Previous Rounds - 2020

This package of four funding programs works to help stabilise arts organisations and major festivals, support future sustainability, employment opportunities, encourage innovation and agility, and enable the ongoing delivery of COVID-safe arts experiences to Queensland audiences. Funding specifically supported:

• Independent arts organisations
• Organisations Fund 2017-2020 arts organisations
• Key festivals
• Major Performing Arts Organisations

Round 1 - Sustain: Recovery Support for Independent Arts Organisations

Funding provided one-off grants to assist independent and emerging arts organisations that do not currently receive regular, operational funding from AQ, towards recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Eligible applicants could apply for grants of up to $30,000
• Applications opened: 7 October 2020. Closed - 6 November 2020
• Recovery Support for Independent Arts Organisations guidelines (DOCX) (332.2 KB)  and frequently asked questions (DOCX) (321.78 KB). 

11 independent companies funded through Sustain:

• Belloo Creative, Toowoong $30,000
• Cairns Writers Festival, Clifton Beach - $30,000
• Circus Company 2, Norman Park - $30,000
• Creative Arts Gympie Region, Gympie - $12,000.
• Curious Arts Inc., Toowoomba City - $23,648
• Dead Puppet Society, Paddington - $30,000
• Little Match Productions, Albion - $29,979
• Red Chair, Coolum Beach - $28,650
• Shake & Stir, Fortitude Valley - $30,000
• Supercell: Festival of Contemporary Dance, Miami - $25,000
• The Good Room, Coorparoo - $30,000

Round 1 - Sustain: Organisations Fund 2017 - 2020 Recovery Support

Funding provided one-off grants to organisations funded through the Organisations Fund 2017–2020 to stabilise businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• Organisations Fund 2017-2020 recipient organisations could apply for grants of up to $100,000
• Applications opened 7 October 2020. Closed: 2 November 2020.
• Read the Organisations Fund 2017- 2020 Recovery Support guidelines  (DOCX) (329.68 KB).

16 small to medium organisations funded through Sustain:

• Australasian Dance Collective, Fortitude Valley, $50,000
• Australian Dance Council (Ausdance), Fortitude Valley, $35,000
• Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Townsville, $67,000
• Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, South Brisbane $62,000
• Craft Queensland, Bowen Hills $55,000
• Creative Regions Ltd, Bundaberg Central, $70,000
• Flipside Circus, Hamilton, $60,000
• Flying Arts Alliance, Fortitude Valley, $50,000
• La Boite Theatre Company, Kelvin Grove, $57,000
• Queensland Music Network (QMusic), Fortitude Valley $64,000
• Queensland Poetry Festival, South Brisbane $40,000
• Queensland Writers Centre, South Brisbane $60,000
• Queensland Youth Orchestras, Bowen Hills $75,000
• Southern Cross Soloists Music Ltd, South Brisbane $45,000
• Topology, The Gap - $75,000
• Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville $30,000
• Nintiringanyi Cultural Training Centre, Cairns $40,000
• Pryce Centre for Culture and Arts, Cairns $40,000

Round 1 - Sustain: Festival Recovery Support

Funding to provide time limited support to organisations significantly impacted as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions, whose primary operational focus is delivering a large scale festival with a turnover exceeding $10 million in 2019.

• Applications to this fund by invitation only for eligible arts organisations already receiving multi-year Organisations Funding 2017-2020 through Arts Queensland
• Read the Festival Recovery Support guidelines (DOCX) (325.55 KB).

Round 1 - Sustain: Major Performing Arts Recovery Support

Funding assisted organisations with additional financial support from Octo 2020 calendar year and into 2021, with priority given to organisations facing insolvency or unplanned employment losses.

• Applications to the fund by invitation only for eligible Major Performing Arts companies
• Read the Major Performing Arts organisations guidelines (DOCX) (325.35 KB)