Queensland injecting $183.3m new funding for the arts in budget

The Queensland state’s 2018/19 budget has committed $183.3 million in new funding to the arts sector.

It’s mostly to revitalise arts venues and to bolster up initiatives that were tied to tourism.

Minister for the arts Leeanne Enoch said the Palaszczuk government was working hard to secure a strong future for the arts.

“This budget recognises the critical role infrastructure plays in the cultural vibrancy of the state,” she said.

The Queensland Cultural Centre,  which drew 6.5 million visitors in 2016-17, gets $145.75 million.

$125 million over four years goes towards a new state-of-the-art theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).

QPAC gets a further $8 million over four years “to lead a Queensland-wide approach to develop and deliver digital arts content to regional arts venues, schools and homes,” the minister said.

This invests further in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts and developing a musical theatre incubator.

“In addition, we are also investing $15 million towards the new Cairns Regional Council’s Cairns Performing Arts Centre over two years from 2017-18.”

The government will invest $162.3 million into] contestable funding programs such as the Queensland Arts Showcase Program, the Backing Indigenous Arts initiative and Playing Queensland Fund, support for major festivals, and our state’s four home companies.

The Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) gets a $6 million top up over two years from 2020-21 to 2021-22 so it can keep attracting blockbusters.

Last year’s Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition attracted record-breaking 269,000 visitors, helping the Gallery achieve a record year of more than 2.17 million attendances in 2017.

There is continued funding for Tourism and Events Queensland to attract more visitors through marketing, events and experience development.

Announced was $26.2 million over four years from 2017-18 to secure major events as part of the Advancing Tourism program.

The budget allocated $14.4 million over four years will help employ more music teachers in schools.