Arts Queensland: First Nations Commissioning Fund (Australia)

Deadline: 20-Aug-20

The First Nations Commissioning Fund is for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural practitioners, organisations, collectives or communities to commission and deliver uniquely Queensland Indigenous stories, arts and cultural experiences, products and celebrations.

This fund is not intended to support the business activities of commercial arts businesses whose core business is the purchase and sale of art. Rather, it is intended for the development of new work that will have a life through public display, presentation or sale by not-for-profit entities.

Funding Information

Under this fund, if you are eligible, you can make application for:
- up to $100,000 towards large scale commissions. This may include large scale creative projects, development, festivals or presentations and must involve other partners and collaborators. Projects can take place at multiple venues or in communities across Queensland. Applicants cannot apply for 100% of project costs through this funding stream.
- up to $30,000 towards small scale commissions. Applicants can apply for 100% of project costs through this funding stream.

What can you Apply for?

You can apply for funding to contribute to the commissioning, development and presentation of new First Nations works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, organisations, collectives or communities.
Funded activity may include:
- commissioning of high-quality visual arts, mixed media or performance works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and organisations
- creative development of emerging Indigenous works
- professional fees for key First Nations creatives including cultural consultants, writers, designers, artists, directors, choreographers, dramaturgs, performers and other lead artists and arts workers
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander emerging festivals or events in Queensland communities
- costs towards artistic collaboration between Indigenous arts practitioners and a nationally or internationally significant artist or company
- purchase of equipment to deliver your project (up to $3,000).

Assessment Criteria

The First Nations Arts and Culture Panel will assess applications and make funding recommendations to the Minister for the Arts or delegate against the following criteria:

Quality

Demonstrates artistic achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural practices.

Reach
- Responds to need or demand for the commission and can grow new audiences for First Nations arts and cultural work
- Provides employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples through the planning, delivery and outcomes of the commission.
Impact
- Supports health, wellbeing and economic outcomes for First Nations Peoples and communities through creative industries and practices.
- Evidence of the calibre of partnerships and collaborations including financial partners
Viability
- Evidence of appropriate cultural permission/s for this project, including, for use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-owned contents and forms

Eligibility Criteria

To apply you must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist/arts worker, organisation or collective based in Queensland, which:
- has an active Australian Business Number (ABN) in the same name as the application
- can provide appropriate cultural permissions relevant to the application
- can show the work directly benefits Indigenous artists and/or communities
- can demonstrate that funding received will be directed primarily to First Nations Peoples and/or communities involved
- has satisfied the reporting requirements of any previous Arts Queensland funding
- can present the work within one year of funding approval
- will not commence funded activities prior to 25 September 2020
- has only submitted one application to this round of the First Nations Commissioning Fund
- is not seeking 100% of project costs through the large-scale commission stream.
Arts Queensland also accepts applications to the First Nations Commissioning Fund made on your behalf by an auspice organisation. An auspicing body must:
- have an active ABN
- have a bank account in the name of the auspicing body
- agree to support an individual, organisation or group who is unable to make an application on their own behalf and manage any approved grant (further details below)
- agree to support an individual, organisation or group that meets the objectives of the auspicing bodies constitution
- submit the application in the name of the applicant (individual, organisation or group)
- be a small to medium arts/cultural organisation previously funded by Arts Queensland since 1 January 2019.
- must not submit another application to the First Nations Commissioning Fund for the same project.
- The following are ineligible for funding support:
Current Arts Queensland employees or former employees who ceased employment less than six months before applying. Employees of Arts Statutory Bodies and the Department of Environment and Science should consult the ‘Important Information for Applicants’ document before applying.
Applicants receiving investment through Arts Queensland’s Organisation Fund who are unable to demonstrate how the project differs from core business activities.