Grants of up to $150,000 to support and celebrate Queensland’s artists and stories, ensuring Queenslanders’ access to high quality experiences and growing Queensland’s cultural reputation.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
What is the Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP)?
Queensland Arts Showcase Program (the Fund) is a key program of Grow 2022-2026, the second action plan of the Queensland Government’s Creative Together 2020-2030, and is focused on celebrating Queensland’s artists and stories, ensuring Queenslanders’ access to high quality experiences and growing Queensland’s cultural reputation.
QASP level of support
Grants
- For single year projects – up to $70,000 for projects and programs for up to 12 months.
- For two-year projects up to $150,000 to support the development and delivery of single projects and programs across financial years. These are projects and programs that need a larger and/or longer scale of development of up to two-years and include presentation and/or distribution
- Up to 100% of eligible project expenditure
PLUS up to $60,000 towards one full-time industry placement for 12-months (or a pro rata equivalent for part-time) with a focus on arts management and/or arts production.
Two-year funded applicants approved for this extra Industry Placement funding will have the option to apply for an additional $30,000 (or a pro rata equivalent) in Year 2 to continue employment of the placement if they can demonstrate the successful delivery of Year 1 and provide evidence of how they will transition to the continued employment of the person or role.
PLUS up to $10,000 towards fees for Queensland-based composers, musicians or librettists to support the commissioning of new live or recorded music as part of your project.
QASP important dates
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest here with GrantHelper
QASP objectives and outcomes
The objectives of the Queensland Arts Showcase Program are to:
- Support the development and presentation of new arts and cultural works by individual Queensland artists, organisations, and communities
- Strengthen skills development, and provide new employment and career development opportunities for artists and arts workers
- Grow a pipeline of high-quality arts, cultural products, and experiences
Activities and expenditure eligible for QASP support
The Fund supports applications from individuals and organisations for projects and programs at different stages of development and across multiple stages from creative development through to production, presentation, and distribution.
For example, you can apply for just the creative development stage of a new work or apply to fund the project from its early stages through to a tour of the finished work.
The fund will also support costs towards artistic collaboration with a nationally or internationally significant artist or company for an outcome in Queensland.
In addition, applicants have the options to apply for additional funding towards an industry placement as part of the project, and/or the fees for the commissioning of new live or recorded music as part of your project.
Arts Queensland will prioritise placements for individuals who are living and working outside of South East Queensland, or who are First Nations persons or persons with a disability, and placements for technical roles, production and design, and project management roles.
The placement must be:
- a new position
- built into the planned activity, and you must provide evidence of your intention for continued employment of the person or role
- supported by a holistic skills development program and a supervisor with appropriate experience
- paid at least minimum award wage and covered under employer’s Workcover and superannuation.
In addition to the items listed in the General Funding Guidelines you cannot apply for:
- agents’ fees, or management fees for participating artists
- equipment purchases or digital upgrades over $3,000 (excluding GST)
- rent and utilities
- expenses associated with core staff involved in funded activities including fees or wages, travel, accommodation and living-away-from-home allowances.
See the guidelines for full details of activities and expenditure eligible for QASP support.
Other QASP important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for QASP support
To be eligible to apply for Arts Queensland funding, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Have a bank account in the same name
- Have completed any Arts Queensland outcome reporting that is due
- Not owe Arts Queensland any money
- Applications submitted per funding round: 1
All applications for funding from Arts Queensland must demonstrate the proposal:
- directly benefits Queensland artists and arts workers, and/or Queensland communities through arts led activities
- meets the purpose of the specific fund to which you are applying
- requests less than 100% of the proposal’s costs (please note that specific funds will have different maximum percentages).
In addition, the Fund requires that applicants must:
- not receive Arts Queensland funding of more than $1.5 million per annum
- not be an Arts Statutory Body or Arts Owned Company.
If applying for funding for an Industry Placement:
- the applicant must have a proven track record in the provision of a safe workplace with skills development and on-the-job training capacity
- the applicant must not have been successful in receiving Industry Placement funding before
- the placement must be a person permanently based in Queensland
- the placement cannot be already engaged in a different role in the project/program or employed in an ongoing and/or consecutive way by the applicant outside of the funded project.
Applicants may only receive one Queensland Arts Showcase Program grant per calendar year.
See the guidelines for full details of organisations eligible for QASP support.
QASP assessment criteria
Peer assessors will assess applications against the following general criteria:
1. High quality
- Creative idea or concept is innovative and will deliver high quality arts and cultural work
- Professionals involved are highly skilled and well regarded
- Includes collaborators and partners who will help create great outcomes
2. Strong impact
- Creates new employment opportunities and skills development for Queensland artists and arts workers
- Builds new audiences and markets and reputation for Queensland arts and cultures
- Responds to community needs and helps deliver government priorities including the principles of the Cultural Engagement Framework
3. Sustainable value
- Demonstrates value for money, sound governance, and ethical business practices, including paying amount not less than industry award rates, recommended or agreed minimum rates, and adhering to cultural protocols
- Proposed activity has a strong delivery plan including understanding potential risks and their management
- Will contribute to the sustainability and growth of Queensland’s arts and cultural sector
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.
How do I get the QASP?
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.
- Deliver the project as outlined in the application.
- Provide complete information requirements.
Information to prepare for the QASP application
Submit your application along with:
- project timeframe
- budget
- support materials including letters of support
- artist biographies/CVs
- examples of prior work
- appropriate cultural permissions
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the QASP
Submit your application online through SmartyGrants portal.
Register your interest here with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
QASP resources
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