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Visual Arts Market Development Fund

The Visual Arts Market Development Fund (the Fund) is a key program of the Queensland Government’s Grow 2022-2026 (PDF) (1.89 MB), the second action plan for Creative Together 2020-2030. 

The fund is focused on enabling key international opportunities that strengthen exposure, expand markets and revenue potential for Queensland’s visual arts craft and design sector.

Objectives

Visual Arts Market Development Fund:

  • Support visual artists and organisations’ attendance and participation in international events, exhibitions and showcases that fast-track profile building, grow new networks and global connections, and drive career sustainability.
  • Expand markets and generate international revenue opportunities for Queensland-based visual artists, designers and curators
  • Build profile, reputation and awareness of Queensland’s talented visual arts craft and design sector.

NOTE: All applications are welcome, however during 2023 and 2024 the focus will be to support the Creative Together priority to Elevate First Nations Arts with opportunities for First Nations visual artists, designers and curators.

Funding

Applicants can apply for up to $60,000 (excluding GST) towards eligible costs.

The Fund supports significant international market exposure and development opportunities for Queensland-based individual curators, artists or groups of artists:  

  • showcasing or exhibiting work overseas
    • a single new presentation
    • extension of scope/scale of showcase including tour
    • extension of an existing tour
  • attending key overseas market events.

Arts Queensland will consider applications to support the above types of activities interstate if the market/opportunity has a significant international profile.

Applications for showcasing or exhibiting activities will need to demonstrate that the applicant has been invited by their international partners directly or selected through a competitive process.

Applicants must demonstrate how the activity/project will contribute to a long-term and sustainable plan for international engagement which includes growth of profile and market, and potential capacity to expand or replicate projects in other markets. 

Arts Queensland funding can only be used for the following eligible costs:

  • economy-class air travel, accommodation, travel allowances, visas, registration fees, professional fees, travel insurance, and relevant meeting costs,
  • freight, installation, technical support, and management fees associated with the delivery of the activity (applications for showcasing/exhibiting activities only)
  • contingency amounts relating to potential fluctuations in exchange rates and travel and accommodation costs from the time of application.

The Fund does not support costs associated with international conferences that do not include, or function as, an industry market.

Applicants may only receive one Visual Arts Market Development Fund grant per calendar year, based on the date of submission.

Please note: Successful applicants for overseas activities will be expected to meet with a Trade and Investment Queensland business development representative before their departure to discuss how to leverage outcomes for themselves and Queensland.

Frequency

We’re pausing the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Market Development Funds to hold a review and seek feedback from the sector, including consulting on potentially moving to round-based funding.

Applications under the current guidelines for these funds will be accepted until 2pm on 18 July 2024.  

Successful applicants will be notified no more than 6 weeks from the date of submission.

For information on our other funding opportunities, visit www.arts.qld.gov.au/aq-funding

Eligibility

Please refer to the Arts Queensland General Funding Guidelines for general eligibility criteria and definitions.  In addition to the General Funding Guidelines, applicants must:

  • be based in Australia
  • not be an Arts Statutory Body
  • if based outside of Queensland:
    • must be able to clearly demonstrate how their application will grow outcomes and benefits for Queensland-based artists and the visual arts, craft and design sector
    • not receive core funding through either equivalent State agencies or Creative Australia.

Applicants may only receive one Visual Arts Market Development Fund grant per year.

How to apply

1. Visit our supporting documents page to view the:

  • Visual Arts Market Develpment Fund guidelines
  • General funding guidelines

2. Complete the online application form. 

Arts Queensland uses Smartygrants, an online grant application system. If you are unable to access Smartygrants contact: