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Snapshot - First Night Showcase - Bulmba-ja

Introduction

First Night Showcase Program – Bulmba-ja is a program within the Queensland Government’s $22.5 million Arts and Cultural Recovery Package. Its purpose is to fund independent artists and organisations, with a focus on First Nations Peoples, to activate the Bulmba-ja Arts Centre through development and presentation of new visual and performing arts works between 1 September 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Applicants could apply for up to $30,000 cash funding and in-kind venue support of up to $40,000. Applicants located more than 100kms from Cairns could apply for up to an additional $7,000 to cover travel and accommodation costs.

Applications opened 6 July 2020 and closed on 3 August 2020.

Outcomes

  • 8 successful applications (44% success rate) secured total funding of $262,422.
  • Public announcement of successful grant recipients were made on 1 October 2020.

General Feedback

Successful applicants were able to clearly demonstrate how their proposed activity responded to the First Night Showcase – Bulmba-ja fund’s objectives and the published assessment criteria.

All applications were assessed and moderated by a panel of independent peer assessors. The panel provided the following general feedback for applicants. Successful applicants:

  • Ensured the proposal aligned with the funding program outcomes and responded to criteria.
  • Provided evidence and clarity on engagement and consultation with appropriate First Nations community and creatives.
  • Demonstrated how the project is relevant to Bulmba-ja (a centre that encourages collaboration with First Nations Queenslanders) and provided detailed information on how the project would engage audiences.
  • Clearly identified the creative team involved in the proposed project, providing evidence of careful planning and consideration of the roles and demands on the creative team.
  • Provided detail of how their project could support employment for artists and the long term outcomes of the project.
  • Included support material relevant to the application.

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