The Visual Arts Market Development Fund (the Fund) is a key program of the Queensland Government’s Grow 2022-2026, the second action plan for Creative Together 2020-2030.

The fund is focused on enabling key international opportunities that strengthen exposure, expand markets and revenue potential for Queensland’s visual arts craft and design sector.

Objectives

Visual Arts Market Development Fund:

• Support visual artists and organisations’ attendance and participation in international events, exhibitions and showcases that fast-track profile building, grow new networks and global connections, and drive career sustainability.
• Expand markets and generate international revenue opportunities for Queensland-based visual artists, designers and curators
• Build profile, reputation and awareness of Queensland’s talented visual arts craft and design sector.

NOTE: All applications are welcome, however during 2023 and 2024 the focus will be to support the Creative Together priority to Elevate First Nations Arts with opportunities for First Nations visual artists, designers and curators.

Funding

Applicants can apply for up to $60 000 (excluding GST) towards eligible costs.

The Fund supports significant international market exposure and development opportunities for Queensland-based individual curators, artists or groups of artists:

• showcasing or exhibiting work overseas
  • a single new presentation
  • extension of scope/scale of showcase including tour
  • extension of an existing tour
• attending key overseas market events.

Applications for showcasing or exhibiting activities will need to demonstrate that the applicant has been invited by their international partners directly or selected through a competitive process.

Applicants must demonstrate how the activity/project will contribute to a long-term and sustainable plan for international engagement which includes growth of profile and market, and potential capacity to expand or replicate projects in other markets. 

Arts Queensland funding can only be used for the following eligible costs:

• economy-class air travel, accommodation, travel allowances, visas, registration fees, professional fees and relevant meeting costs,
• freight, installation, technical support, and management fees associated with the delivery of the activity (applications for showcasing/exhibiting activities only).

The Fund does not support costs associated with international conferences that do not include, or function as, an industry market.

Please note: Successful applicants for overseas activities will be expected to meet with a Trade and Investment Queensland business development representative before their departure to discuss how to leverage outcomes for themselves and Queensland.

For more information, visit Arts Queensland