Arts Queensland assistance for arts sector through COVID-19 crisis

24 Mar 2020

To help mitigate the impact of COVID-19, Arts Queensland is implementing a number of measures to support the arts sector. This includes funding boosts, funding extensions, changes to funding application timeframes, and rent relief for tenants based in Queensland Government Arts infrastructure.

Individuals Fund

• The current round of Individuals Fund grants will be boosted to $500,000
• Expanded criteria to include building digital skill, creative development, small project activities, digital delivery of works
• Extended closing date: Now 21 April 2020
• Updated guidelines and applications available from 27 March 2020

Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP)

• Increased funding of $2 million for QASP
• Expanded criteria to include digital content creation, creative development, digital delivery
• Funding caps increased to $80,000 for QASP Arts Ignite and Arts Impact
• Funding cap increased to $120,000 for QASP Arts Illuminate
• New streamlined application process
• All approved QASP grants will remain available and recipients have the opportunity to postpone or reframe activity to accommodate changed circumstances
• Updated guidelines and applications available from 27 March 2020

Organisations Fund

• To mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the arts sector, Queensland arts companies that are current recipients of the 2017-2020 Organisations Fund will receive a further twelve months’ funding at current levels to December 2021.
• Arts Queensland is also suspending applications for the Organisations Fund 2021 - 2024 so they can prioritise business sustainability rather than focus on the long-term planning that is required as part of the application process.
• The Organisations Fund is an important part of Queensland’s arts and cultural sector, supporting more than 400 full time equivalent positions and enabling the delivery of more than 10,000 activities to more than 2 million people in 2018.
• By taking this action, Arts Queensland is providing certainty to the arts organisations now funded through the Organisations Fund 2017 – 2020 and to assist in maintaining employment that is dependent on current revenue sources.
• By moving the application time, all Queensland arts organisations, funded or not, are provided time to navigate the current situation, and then focus on the future when there is greater understanding of impact.
• Arts Queensland will communicate the new application process at a later date.

Playing Queensland Fund (PQF)

• Applications temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions
• All approved PQF grants will remain available. Recipients have the opportunity to postpone or reframe activity to accommodate changed circumstances

Queensland Government arts facilities: Festival House and Judith Wright Arts Centre

Arts Queensland will waive rental payments through to December 2020 for tenants based in Queensland Government Brisbane-based arts facilities Festival House and Judith Wright Arts Centre.

Additional assistance

Arts Queensland continues to explore ways to support ithe arts sector. The sustainability of Queensland’s arts and cultural sector and the continued employment of artists and arts workers is a priority for the Queensland Government, and Arts Queensland will continue to work with the sector to support organisations and arts workers to emerge from this public health crisis with strength and confidence.