First Nations Fashion and Textiles Accelerator Fund

The First Nations Fashion and Textiles Accelerator Fund (the Fund) is a key program of the First Nations Fashion and Textiles Plan, and supports delivery of  Grow 2022-2026, the Queensland Government’s second action plan for Creative Together 2020-2030.

The Fund seeks to support First Nations artists in Queensland to share their stories, celebrate their cultural identity and maximise the economic potential of their art by translating it into fashion and fabric. It helps artists focused on fashion and textiles, as well as those who include them in their broader work, with an emphasis on activities that grow commercial outcomes.

The Fund assists established First Nations fashion and textile artists and businesses that produce wearable art, ready-to-wear fashion collections or fabrics to increase production, enter new collaborations and expand into national and international markets.

The Fund supports Queensland-based First Nations artists working in fashion and textiles to share their stories, cultures and creative work by:

• expanding production through improved access to equipment and small-scale infrastructure
• innovating their creative and business practice through collaborations and skills exchanges to deliver high-quality fashion and textile products
• expanding into new markets nationally and internationally.

The Fund will prioritise artists primarily working in clothing and textiles. Accessories and adornments may be part of larger fashion collections, however, are unlikely to be supported as sole product lines through this Fund.

Funding

One-off project grants are available as follows:

• up to $30,000 (excluding GST) for projects that grow the applicant’s fashion or textiles practice and business, e.g. skills development or residency programs, small-scale equipment purchases, or market development activities. Projects must be completed with 12 months.
• up to $60,000 (excluding GST) for projects that demonstrate a significant commercial outcome for the applicant’s fashion or textiles business, e.g. investment in larger scale infrastructure and equipment, developing shared facilities, or investment to grow product lines for wholesale and retail. Projects must be completed within two years.

Applications must be submitted by the Fund closing dates: