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The Queensland Government is investing $2.7 million in the arts sector to be leveraged by seven arts organisations for boosting revenue streams, driving sustainable business models and delivering arts-led economic and social impacts for Queensland.

Through Arts Queensland’s Strategic Partnership Fund, these organisations are being supported to grow new partnerships with businesses, communities, and philanthropists, and deliver long-term outcomes that build new audiences and markets and grow skills development and employment for Queensland arts professionals.

Shine on Productions will receive $463,146 over three years to work with investors to create an annual First Nations arts and cultural festival in Cairns with a further $90,000 supporting a two-year industry placement in arts marketing and partnerships management.

The Farm’s innovative project Stunt Double will receive $96,500 to leverage Major Festivals Initiatives investment to create ambitious work, reach new markets and grow the profile of the company, while Red Chair will receive $326,221 over three years to build a sustainable community arts model, with a focus on leveraging investment from Sunshine Coast Council and growing its philanthropy strategy to expands its large-scale participatory public art project The Keeper across three communities.

Dead Puppet Society will receive $589,991 over three years to boost its capacity to attract new investors and grow new income streams through three new productions with national and international touring potential, and QMF will receive $62,500 to support a temporary accommodation pilot across four regional communities as part of the 2024 Outback Music Trail.

Nicholas Paine, Executive Producer, Dead Puppet Society shared “Dead Puppet Society has begun work on three major large-scale design-led theatre productions that we’ll be developing over the next three years.

“The support from Arts Queensland is a game-changer for our company's growth, enabling us to increase our resources to produce these new works and ensure that they reach stages across Australia and internationally."

Wynnum Fringe Festival producers, TWO Festivals Pty Ltd, will receive $588,498 over three years to deliver a strategy to future-proof its business model, leverage new funds and achieve sustainable growth in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic Games, and $90,000 for a two-year business development manager industry placement.

Tom Oliver, Founder, Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Wynnum Fringe adds “Wynnum Fringe has grown astronomically since its inception in 2020. It's gone from a three-day event to a three-week event in three years.

“This kind of growth means hundreds of thousands of dollars of risk each year. This funding announcement will not only help us limit risk in the short term, but it will also give us the perfect platform to catapult into our next phase of operation.

“The Strategic Partnership Funding will give us the ability to raise sponsorship and revenue funding and employ more artists, put on more productions and continue to grow our rapidly expanding audience.

“We have the plan, and thanks to Arts Queensland, we now have the opportunity to invest in the future - of our company and the industry.” 

To help develop the next generation of First Nations artists, The Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts will receive funding of $400,000 over two years to enhance internal capacity, including First Nations employment, with a focus on growing a sustainable business model through new partnerships and performance activities.   

Queensland Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch notes the Government’s Strategic Partnership Fund is vital in developing and securing alternative income streams and sustainability for the arts sector.

“This multi-year funding of more than $2.7 million to support seven companies will enable them to leverage co-investment and collaborations, strengthen creative business growth, and deliver inclusive, high-quality arts and cultural experiences that enhance our great Queensland lifestyle.

“These latest outcomes deliver key actions and priorities of Creative Together 2020-2030 and its second action plan Grow 2023-2026, with a focus on amplifying the growth, scale and sustainability of the state’s arts sector to support the renewal and transformation of Queensland through creativity.

“I applaud these organisations for their innovation and entrepreneurship in identifying new opportunities to grow audiences, markets and revenue, realise creative employment opportunities, engage Queenslanders and drive cultural tourism outcomes.

“Our government is committed to fostering deeper partnerships that strengthen and celebrate Queensland’s unique stories, cultures and country, and best position our arts and cultural sector for the significant opportunities of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Strategic Partnership Fund Successful Recipients

• Dead Puppet Society Ltd - $589,991 over three years to develop a new investment model to attract new investors for three major productions with national and international touring potential.
• QMF - $62,500 – for temporary accommodation infrastructure to support four Outback communities during the Outback Music Trails in 2024.  
• Shine On Productions - $463,146 over three years (plus $90,000 for an industry placement over 2 years) to create Shine on Gimuy, an annual First Nations arts and cultural festival in Cairns and support a creative placement in arts management.
• The Farm - $96,500 for Stunt Double, to leverage support and investment of the major Australian Festivals to assist in creating innovative work on a large scale to reach new markets.
• Red Chair - $326,221 over three years to deliver a large-scale participatory public art project The Keeper across three communities on the Sunshine Coast (Nambour, Maleny and Caloundra) and implement an associated Partnerships Strategy to leverage investment, build sustainability and grow Red Chair’s workforce.
• Two Festivals Pty Ltd – $588,498 over three years to adapt its business model, enable access to new funds and achieve sustainable growth and future-proof delivery of Wynnum Fringe Festival. Plus $90,000 for an industry placement in business development management over two years
• Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts - $400,000 over two years to leverage new partnerships and grow innovative business activities.  

Image top: Dead Puppet Society; Image above: Wynnum Fringe Festival

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