Our Initiatives
How we’re working to help Queensland's small and remote schools experience the benefits of live arts
At Queensland Arts Council, we work each day to find ways to help regional communities experience the benefits of the arts. We have implemented several strategies to help small and remote schools.
We are delighted to say that in 2009 we have been able to rally enough government and philanthropic support to continue reaching Queensland’s disadvantaged schools. The support has allowed us to continue subsidising the minimum charge for some 400 small schools till the end of 2009.
Our initiatives in 2010 include taking a partnership approach to solving the problem by seeking further support from State Government, Local Government, corporate sector, philanthropic foundations and public donations.
See below for an overview of some of our initiatives to help all Queensland children experience the benefits of live arts:
Advocating to Government
The Queensland Government provides the program with an annual grant of $70,000 through Education Queensland and seconds a teacher to support the program.
In 2009, the Queensland Government also contributed a one-off grant to help ensure we could continue to reach small and remote schools in Terms 1 and 2.
We are continuing to advocate to the Queensland Government on behalf of small and remote schools so they have the opportunity to access live arts experiences in 2010 and the future.
We are also exploring how government funding programs such as Priority Country Area Program (PCAP) and regional council’s community funding programs can help schools to fund their arts experiences.
Adopt-a-School Program
The Adopt-a-School program was proposed in early 2009. It aims to gather support for the program, sharing a partnership approach to supporting small schools arts access. This includes the joint support of QAC, State Government, Local Government, corporate sector and the schools themselves.
QAC proposed to each regional council to support the performances for small schools in its region from 2010-12. The contribution would go toward subsidising the costs of the performances for those schools so they weren’t disadvantaged. Ongoing support each year will ensure these small schools have the opportunity to receive a minimum of one live arts experience each semester.
Seeking Philanthropy Support
In 2009, we were delighted to gain the support of The Tim Fairfax Family Foundation. The Foundation supported Queensland’s small schools with a significant gift to our Ontour inschools program that will help us subsidise performances for over 120 schools in Terms 3 and 4, 2009.
The Foundation’s gift will fund a special tour, called The East to West Tour, for the schools between Charters Towers and Mount Isa in Term 4, 2009. The tour will offer these students the opportunity to experience performances and workshops by Australia’s leading physical theatre troupe, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre.
We have also received support for other philanthropic trusts for specific productions, such as The Riddle of the Dragon's Hat and our Reconnect: youth at risk program.
Receiving Donations
Queensland Arts Council’s Cultural Support Fund receives public donations for the organisation’s programs. In 2009, the Fund contributed $15,000 to Ontour inschools to help our Small Schools and Remote Schools programs.
We will continue to seek philanthropic support for touring to small and remote schools, including launching a major appeal to members and their friends in August 2009.
People can help by Making a Donation to our remote and small schools appeal.
Seeking Corporate Sponsorship
QAC seeks corporate sponsorship from organisations with interests in supporting regional Queensland communities.
We have partnered with Ergon Energy, Xstrata Community Partnerships Program North Queensland and Thiess, which have helped us to provide creative engagement for regional communities and schools.
In 2009, Ergon Energy partnered for a third year on the presentation of Power Trip: The Adventures of Watty & Volt for regional Queensland schools. The partnership has allowed us to present performances to over 50,000 regional children by the end of the year.
QAC partnered with Xstrata in 2009 for several arts projects and tours for regional communities, including an artist-in-residence program for a cluster of schools in Mount Isa and Cloncurry, called Latin American Carnivale. The project involved ten schools and hundreds of students, all performing side-by-side at the Mount Isa Multicultural Festival.
If you think you could help, or if you'd like to discuss any of these initiatives please contact Ontour inschools on 3846 7477 or email inschools@qac.org.au. Thank you!
Image: Students show their surprise at an Ontour inschools performance Photo: Stefanie Mellon