Queensland Major Commissioning Fund FAQs

Arts Queensland will take into consideration what a 'reasonable person’ would determine to be unacceptable conduct, behaviour or activity by a recipient of public funding.

In addition, Arts Queensland will consider any financial and operational risks in allocating funding and managing funding agreements.

For example:

1. Where the Court, or a reasonable person, considers behaviour to not be acceptable conduct by a recipient of public monies - such as charges related to integrity, misappropriation of monies or employee entitlements, or hate speech. This could include posting, sharing or liking social media content created by others that fits the descriptions of hateful or discriminatory behaviour or speech.
2. Media or funding campaigns that indicate the applicant may not be a going concern, is considering closing, is facing bankruptcy or has gone into liquidation,
   
3. The loss of a premises or planned industrial action that may mean activity will not proceed.

1. Can my organisation apply for QMCF if we are already receiving funding through other Arts Queensland funding streams?

Yes. You can apply if you have previously received, or are currently receiving, project or core funding from Arts Queensland, provided you meet all other eligibility criteria.

2. Are Local Governments able to apply to QMCF?

Yes. Queensland’s Local Government Authorities and Indigenous Councils are eligible to apply, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.

1. What does ‘new work’ mean?

Work that has not had a final public presentation in its current or a very similar form.

2. What does ‘major work’ mean?
Work that has the scale, significance and/or profile to attract large audiences.

3. What is meant by a ‘high profile talent’?

This refers to renowned artists, performers, and creatives who have:

• Have a strong critical reputation.
• Good name recognition to people familiar with the artform; and/or
• Reasonable recognition by the general public in Australia or their home country.
  

4. Does my project have to take place over the full two years?

Your project may take less than two years to deliver, however, applications for projects with shorter timeframes – particularly those less than 12 months – may not be able to make as compelling a case for investment.

5. Can an applicant submit more than one EOI/application to the Fund?

The Fund will accept only one EOI/application per Fund round.

1. What can I use Access Support Costs for?

Access Support Costs are those expenses that specifically target the participation of people with disability or who are d/Deaf as either audiences/participants or as part of the creative team.

Examples of eligible costs that would support:

• Mobility challenges: transportation or shuttle services for people, temporary ramps, viewing platforms, specific technical equipment.
• Sensory impairments: sign language interpretation, captioning or audio description, braille or large print materials, hearing induction loops.
• Neurodiversity: relaxed performances or exhibition days, sensory maps, quiet or chillout spaces, social stories or pre-visit information, easy-to-read promotional or event materials.
• Additional costs related to shorter working days or allowance for illness which increases the project delivery time.
• Support workers and advisors: cost of companion tickets for people with disability, support workers not covered by NDIS, increasing the ratio of front of house staff to support accessible programming, advice on developing any of the above.

These costs must relate specifically to the delivery of the project. If seeking funding for audience initiatives, your marketing plan should include how you will engage audiences or participants with disability or who are d/Deaf.

1. Can we include the in-kind value of volunteer time, and other in-kind costs as part of our budget?

Yes. You can include these in-kind costs within your budget, however Arts Queensland must endorse the inclusion of in-kind in your matched funding before you submit your EOI.

2. What award or rate should we use to calculate the value of volunteer time?

Use the most appropriate award or industry standard for your organisation and the role when calculating and valuing volunteer time. For example, the hourly rate for a volunteer front of house person may be lower than the rate for a volunteer lighting board operator.

In the ‘Notes to Budget’ section, please provide details on how you have calculated the value of volunteer time.

3. Can I include Contingency Costs in my budget?

Prudent budgeting should include an amount to cover unexpected new costs or increases in existing costs. You should include this in your budget, however, you cannot ask for Arts Queensland support towards contingency.

4. If I am successful, do I need to open a separate bank account to manage the grant?

As part of the terms of your funding agreement with Arts Queensland, you must hold all funding paid to you by Arts Queensland in separate account to your everyday/regular bank account. The account must be with a bank or Approved Financial Institution. With Arts Queensland’s permission, you can use the same bank account for any Arts Queensland funding you receive.  Any interest you earn on the funding forms part of the overall funding.

As part of your conditions of funding, you must “maintain Arts Queensland funds under separate and easily identifiable ledger accounts”. This means you must record and track the different sources of Arts Queensland funding and how they are spent separately from other income and expenditure.

1. Support material for the final application asks for audited or certified financial statements. What does this entail?

You must supply your most recent audited financial statements. If you are not required by law to audit your accounts, certified statements/project can be signed by your Chair, CEO or accountant as being true and correct.

2. In what instances should I provide evidence of consultation with, or support from, communities or groups?

If your application is telling the stories of, or plans to deliver outcomes for, particular specific groups or communities, evidence of consultation and endorsement from those groups is required for your application to meet eligibility criteria.

Here are some examples of what you must provide to support assessment of eligibility:

• Working with a particular community group in your project: provide a letter from someone with authority for, or within that group confirming support for the project and agreement to work with you.
• Undertaking activity that will take place in a remote and/or discrete Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community: provide evidence (email, letter, video) that a community member with authority supports the activity and gives permission for it to take place in that community.
• Developing or presenting work that tells the story of a community (geographic, cultural, lived experience) of which you are not a part: provide evidence (email, letter, video) that a community member or organisation with authority gives permission for you to tell the story of that community and endorses the planned process for community involvement.
• Developing or presenting work that tells the story of an individual who is not a historic or public figure: provide evidence (email, letter, video) that the individual or their designated representative gives permission for you to tell their story.
  

These are the minimum expectations for eligibility. The assessment criteria require you to demonstrate best practice when working with diverse communities.

2. When will I need to provide evidence of appropriate consent and permissions for Intellectual Property (IP) or Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)?

If you are incorporating IP or ICIP that is not your own into your project you must have appropriate permissions to do so.

Arts Law has excellent resources that explain IP in an arts context.

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)

If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person with the cultural authority to use the ICIP, please state that in your application.

If you do not have authority to use the ICIP, you should provide a statement from the ICIP owner/s that provides their consent for use of the ICIP.

Creative Australia has published Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts. 

1.  What happens if we are not available on the dates for the pitch sessions?

Arts Queensland will try to reschedule your pitch session, however, this may not be possible due to panel availability.

Arts Queensland’s decision to offer an alternative date or pitching method is final and is not subject to a review or appeal process.

2.  What will we need to do for our pitch session and how long will it be?

The pitch session will be a minimum of 30 minutes’ duration.

It will provide you opportunity to discuss additional details about your project, the strength of the idea and your capacity to deliver. 

The format of the pitch session would comprise of a 5-minute presentation of your project that is suitable for online meeting delivery, followed by a question-and-answer session with the panel.

3.  Will we receive advance notification of the questions the panel will ask at the pitch session?

Where possible, applicants will be provided with questions in advance of the pitch session. However, you should be prepared to answer any additional questions during the session.

4.  Will all applicants be asked the same questions by the panel at the pitch session?

While there may be questions common to all applicants, the panel’s questions will relate to your EOI. Arts Queensland will moderate the pitch session to ensure that questions are appropriate and that panel responses are fair and consistent.

5.  What happens if we encounter IT issues during our pitch?

We recommend providing Arts Queensland with a copy of any presentation materials by midday of the day prior to your pitch. That way if you experience IT issues, the panel will have a local copy to view, and questions and conversations can occur via a phone call.