$3.43 million over four years

Stories and legends are kept alive and passed on to younger generations through visual art, dance, music and new technology. New generations make new connections between traditions and modern life.

About Building Skills and Opportunities

This program focuses on building skills and providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, young people, communities and organisations. It includes all art forms – visual arts, craft, design, dance, music, theatre, writing, new media and community arts and cultural development – both traditional and contemporary. Support is also available for areas such as arts and cultural administration, business development, curating and interpretative services.

Examples of activities supported by this program include (but are not limited to)

• arts, education and training strategies with Education Queensland and Training Queensland
• artists in residence and mentoring
• dance and music programs including festivals, touring and showcase opportunities
• youth arts programs
• writing with a focus on writing for radio
• digital story-telling and production
• cultural tourism.

The BS&O Program supports three main types of projects:

• Arts Queensland (AQ) projects – negotiated and managed by Arts Queensland and have a longer term, strategic focus
• Partnership projects – initiatives with other government agencies, communities and organisations, deliver strong arts outcomes and may also contribute to broader social, cultural, community, youth, health, education or training outcomes
• Local projects – developed and managed by individuals, artists, communities, organisations and businesses

The primary focus of BS&O at this stage is on Far North Queensland (including Cairns and other towns, the Cape, Gulf and Torres Strait). However, special consideration may be given by Arts Queensland to opportunities in other areas that contribute to the strategic priority of advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture in Queensland.

Focus in 2009–2010

In 2009-2010, the focus is on partnership and local projects that support arts development and promotion including:

• building the skills and showcasing the work of artists
• providing opportunities for experienced artists to create new work
• increasing employment in the arts and cultural sector
• supporting Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders to maintain and strengthen culture.

Do you have a project to benefit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industry in Far North Queensland?

Arts Queensland invites proposals for projects of up to $20,000 to benefit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industry in Far North Queensland. Proposals are for non-capital projects in visual arts and craft, music, dance, theatre, writing, arts training and education, new media, mentoring and artist-in-residence programs, youth arts activities and festivals.

Applications for 2009 are now open.

Closing date: 3 July 2009

Decisions advised: October 2009

Projects can commence: 1 November 2009

Completion date: projects must be completed by 31 December 2010.

Funding available: up to $20 000 – (applications for more than $20 000 should speak to the Arts Development Officer – BIA)

Application Form (DOC 331KB)
Guidelines (PDF 263KB)

Read about projects funded through Building Skills and Opportunities
Building skills and opportunities funding 2007 - 08 (DOC 32KB)