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The Queensland Government has announced a new ‘Grow Cultural Tourism Fund’ aimed at supporting the growth of impactful arts and cultural events in communities across the state.

The Grow Cultural Tourism Fund will strengthen the state’s reputation as a global arts and cultural tourism destination and grow a state-wide calendar of arts and cultural tourism events and programming that activates local communities ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Recognising that cultural tourism delivers important economic outcomes for Queensland, the Grow Cultural Tourism Fund will turbo charge the growth of local creative communities, and share the state’s unique and ancient stories, identities, and cultures with locals and visitors to Queensland.

Bill Hauritz AM, Woodford Folk Festival Founder shared “It’s great to see regional Queensland being supported to benefit from the 2032 Olympics, especially in the arts.  Regional centres have a lot to offer and have produced so many great artists over the years – we’ve noticed that at Woodford.  I think Arts Queensland is definitely on the right track here.”

Louise Bezzina, Brisbane Festival Artistic Director added “Queensland’s unique stories expressed through our exceptional arts and cultures are central to our identity and help build our future as a global cultural tourism destination.

“The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games provide an extraordinary opportunity to share our rich arts and cultural experiences and talent with a global community, and with the Games fast approaching it is exciting to see the Queensland Government investing in new initiatives that will support our cultural calendar and a state-wide pipeline of arts and cultural tourism events.”

Queensland events and festivals can apply for matched funding to grow their cultural tourism capacity across three streams. With grants of up to $30,000 to support feasibility studies for new events, up to $50,000 available for established non-arts events that have potential to grow their cultural tourism experiences through local arts programming, or up to $80,000 to increase the scale and impact of established arts and cultural events.

In its first round, the Grow Cultural Tourism Fund will focus on supporting events outside South East Queensland.

The Grow Cultural Tourism Fund is delivered through Grow 2022-2026, the second action plan of Creative Together 2020-2030, the Queensland Government’s 10-year roadmap for arts, culture and creativity in Queensland. It is also supporting the delivery of Towards Tourism 2032 and its vision for Queensland to be Australia’s destination of choice for domestic and global visitors.

QLD Minister for Tourism Stirling Hinchliffe noted “Quality and engaging arts and cultural events are a proven way of encouraging Queenslanders and interstate visitors to explore new destinations and tourism experiences that may not have previously been on travel bucket lists.

“With a great line-up of initiatives like the Grow Cultural Tourism Fund and a green and gold runway to the Brisbane 2032 Games, it’s Queensland’s time to shine on the national and international stage.”    

For more information, visit www.arts.qld.gov.au/aq-funding

Image top: Woodford Folk Festival 2023; image above: Brisbane Festival 2023

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