine

• MAPS for artists - New Queensland arts initiative tests alternative support structure for independent artists - view release (PDF 172KB). MAPS (Managing and Producing Services) is funded in Queensland as a joint venture between the theatre and dance boards of Australia Council and Arts Queensland.

• The Matilda Awards

• Metro Arts

• National Play Festival  - A hothouse for ideas, workshops, forums and showcase performances of eight new cutting-edge plays from the country's most promising playwrights. Arts Queensland has entered into a three-year partnership (2008 - 2010) with the National Play Festival, positioning Queensland as a key centre for new performance writing in Australia.

• Out of the Box

• Pacific Film and Television

• Playlab

• Playwriting Australia

• Queensland Poetry Festival

• Queensland Premier's Literary Awards - The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were inaugurated in 1999 and have grown to become a leading literary awards program within Australia, with $225 000 in prize money offered across 14 categories. The awards offer Australian established and aspiring authors the opportunity to gain recognition in the literary community as well as providing financial assistance to support the development of high quality writing.  Arts Queensland sponsors three awards: the Unpublished Indigenous Writer David Unaipon Award; the Judith Wright Calanthe Poetry Collection; and the Steel Rudd Australian Short Story Collection.

• Queensland Theatre Company

• Queensland Performing Arts Centre

• Queensland Writers Centre

• Theatre made in Queensland - This is theatre made in Queensland. These companies reveal a new confidence in Queensland theatre with the courage to push physical, emotional and intellectual boundaries.

• The Brides of Frank

• Thomas Shapcott Poetry Award - Sponsored by Arts Queensland, the Thomas Shapcott Award provides the winner with a $3000 cash prize

• Umber Productions for Risk

• University of Queensland Press

• Val Vallis Poetry Award - Named after the late iconic Queensland poet Val Vallis [open in a new window with link to: and sponsored by Arts Queensland, this award presents a total of $4000 prize money to Australian poets for unpublished work

• Write About Art - Senior students from across Queensland are invited to participate in Arts Queensland's Write About Art competition by submitting an essay, interview or feature story about art or design.

• Youth Arts Queensland

• Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre