Organisations Fund – Festivals Stream

Eligible applicants include Queensland-based not-for-profit organisations that:

• Primarily deliver arts and cultural festivals.
• Incorporate festivals as a strategic element of a broader program of activities.

These festivals must demonstrate broad appeal, attracting visitors beyond the local community and generating substantial income or investment​.

Your organisation must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

• deliver an annual arts and cultural festival in Queensland that includes live music as a key component of programming
• have a registered Queensland business address and staff permanently based in Queensland
• be an incorporated legal business entity with an active Australian Business Number (ABN) in the exact name of the applicant
• have a bank account in the same exact name as the applicant
• have completed any Arts Queensland reporting that is due
• not owe Arts Queensland any money
• have at least three years of:
  1. festival activity and attendance data
  2. audited or certified financial statements for the organisation
  3. historic budgets relating to the festival
  4. economic impact reporting.

You cannot apply if you are:

• an individual or sole trader, a family trust or an individual applying on behalf of a trust
• any entity owned or controlled by Local, State or Federal Governments
• an educational institution
• an Arts Statutory Body or Arts Owned Company
• a festival receiving multi-year funding from Arts Queensland’s Backing Indigenous Arts initiative
• an organisation that operates on a for-profit basis
• applying for a festival that is primarily focused on comedy, film, television or games
• under notice that you are to be placed under external administration, petitioning for bankruptcy or winding up/deregistering an organisation/business.

See the guidelines for full details of organisational requirements.

Applications will be assessed based on:

1. High Quality:

• Applicants should have a history of organizing high-quality arts and cultural festivals that feature live music and enhance Queensland’s cultural reputation.
• Festivals should make a distinctive impact on the cultural life of the community and have strong backing from key stakeholders.
• The strategic plan should have clear objectives that respond to community needs and align with government initiatives such as Creative Together and Elevate 2042.

2. Strong Impact:

• The festival should provide significant employment and exposure for Queensland artists and arts workers.
• It should contribute to the economic and cultural enrichment of Queensland communities by boosting cultural tourism and visitation.
• Festival operations should incorporate accessibility, inclusion, and adhere to the Cultural Engagement Framework.

3. Sustainable Value:

• Management and governance should consist of experienced teams with diverse skills.
• There should be evidence of effective oversight and accountability practices, including financial control, human resource management, and risk management.
• The organisation should demonstrate sustainable financial practices and the capacity to fulfill its strategic goals.

4. Other Considerations:

• The assessment may also consider the festival’s return on investment to the Queensland economy, employment and capacity-building opportunities it creates, the distribution of funding across the state, its representation of Queensland’s diverse arts sector, and the proportion of funding in relation to the organisation’s overall cash turnover.

See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.

Applicants must:

• Read and understand the guidelines.
• Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
• Demonstrate a strong alignment with the fund’s objectives.
• Provide complete information requirements.

To ensure a streamlined application process for the Organisations Fund 2026-2029 – Festivals stream, prospective applicants should prepare the following documentation:

1. Strategic Plan: Provide a detailed strategic plan that outlines the vision for the funding term and how it responds to community needs. The plan should align with government priorities such as Creative Together 2020-2030 and Elevate 2042 Legacy Strategy.

2. Financial Information:

• Current and historic financial statements certified as true and accurate, compliant with relevant legislation.
• Budget forecasts for the organisation and festival-specific projections if applicable.
• Ensure all financial statements are signed off by the Chair/CEO as accurate.

3. Program Information:

• Three years of program information detailing outcomes of previous festival activities.
• Attendance data for the past three years, broken down by local, regional, interstate, and international visitation.
• Employment data for Queensland artists and arts workers involved in previous festivals.

4. Governance and Management Details:

• Information on your governance structures and management teams, including their diversity of skills and expertise.
• Details of frameworks in place for financial control, human resources, industrial relations, cultural protocols, risk, and asset management.

5. Economic Impact Reports:

• Historic economic impact assessments that demonstrate the festival’s benefits to the region and state-wide.
• Endorsement from relevant Regional Tourism Organisations and Local Councils.

6. Audited Financial Statements (if applicable):

• If legislation requires auditing/reviewing/verifying your financial statements, provide documents that meet these regulatory obligations.

Applicants are encouraged to review the PDF of the application for more details of the information requirements.

Applicants must view a recorded fund briefing on the Fund to access the application form. This will be provided to the applicant along with a link to the application on or after 17 January 2025. Request a link to the briefing by emailing organisationsfund@arts.qld.gov.au.

Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.