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:

• 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

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

Arts Queensland invites proposals of up to $5,000 for individuals and up to $10,000 for groups for projects benefitting the career development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts workers in Queensland. Proposals can be across any art form with particular emphasis on dance, music, theatre, writing and new media. Projects can involve cultural administration, business development, festivals, touring, artists-in-residence and community arts and cultural development - both traditional and contemporary.

Grant guidelines Part 1 (PDF 178KB)

Grant guidelines Part 2 (PDF 141KB)

Grant application (DOC 712KB)

Read about projects funded through Building Skills and Opportunities

Projects funded in 2010-2011 (DOC 29KB)

Projects funded in 2009-2010 (DOC 38KB)

Projects funded in 2008-2009 (DOC 29KB)

Projects funded in 2007-2008 (DOC 32KB)

Media Releases

13 October 2010 - FNQ Indigenous arts sector receives $145k funding boost (external site)

13 December 2009 - FNQ Indigenous arts sector receives funding boost (external site)

Backing Indigenous Arts - Building Skills and Opportunities funding 2009-2010 (DOC 38KB)