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Transforming Markets for First Nations Arts, Craft and Design

First Nations Art, Craft and Design: Transforming Marketplaces provides product development funding and specialist guidance for Queensland based First Nations artists, artisans, designers and organisations. This funding aims to support innovative growth models for increasing the production of high-quality artworks and products, creating wider distribution to audiences and increased supply.

This fund is delivered via the Queensland Government’s Arts and Cultural Recovery Package. 

Information about the fund

Objectives 

This initiative is a key part of the Queensland Government’s Creative Together 2020 – 2030 Roadmap for arts, culture and creativity in Queensland, which includes ‘Elevate First Nations arts’ as a priority. The initiative supports:

  • First Nations artists, designers and arts organisations who have innovative art, craft or design product and are seeking to connect to national and/or international markets
  • Increased production of authentic First Nations art, craft and design products for distribution and sale
  • Strengthening online and digital platforms to increase the distribution of First Nations art, craft or design product
  • Projects that applicants can complete within 18 months

 

Funding range

Individuals and organisations can apply for up to $120,000 (excluding GST) for large scale projects and up to $60,000 (excluding GST) for small scale projects in either or both of the following areas:

  • Retail and product development - Work with a retail and product development expert to strengthen supply, distribution and sales of, Queensland First Nations artists’ work.
  • Digital Capacity Building - Work with a digital expert to increase online engagement with, and sales of, Queensland First Nations artists’ work. 

 

Eligibility criteria

Queensland based First Nations individuals, collectives, organisations and businesses that meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply:

  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people/s
  • Organisations led and managed by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people/s
  • A track record of the ethical creation, development and sales of arts, crafts and design products
  • Capacity to grow online and/or offline business to support increased production of art and raised income
  • Ability and availability to work with a Retail and/or Digital expert to leverage ideas, opportunities and experience for the best support and outcomes.

 

Key dates

Applications opened: 1 April 2022

Applications closed: 4pm, 11 May 2022

 

First Nations Art, Craft and Design: Transforming Marketplaces documents

 

FIRST NATIONS ART, CRAFT AND DESIGN: TRANSFORMING MARKETPLACES OUTCOMES as at July 2022:

Seven Queensland-based First Nations artists and arts organisations will receive funding of $625,687 

  • Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) Limited - $120,000 - CIAF 2022-23 Digital Growth Opportunities –(Cairns)  
  • Ngalmun Lagau Minaral TSI Corp (Moa Arts) - $120,000 - Digital Media Activation - Zenadth Kes (DMAZK) – (Torres Strait Islands) 
  • Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group Inc. - $58,000 - Ration Shed Market Place and Digital Strategy – (Cherbourg)   
  • Girringun Aboriginal Corporation - $98,350 - Shop Girringun + Virtual Girringun 3.0 – (Cardwell)
  • Strait Experience - $105,741- Strait Experience - ecommerce for Indigenous art – (Torres Strait Islands)   
  • Mr Lucas Schober - $63,596 - BlakSeed Art and Apparel – (Brisbane) 
  • Surat Aboriginal Corporation - $60,000 - Bamba Gii Merchandise – (Surat)

 

Header image: Learn more about the First Nations Artworks.