QLD budget gives $172.8m to the arts

Queensland’s 2015/6 budget, which was delivered yesterday, set aside $172.3 million for the arts and restored funding cut by the previous Newman Government.

Premier and Minister for the Arts, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said her Government would build a vibrant arts industry with new initiatives and renewed funding over the next four years.

“My government has vowed to return arts back to its rightful place and the future of arts in Queensland is now looking very positive,” the Premier said.

The money will cover the operating costs of arts statutory bodies as Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Screen Queensland, Queensland Museum, Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Queensland and Queensland Theatre Company.

The Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct, where some of the venues are over 30 years old, gets an additional $28 million over the next four years to replace and renew essential services as power supply, climate control and water systems.

$5.1 million over the next four years goes to a new program called Queensland Arts Showcase, which covers the development of new work, established names presenting “unique arts and cultural experiences” and staging arts events across the stage while offering training and employment of artists and arts workers.

The state’s start-ups get a $24 million boost as part of the $180 million Advance Queensland initiative to offset the fact that only 7% of Australia's tech startups were formed in Brisbane. "We want to work with existing incubators and accelerator programs to provide an integrated suite of seed funding, co-working space, mentoring, and connection to customers and markets," Palaszczuk said.

A current major initiative for Arts Queensland is the arts and cultural program around the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, which will include contemporary music. The idea is to showcase the best of the Gold Coast and Queensland on a global stage. To find out more or to register visit: bit.ly/1eLmQXr ‪#‎GC2018 ‪#‎artsjobsau ‪#‎artsopps.