Arts funding supports poetry, jazz, theatre and more

4 Jul 2018

Thirteen new and diverse art works and cultural experiences across the state will go ahead, after receiving funding from the Palaszczuk Government.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the projects would share in funding totalling $415,065 through the latest round of Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP).

“The latest round of QASP funded projects will boost arts, music and poetry festivals in Brisbane, Birdsville and on the Sunshine Coast, and create new local and international exhibitions, an original theatre piece, literary works and a site-specific installation,” Minister Enoch said.

“Through QASP, the Palaszczuk Government has invested $8.2 million in more than 250 projects since September 2015, creating opportunities and experiences for Queenslanders either as an arts worker, participant or audience member.”

Minister Enoch said she was pleased to see the positive impact of QASP funding for the arts over the longer term.

“Townsville’s TheatreiNQ will follow up its successful production of Alice in Wonderland (in the Park), funded through QASP in 2017 and adapted for Festival 2018 programming in Townsville, with the development of new theatre work First Born,” she said.

“Inspired by Greek tragedies, First Born will blend classical and contemporary physical theatre in a production featuring local talent for audiences in North Queensland.

“This round of QASP will give a boost to music festivals across the state in July with funding for the Nambour Winter Jazz Fest, Brisbane’s The Dead of Winter Festival which will showcase 40 bands and 10 performing artists, and for Winton-based duo The Crackup Sisters who will oversee the Big Red Rumble, a large-scale community project involving more than 200 young people to be performed at the Big Red Bash music festival in Birdsville.”

“The 2018 Queensland Poetry Festival will develop a number of satellite events to take place around Queensland. Now in its 11th year, the Festival will attract more than 80 local and international poets and voices to the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts from 23–26 August 2018,” Ms Enoch said.

“Outer Space, a Brisbane-based artist run initiative, will develop an annual exhibition program for three gallery spaces to support and promote new and emerging artistic talent.

“Brisbane-based creatives Rachael Wellisch and Emma Gardner will collaborate overseas to strengthen their global industry connections and develop new work to be exhibited in Austria and Brisbane during 2018–19.

“Contemporary Australian poet Dr Jayne Fenton Kean will develop How to Read a Cloud a collection of poems, images, memoirs and scripts drawing on the arts and sciences.

“Whilst, artists Craig Walsh and Hiromi Tango, renowned for site-responsive artworks and textile installations, will provide training to young students from the Queensland College of Art through the development of a site specific installation for a previously flooded precinct,” said Ms Enoch.

Ms Enoch said Brisbane artist and animator Georgie Pinn will take ECHO – The Empathy Engine, her interactive facial recognition storytelling experience previously displayed at QUT’s The Cube to Durban in South Africa.

“And Townsville’s Umbrella Studios will develop Legacy: Reflections on Mabo, an exhibition celebrating the life and work of Native Title campaigner Eddie Mabo, that will travel around Queensland.”

Minister Enoch said QASP has supported the development of arts and cultural experiences throughout Queensland and made it possible for the state’s talent to be showcased locally, nationally and overseas.

For more information about QASP visit www.arts.qld.gov.au/aq-funding. A list of the latest funding recipients is below.