The First Nations Commissioning Fund is focused on investing in opportunities that share First Nations stories and cultural knowledge and elevate awareness of Queensland’s exceptional First Nations arts and cultural products and experiences.

The First Nations Commissioning Fund:

• Supports the development and presentation of new work and cultural programs by First Nations artists, arts workers and organisations
• Strengthens skills development and provide new employment opportunities for First Nations artists and arts workers
• Grows a pipeline of high-quality First Nations arts, cultural products, and experiences

Funding

For single-year projects up to $70,000 for projects and programs for up to 12 months

For 2-year projects up to $150,000 for projects and programs that need a larger and/or longer scale of development of up to two years and include presentation and/or distribution.

Additional funding available 

PLUS up to $10,000 towards fees for Queensland-based composers, musicians or librettists to support the commissioning of new live or recorded music as part of your project.

PLUS up to $60,000 towards a full-time industry placement for 12-months (or a pro rata equivalent for part-time) with a focus on arts management and/or arts production.

Applicants may only recieve one FNCF grant per calendar year.

Please refer to the Arts Queensland General Funding Guidelines for general eligibility criteria and definitions.

In addition, the Fund requires that applicants must:

• be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist/arts worker, organisation or collective based in Queensland. For the purposes of The Fund, a First Nations organisation is one that is at least 50% owned and led by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have formal authority to make decisions in operations and governance of the organisation. 
• not apply for 100% of the total project costs

If applying for funding for a placement:

• the applicant must have a proven track record in the provision of a safe workplace with skills development and on-the-job training capacity 
• the placement must be a First Nations person permanently based in Queensland.

Applicants may only receive one First Nations Commissioning Fund grant per calendar year, however they are also able to receive a further grant for a different project through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program within the same calendar year.

• Phone: (07) 3034 4016
• Email: investment@arts.qld.gov.au