Grants up to $70,000 to support Queensland-based artists, arts companies, groups and organisations developing and presenting new creative work across Queensland through one-off project funding.
On this page you will find
What is the Queensland Arts Project Fund (QAPF)?
The Queensland Arts Project Fund is a competitive Arts Queensland funding program that provides one-off grants to support the development and presentation of new creative work by Queensland-based artists, arts companies, groups and organisations.
The program supports projects across a broad range of artforms and aligns with the Queensland Government’s Queensland’s Time to Shine: 10-year arts and cultural strategy.
Projects can focus on creating new work, presenting or touring new work, exhibitions, performances, publications, collaborations and other activities that strengthen Queensland’s creative sector while expanding opportunities for artists and audiences.
The fund also offers additional support to improve accessibility for artists, arts workers and audiences with disability or who are d/Deaf.
Queensland Arts Project Fund level of support
Funding Amount
- Minimum grant: No minimum amount specified.
- Maximum grant (General Stream): Up to $70,000
- Maximum grant (Individuals Stream): Up to $20,000
- Additional Accessibility Funding: Up to $10,000 available in addition to the project grant for eligible access costs.
Co-contribution
No mandatory co-contribution is required.
However:
- Applicants cannot request 100% of total project costs from Arts Queensland.
- Applications are expected to demonstrate other financial contributions where appropriate, including applicant contribution, earned income, sponsorship, partnerships or other funding sources.
- Budgets must clearly demonstrate the project is financially viable.
Queensland Arts Project Fund important dates
- Closing date: Monday 21 September 2026
- Notification start date: Mid December 2026
- Activity start date: 25 January 2027
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Queensland Arts Project Fund objectives
The Queensland Arts Project Fund aims to:
- Support Queensland artists and organisations to create and share outstanding creative work.
- Support the development of new work reflecting Queensland’s stories, people and places.
- Increase opportunities for d/Deaf and disabled artists, arts workers and audiences.
- Grow Queensland’s creative sector.
- Encourage artistic excellence.
- Increase audience participation.
- Strengthen cultural outcomes throughout Queensland.
- Deliver priorities under Queensland’s Time to Shine: 10-year arts and cultural strategy.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Queensland Arts Project Fund support
Eligible projects include:
- Development of brand-new creative work.
- New interpretations of existing works.
- Production of new creative work.
- Public presentation of new work.
- Touring new work.
- Exhibitions.
- Distribution of new creative work.
- Collaborations with nationally or internationally significant artists or companies.
- Projects across:
- Visual arts
- Performing arts
- Craft and design
- Fashion
- Textiles
- Classical music
- Contemporary music
- Writing
- Multi-arts
Additional Accessibility Funding
Applicants may request up to $10,000 for access costs including:
- Auslan interpreters.
- Captioning.
- Audio description.
- Support workers.
- Accessible venues.
- Specialist equipment.
- Other disability access requirements.
Access funding must relate directly to the funded project and cannot duplicate NDIS funding.
Ineligible Expenditure
Funding cannot be used for:
- Activities unrelated to arts, culture or the creative industries.
- Film, screen and games projects.
- Costs already funded through another grant.
- Core operating expenses.
- Rent and utilities.
- Business establishment costs.
- Debt repayment.
- Loan repayments.
- Contingency funds.
- Agent or management fees.
- Infrastructure purchase, planning or maintenance.
- Equipment or software purchases over $3,000 (excluding GST).
- Activities already completed before funding approval.
- Retrospective expenses.
- Competitions.
- Awards.
- Private tuition.
- Accredited courses.
- Fundraising activities.
- Eisteddfods.
- Prizes.
Other Queensland Arts Project Fund important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Queensland Arts Project Fund support
Eligible applicants include:
- Queensland-based individuals.
- Queensland arts organisations.
- Arts companies.
- Artist collectives.
- Community arts groups.
Applicants must generally:
- Be based in Queensland.
- Be Australian citizens or permanent residents (where applicable).
- Be over 18 years of age (individuals).
- Hold an active ABN (or apply through an eligible auspice).
- Hold a bank account in the applicant’s name.
- Have completed all overdue Arts Queensland reporting.
- Not owe money to Arts Queensland.
- Submit only one application.
- Meet all eligibility requirements before the closing date.
Applicants are not eligible if they:
- Request 100% of project costs.
- Are certain Queensland Government agencies or statutory bodies.
- Are applying for activities that are another government agency’s responsibility.
- Are current Arts Queensland employees (subject to limited exceptions).
- Are educational institutions seeking funding for normal business operations.
Queensland Arts Project Fund assessment criteria
No assessment weightings or percentages are specified.
Eligible applications are assessed against three core criteria.
1. High Quality
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A compelling and well-developed creative concept.
- Artistic excellence.
- Innovation.
- Strong artistic vision.
- Appropriate skills and experience of key artists.
- Experienced project leadership.
- High-quality collaborators and partners.
- Capacity to successfully deliver the project.
2. Strong Impact
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Employment and career development opportunities for Queensland artists.
- Benefits to Queensland communities.
- Cultural significance.
- Audience development opportunities.
- Increased participation.
- Long-term artistic outcomes.
- Positive economic and cultural benefits.
- Strong market development.
- Appropriate use of accessibility funding where requested.
- Clear benefits for targeted audiences.
3. Sustainable Value
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A realistic project budget.
- Financial viability.
- Appropriate artist fees.
- Risk management strategies.
- Achievable project timeline.
- Strong project planning.
- Sound governance.
- Appropriate cultural protocols.
- Best practice engagement with diverse communities.
- Value for public investment.
How do I get the Queensland Arts Project Fund support?
To maximise your chances of success, applicants should demonstrate:
- A strong, original creative project with clear artistic merit.
- Alignment with the objectives of the Queensland Arts Project Fund.
- Benefits for Queensland artists, communities and audiences.
- A well-planned, achievable delivery schedule.
- A realistic and balanced project budget.
- Appropriate financial contributions beyond Arts Queensland funding.
- Experienced project leadership and collaborators.
- Strong partnerships where relevant.
- Clear audience engagement strategies.
- Evidence of demand or community benefit.
- Appropriate accessibility planning where applicable.
- Appropriate cultural consultation and permissions.
- Effective risk management.
- Strong evaluation methods to measure project success.
- All compulsory support material completed and submitted before the closing date.
Information to prepare for the Queensland Arts Project Fund support
Applicants should prepare:
- Project description.
- Detailed project plan.
- Project timeline.
- Balanced project budget.
- Artist CVs (maximum five pages).
- Up to three work samples.
- Letters of support from partners.
- Evaluation plan.
- Marketing plan (if audience participation forms part of the project).
- Cultural consultation evidence where required.
- Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property permissions where applicable.
- Accessibility information if applying for access funding.
- Quotes for individual project costs over $10,000.
- Supporting budget calculations.
- Child Safety Policy where relevant.
- Evidence supporting auspice arrangements (if applicable).
Applying for the Queensland Arts Project Fund support
Applications must be submitted through Arts Queensland SmartyGrants.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Queensland Arts Project Fund resources
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