Queensland Arts Project Fund Round 3

Purpose and Program Overview

The Queensland Arts Project Fund is a Queensland Government grant program administered by Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Education. The fund provides one-off grants to support the creative development, production, and presentation of new work by Queensland-based individual artists, arts workers, groups, arts companies, and organisations.

The program forms part of the delivery of Queensland’s Time to Shine: 10-Year Arts and Cultural Strategy, with a specific focus on supporting artists and organisations to create and share new work, reflecting the state’s stories, people, and places. The fund also aims to grow opportunities for d/Deaf and disabled audiences, artists, and companies to access and participate in new creative work.

Round 3 of the Queensland Arts Project Fund is currently open and includes a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stream. This stream replaces the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Development Fund and supports the development, production, presentation, and distribution of new work, including fashion and textiles collections.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount: Up to $70,000 (General stream and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stream); up to $20,000 (Individuals stream); an additional $10,000 may be available for disability access costs
• Opening date: Friday, 7 August 2026
• Closing date: Monday, 21 September 2026, 2:00 pm (AEST)
• Notification date: Mid-December 2026
• Activity start date: 25 January 2027
• Eligible applicants: Queensland-based individual artists, arts workers, groups, arts companies, and organisations
• Eligible art forms: Visual arts, craft and design, performing arts, classical and contemporary music, writing, fashion, and multi-arts
• Co-contribution required: No mandatory co-contribution; however, applicants cannot request 100% of project costs from Arts Queensland
• Location applicability: Queensland only

Priority Sectors

The fund supports a broad range of art forms rather than a single priority sector, including:

• Visual arts, craft, and design
• Performing arts
• Classical and contemporary music
• Writing
• Fashion and textiles (particularly under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stream)
• Multi-arts

Applications for film, screen, and games are not eligible under this fund, as these fall under Screen Queensland’s remit.

Funding Scope

The Queensland Arts Project Fund is structured across three streams:

• General stream: Up to $70,000 for projects of up to one year
• Individuals stream: Up to $20,000 for projects of up to one year (open only to individual applicants)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stream: Up to $70,000 for projects of up to one year, supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals, groups, or organisations

An additional $10,000 in access funding may be requested to support the participation of artists, arts workers, or audiences who are d/Deaf or living with disability. This access funding cannot duplicate support already provided through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Funded projects must be completed by 31 December 2028, and activities must commence after the activity start date of 25 January 2027.

Eligibility Criteria

General eligibility requirements applying to all streams include:

• Applicant must be based in Queensland (primary residence for individuals; business address for groups and organisations)
• Individual applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, and over 18 years of age.
• Applicants must hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN) in the application name (individual or sole trader ABN accepted)
• A bank account must be held in the application name.
• Applicants must have completed all previous Arts Queensland reporting obligations and not owe Arts Queensland money.
• Only one application may be submitted per applicant per round.
• Applicants must not have been funded under the previous Queensland Arts Project Fund round or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Development Fund Round 2
• Applicants must not have received more than $1.5 million per annum from Arts Queensland in the previous 12 months.
• Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time, with all compulsory support material included.

Applicants are not eligible if they:

• Request 100% of project costs from Arts Queensland.
• Are an Arts Statutory Body, Arts Owned Company, or State Government agency
• Are applying for non-arts activities or activities that are the responsibility of another Queensland Government department
• Are a current Arts Queensland employee, or a former employee who ceased employment less than six months before applying
• Are an educational institution seeking funding for core business activities

The Individuals stream is open only to individual applicants. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stream is open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals, groups, or organisations, defined as at least 50% owned and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with formal decision-making authority.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The fund supports:

• Creative development of new work, including brand-new work or significantly different interpretations of existing work
• Production, presentation, exhibition, and distribution of new work, including new exhibitions of existing work
• Collaboration with a nationally or internationally significant artist or company in the development or presentation of new work
• For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, creative development, production, presentation, and distribution of new fashion and textiles collections
• Costs associated with increasing access and participation for d/Deaf and disabled artists, arts workers, and audiences (up to $10,000 additional funding)

Ineligible costs include core operating expenses (rent, utilities), business start-up costs, debt repayments, infrastructure purchases, equipment or software purchases over $3,000 (excluding GST), retrospective funding for completed activities, and costs associated with competitions, awards, or private tuition. Projects consisting solely of workshops are ineligible, though workshops that promote or engage audiences with a new work are permitted.

Assessment Process

The Queensland Arts Project Fund is competitive. Eligible applications are assessed against three criteria:

• High quality: The strength and clarity of the creative concept, the skills and experience of artists and arts workers involved, and the quality of collaborators and partners
• Strong impact: The potential to create employment and career development opportunities for Queensland artists, build markets and reputation for Queensland arts and culture, and deliver clear benefits for Queensland audiences and communities
• Sustainable value: The viability and realism of the project budget, the strength of the delivery plan, and appropriate cultural competency where relevant

Applicants must also address community expectations relating to the use of public funding, including compliance with anti-discrimination and hate speech laws.

Recent Program Updates

• Round 3 opened on 7 August 2026 and closes on 21 September 2026
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stream is now integrated into the Queensland Arts Project Fund guidelines, replacing the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Development Fund
• Meritorious applications to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stream that cannot be funded within that stream’s budget may be forwarded for consideration under the General stream, reducing the need for applicants to submit multiple applications
• Round 1 and Round 2 recipients have both been announced, with further details published on the Arts Queensland website

Application Tips

• Review the Queensland Arts Project Fund guidelines and the General Funding Guidelines in full before starting an application
• Confirm eligibility under the relevant stream, including ABN, residency, and reporting requirements
• Prepare all compulsory support material in advance, including CVs of key artists and arts workers, examples of previous work, letters from partners, and an evaluation plan
• Where relevant, include evidence of consultation with, and support from, the communities the project engages with
• Ensure the project budget is realistic and includes appropriate fees and contingency
• Align the application with the objectives of Queensland’s Time to Shine strategy
• Allow sufficient time to gather support material well ahead of the closing date

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact us today and get connected with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates, and further information, visit the official website of the Queensland Arts Project Fund and other associated Australian government websites.