Arts Queensland undertook extensive consultation in the development of Grow 2022-2026, and Creative Together 2020-2030 – A 10-year Roadmap for arts culture and creativity in Queensland.

This process included regular and in-depth conversations with a range of areas within the Department of Education, all regional Catholic Education bodies, the Independent School Association and the broader arts sector.

Key insights though this consultation have informed the delivery approach for arts and education in Queensland and informed the scope of the services Arts Queensland is currently seeking.

Key areas of need for service delivery included:

• First Nations arts and cultural content and experiences for students and teachers
• opportunities and mechanisms to connect with local First Nations and non-First Nations artists and organisations including greater connections to Elders in school communities
• wellbeing related arts and cultural content and experiences for students and teachers
• high-quality arts touring products that are curriculum-connected and endorsed by experts
• arts-led professional development for teachers.

Queensland Government is committed to ensuring all Queenslander have access to high-quality arts and cultural experiences. The focus of this new approach to schools touring is to grow access to high quality arts experiences, no matter where people live and learn, and will engage Queensland’s children and young people in kindergartens and schools within remote communities.

Investing in schools touring is a key action of Grow 2022-2026, the second action plan of the Queensland Government’s 10-year roadmap for arts, cultural and creativity, Creative Together 2020-2030. It works to deliver key priorities in this strategy including elevate First Nations arts, drive social change and strengthen communities, and share our stories and celebrate our story tellers.

Key benefits of the new schools touring service delivery approach:

• Children and young people will have access to inspiring performances and workshops.
• Students will experience arts enriched learning environments, including having issues shared and stories told in fresh and engaging ways.
• Schools and kindergartens can access more high-quality performances and workshops, with teaching materials that help them deliver compulsory curriculum areas and/or support their students’ engagement and wellbeing.
• Educators will be offered inspiring professional development and networking opportunities that build their confidence and skills.
• A one-stop shop online platform will make it quicker and easier to search for quality-assured arts and education products and services.
• Enhanced connections will be made between schools and local artists and Elders, growing new employment opportunities.
• Artists and arts organisations can grow their markets across Queensland with reduced risk and increased efficiency.

A procurement process involves the purchasing of specific services to help the government to achieve its priorities. A grant is a contribution towards delivery of a project or activity of your own making, rather than a contract to deliver specific services identified by government. More information is available on the Queensland Government Procurement Policy page. 

The Touring Queensland Fund (TQF) will continue to support schools touring across the state although the same tour cannot be funded through procurement and TQF.

This procurement recognises the ongoing challenges for rural and remote schools in accessing high quality, curriculum-relevant arts experiences through touring and specialised arts teaching. It also recognises the higher cost of delivering activity for rural and remote schools due to their small size and geographic isolation which means fewer arts and education providers offer services to these areas even when supported by grant programs.

You have the choice to offer for:

	One area	Two or three areas	All areas
Service 1 only: Schools Touring Services	Only Schools Touring Services (Service 1) in one area only	Only Schools Touring Services (Service 1) but in two or three areas	Only Schools Touring Services (Service 1) but in all four areas
Service 2 only: Online platform	Statewide online platform (Service 2)
Service 1 + Service 2:	Schools Touring Services (Service 1) in only one area plus statewide online platform (Service 2)	Schools Touring Services (Service 1) in two or three areas plus statewide online platform (Service 2)	Schools Touring Services (Service 1) in all four areas plus statewide online platform (Service 2)

What you offer for should depend on your organisations’ skills and capacity to deliver the services. Managing both services or delivering in more than one area may create efficiencies created by which delivers better value for money for the Queensland Government.

Full details of the deliverables and expectations for Service 2 can be found in the request for tender document on QTenders. It is permissible for an organisation to work with a subcontractor who will help develop, build and/or host the platform while the organisation delivers:

• day-to-day content management and promotion of the platform; as well as
• quality assurance of the education products being advertised on the platform.

This is similar to the way that arts organisations already work with other businesses who help build and manage the organisation’s website.

You can only offer for the whole area(s) as set out in the procurement documents. You can’t offer for part of an area or areas.

No, as an online platform Service 2 must be delivered state-wide.