A new fund to support independent artists and arts workers will see 21 Queensland arts organisations deliver exciting new projects and boost employment opportunities in the arts and cultural sector throughout 2022.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Independent Creation Fund will invest nearly $700,000 in Queensland arts and cultural organisations, producers and performing arts venues.
"New work will be presented at venues including Somerset Civic Centre, Redland Performing Arts Centre, HOTA on the Gold Coast, the Kingston Butter Factory, Brisbane's Metro Arts, and Cairns Performing Arts Centre.
"Projects will be delivered at festivals including the Sunshine Coast's Horizon Festival, Swell Festival on the Gold Coast and Cairns Children's Festival," the Minster said.
"The fund will deliver employment opportunities for artists and arts workers, with Everybody Now! employing a Storyteller-in-Residence, Backbone Youth Arts engaging early career artists through a new residency program, and Digi Youth Arts employing emerging Indigenous independent practitioners to create new work.
"Together, these 21 projects will lead to jobs and employment opportunities for artists and arts workers throughout the year."
Minister Enoch said the Independent Creation Fund outcomes were the latest to be realised through the two-year dedicated $22.5 million Arts and Cultural Recovery Package to support the arts sector through the impacts of COVID-19.
"Since the onset of the pandemic the Palaszczuk Government has committed to more than $79 million in measures to stabilise the sector, including the Recovery Package and a further $7 million to support the live music sector."
Dee Steinfort, Executive Director, SWELL Sculpture Festival said, "We are thrilled to be the recipients of Independent Creation Fund to produce a new element for our program for SWELL Sculpture Festival 2022.
"Without this funding this project, Living Sculptures: how the birds got their colours, would not be possible. We will be creating a living, breathing piece of sculpture with acrobatics, contemporary and traditional dance with contemporary First Nations narrative," Ms Steinfort said.
"Luther Cora and Robbie Curtis will direct the show engaging 13 artists and arts workers and over 30 volunteers. We cannot wait to share this show with the SWELL audience."
Minister Enoch said the arts are key to delivering the Government's plan for economic recovery from COVID-19, each year contributing $8.5 billion into the state's economy and supporting more than 92,000 jobs for Queenslanders.
