News
29 December, 2024
Government invests $1.4m in arts scene
The Queensland Government is investing more than $1.4 million in 24 arts and cultural organisations through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP) to foster creative growth and community engagement across the state.
The Queensland Government is investing more than $1.4 million in 24 arts and cultural organisations through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP) to foster creative growth and community engagement across the state.
This funding will support the creation of new work, providing employment opportunities for Queensland artists while strengthening the state’s cultural reputation. From Cairns to Coolangatta, QASP will ensure arts experiences are accessible to communities statewide, promoting cultural tourism and regional development.
Brisbane’s Blue Roo Theatre, which empowers performers with disabilities, will receive funding for two new productions: Laughing Out Loud and Our Brisbane Story. In Cairns, Tropical Arts will stage a unique retelling of Richard III, bringing together diverse artists. Meanwhile, Isaac Regional Council in Central Queensland will develop an art installation celebrating local wildlife.
Visual artist Shannon Michaels will create a multisensory artwork for vision-impaired spectators, which will tour to Adelaide in 2025. Additionally, five recipients will receive New Music funding, supporting Queensland musicians and composers to develop new live or recorded music for their projects.
Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek highlighted the importance of QASP in nurturing Queensland’s vibrant arts scene, emphasising the state’s growing reputation as a cultural destination. He noted that this investment would contribute to building the state’s creative legacy in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Blue Roo Theatre President Deborah Walker said the funding would enhance the visibility of performers with disabilities and help create lasting opportunities in the arts, driving social change and inclusion through high-quality, inspiring productions.
