A $34 million refurbishment of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is set to enhance its reputation as one of Australia's best arts venues and improve the QPAC experience for all visitors. Read full story >

The in2arts database was developed by Arts Queensland with children and young people in mind, featuring the activities of more than 120 Queensland arts organisations, from Brisbane to Townsville and everywhere in between. Read full story >

Australia’s talented writers were rewarded last month at the 2008 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards and the State Library of Queensland’s (SLQ) Young Writers Awards. Read full story >

Internationally-renowned design authority, Nick Leon, visited the State Library of Queensland last month to lead a public discussion about innovative new design strategies and his work on smart and sustainable cities. Read full story >

Queensland Arts Council's (QAC) 2008 Regional Forum series,Bouncing Back - Playing to Your Strengths attracted delegates to centres in Regional Queensland throughout July and August to discuss the sustainability of Queensland’s arts community. Read full story >

Arts and artist groups across Queensland have received $795,484 in State Government funding for an exciting range of work across music, dance, design and theatre. Read full story >

Australia's premier awards for business-arts partnerships, sponsorships, volunteering and giving were distributed to worthy Queensland winners at the 2008 Australian Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) Awards last month. Read full story >

Performers from the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts (ACPA), located in Brisbane, took centre stage at the 2008 Deadly Awards earlier this month. Read full story >

Queenslanders are generously giving to arts organisations with Artsupport Australia’s state manager reporting strong philanthropic gains for the sector in recent months. Read full story >

Queensland Arts Council (QAC) is delivering an exciting array of dance, music and theatre to regional Queensland throughout October and November as part of its Ontour onstage program. Read full story >

This year’s Cabaret Festival was the largest in its history, celebrating contemporary cabaret at various venues across inner Brisbane over 11 days and attracting major stars Christine Anu and Deni Hines. Read full story >

Brisbane played host to more than 200 writers from around the world at the Brisbane Writers Festival, from 17 to 21 September. Read full story >

Internationally acclaimed Brisbane-based choreographer, Natalie Weir, will join Expressions Dance Company as Artistic Director in January 2009. Read full story >

A production of The Kursk, written by Sasha Janowicz and directed by Michael Futcher has been successful in receiving a Playing Australia tour grant to take the show around Australia. Read full story >

Artists from Far North Queensland are drawing on their cultures and personal mental health experiences to create an exhibition that gives insight into individual journeys of recovery and healing. Read full story >

During a jam-packed October, the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts (JWCOCA) will host Queensland’s emerging creative talents and, Exist in 08, a set of live art explorations, collaborations, installations, performances and forums. Read full story >

Cairns’ KickArts Gallery will present a series of inspiring exhibitions during the coming months, including a selection of art works spanning 26 years and a show sure to entice those with a sweet tooth. Read full story >

A fabulous new arts and design museum whose inaugural exhibition is about objects made from everyday manufactured articles – sounds like just the place for Queensland artist Donna Marcus to have her work. Read full story >

The State Library of Queensland (SLQ) will be educating and stimulating visitors throughout the month of October with a fascinating chapter in Queensland’s history and a series of hands-on workshops for the young and (not so) young. Read full story >

The Queensland Museum at South Bank and Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich will continue to excite and stimulate visitors throughout the month of October with an eclectic mix of exhibits and a very special guest! Read full story >

Brisbane farewelled the hugely successful Picasso & his collection exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) last month and visitors are now looking forward to a number of exciting new displays. Read full story >

Queensland Theatre Company will escape into a world of sumptuous drawing rooms, country gardens and ardent love affairs when it presents Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest at QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre this month. Read full story >

The national peak body for the family relationships services sector, Family Relationships Services Australia, is holding a national conference this year, to be held in Cairns, QLD 4 - 7 November. Read full story >

Maximise your board's performance with this practical and interactive workshop. Read full story >

This workshop will help you maximise your success in approaches to trusts and foundations.  It will include up-to-date information about trends in philanthropy, advice on the legal structures of foundations, and an insight into the motivations and decision making processes. Read full story >

Cultural workers from Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory explored visionary re-interpretations of museum and gallery collections at Museum and Gallery Services Queensland’s (M&GSQ) seminar, Creative Uses of the Collection, last month. Read full story >

vgp2008@fahcsia.gov.au
These guidelines are to assist organisations applying under the Volunteer Grants Program 2008. Read full story >

http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au
The Australia Council for the Arts invites tenders to develop, produce, manage, market and present a major national touring initiative for contemporary performance for the next three years. To date, this has been through Mobile States, a consortium of Australia’s major independent contemporary performance presenters. Read full story >

http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au
The Go See Fund provides travel assistance for professional Australian presenters to attend performances by Australian artists. Read full story >

http://www.acys.info/
ACYS is a not-for-profit project funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Read full story >

http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au
The Australia Council for the Arts is teaming up with Deakin University to provide study grants for arts marketing in 2009. The study grants are available for people working in small-to-medium arts organisations funded by the Australia Council. Read full story >

http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants
The $50 000 Red Ochre Award pays tribute to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist. Read full story >

http://www.artworkers.org
The Wilson HTM National Art Prize is an acquisitive art award open to emerging Australian-based visual artists practicing in any media. Read full story >

We welcome feedback and contributions to Arts Update. Please contact the editor, Colleen Turner on (07) 3225 8841 or email artsupdate@arts.qld.gov.au