The Queensland Government is a substantial investor in the arts in this State. Arts Queensland aims to capitalise on the State's unique cultural strengths and diversity, to develop areas with the greatest potential for growth and quality work and to enhance engagement with arts and culture.

To achieve this, Arts Queensland provides funding in the following areas:

Organisations

• Administered Funding - supports Queensland's arts portfolio of arts statutory authorities. This funding consists of revenues and expenses administered by Arts Queensland on behalf of the Government.
• s2m offers recurrent funding, either annual or multi-year, to small to medium arts organisations
• Development and presentation grants - open to collectives and not-for-profit organisations for initiatives including new work, exhibitions, productions, industry development and cultural engagement. A priority of Arts Queensland's artbeat: Regional Arts and Culture Strategy is the Heartlands initiative which provides funding for artist residencies in remote areas through the Development and Presentation Grants.
• Touring fund - A new touring fund to bring fresh product and opportunities for Queensland's performing arts, an initiative of the Coming to a Place Near You touring strategy.
• Regional Galleries Partnership Program - a fund to strengthen the programming and development for Queensland's network of regional galleries
• Indigenous Theatre Fund - a joint initiative of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Australia Council for the Arts to develop Indigenous theatre initiatives that invigorate and strengthen Indigenous theatre practice in Queensland.
• Industry Development Initiatives
• VACS - VACS funding focuses on providing support to organisations, Indigenous infrastructure and market development.
• VACS funding for artist-run initiatives - Specific funding available for artist-run initiatives.
• Queensland Premier's Design Awards - The awards are sponsored by Arts Queensland and recognise recognise outstanding contribution to the Queensland design industry through two categories; the Smart State Design Fellowship recognising design champions from any industry; and the Emerging Design Leader Award for emerging Queensland designers.
• Creative Sparks - a joint initiative of Brisbane City Council and Arts Queensland.
• Fundraising Professional Development Grants Program - to provide financial assistance for individuals and arts organisations for professional development in philanthropic fundraising.
• Regional Arts Australia National Conference - Arts Queensland is offering a Junction 2010 Bursary Program. Bursaries of up to $700 are available to those involved in the management of the Regional Arts Development Fund, including RADF Liaison Officers and Committee Members.
• Artist in Residence (AIR) program - a joint initiative of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Education Queensland and the Australia Council for the Arts for innovative education and arts projects up to $20,000. Open to Queensland schools or clusters, artists and arts workers, arts and cultural organisations and professional associations.
• Arts Queensland Regional Arts and Culture Awards – Biennial awards to honour creative spirit in Queensland communities.

Individuals

• Career Development Grants - up to $5,000 for artist professional development 
• Development and Presentation Grants - up to $50,000. Open to individual artists, collectives and not-for-profit organisations for new work, exhibitions, productions, industry development and cultural engagement activities. A priority of Arts Queensland's artbeat: Regional Arts and Culture Strategy is the Heartlands initiative which provides funding for artist residencies in remote areas through the Development and Presentation Grants.
• Touring fund - A new touring fund to bring fresh product and opportunities for Queensland's performing arts, an initiative of the Coming to a Place Near You touring strategy.
• Regional Galleries Partnership Program - a fund to strengthen the programming and development for Queensland's network of regional galleries
• Indigenous Theatre Fund - a joint initiative of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Australia Council for the Arts to develop Indigenous theatre initiatives that invigorate and strengthen Indigenous theatre practice in Queensland.
• Creative Sparks - a joint initiative of Brisbane City Council and Arts Queensland.
• Artist in Residence (AIR) program – a joint initiative of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Education Queensland and the Australia Council for the Arts for innovative education and arts projects up to $20,000. Open to Queensland schools or clusters, artists and arts workers, arts and cultural organisations and professional associations.
• Fellowships and awards - One-off competitive fellowships
  • Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship
  • Billy Thorpe Scholarship
  • Queensland Premier's Design Awards - The awards are sponsored by Arts Queensland and recognise the work and talent of Queensland designers in two categories; the Smart State Design Fellowship will recognise a Queensland design champion while the Emerging Design Leader Award will recognise an emerging Queensland design leader.
• Arts Queensland Regional Arts and Culture Awards - Biennial awards to honour creative spirit in Queensland communities.
• Artspoken Bursary - funding to to assist delegates to attend the Artspoken Queensland Regional Arts and Culture Conference 2011 on 13 and 14 October 2011 and/or the RADF Forum on 12 October 2011.

Local Government Authorities - Supports funding for defined activities and projects delivered in partnership with other government agencies, other levels of government, some devolved funding arrangements and special initiative funding to match one-off funding

• Grittier Places Partnership Program - Funding in partnership with local government to transform disused buildings into spaces for artists.
• Regional Infrastructure Grants - funding for Queensland's regional performing arts centres to strengthen their capacity to deliver arts and cultural activities
• Creative Sparks - a joint initiative of Brisbane City Council and Arts Queensland
• A-Venue - funding for local governments to enable young musicians to get career experience within their own communities
• Arts Queensland Regional Arts and Culture Awards - Biennial awards to honour creative spirit in Queensland communities.

Grant recipients - Summary of past grant recipients

Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) - The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) supports the professional development and employment of arts and cultural workers in regional Queensland. RADF is a partnership between State Government, through Arts Queensland, and your local government.

Indigenous Regional Arts Development Fund (IRADF) - The Indigenous Regional Arts Development Fund (IRADF) is a partnership program between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Councils, Communities and incorporated Community Organisations.

Backing Indigenous Arts - Bringing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultures of Far North Queensland to the world.

Public Art funding - art+place, a $10 million public art fund.

Information for organisations or individuals who receive AQ funding

Do you receive Arts Queensland funding? If so, please review guidelines for acknowledging the funding, correct logos and how to use them, and other useful information:

• Information if you are receiving funding from Arts Queensland
• Funding acknowledgement guidelines
• Logos
• Additional funding oppportunities

Other funding sources

Industry experts - A list of arts professionals who participated in Arts Queensland's assessment processes for funding programs in 2008.

Arts Queensland and Australia Council grants table - March - June 2010