Finding the funds for live arts experiences

We'd like to help you find the funds so you can offer performances, workshops and artists-in-residencies to your students. We will help by:

• keeping the costs low - as a not-for-profit we charge only what is required to cover costs - and
• working to source funds on your behalf to subsidise our programs for your school. Read more about our initiatives.

Possible Funding Sources:

Queensland Arts Council’s Small Schools Subsidy Program

(Available for small schools within our standard touring area)

In 2009, we introduced a new program so small schools that cannot raise the minimum performance charge can still apply for a subsidised performance. We will endeavour to source funding to subsidise the performance so these schools can still experience the performances and workshops. Unfortunately these funds are not yet guaranteed. Please see Small Schools Subsidy Program.

Local Government community funding programs

(Suitable for Artists-in-Residence programs and touring performances)

Most Regional Councils have a community support grant that includes funding for cultural programs such as live performances and workshops. Check with your council and read the eligibility to ensure it includes funding for schools.

Priority Country Area Program (PCAP)

(Suitable for Artists-in-Residence programs and touring performances)

PCAP is a Commonwealth funded rural education program. Funds are targeted to students in government and non-government schools, to improve learning outcomes by providing educational, social, and cultural opportunities which are normally difficult to access in rural and remote areas. Check your region is eligible for support http://www.pcap.org.au/regions.htm

PCAP often supports performances by covering the transportation costs involved in combining for a performance. Small schools can come together in one central location for a live performance and/or workshops with the bus fees covered by PCAP.

Several QAC artists-in-residence projects have been funded through PCAP. The school or clusters of schools in a community apply for the funding through the program’s own application process. QAC usually works together with the schools to make sure the project is exactly what your students’ needs, and from there work out funding required from the fund.

Examples of our recent Artists-in-Residence supported by PCAP:
•    ArtsCapers, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama, Western Cape York Peninsula
•    Soundscape Gulf Tour, Gulf of Carpentaria

http://www.pcap.org.au/

Corporate Sponsorship

(Suitable for Artists-in-Residence programs and touring performances)

Businesses in your school’s area may be open to sponsoring your school’s performances as a way of supporting the community. Usually, businesses are happy with paying cash to support one-off events in exchange for recognition for their support. You can thank them by writing a letter to parents informing them of the business’s support, including their business details and logo, inviting them to attend for a photo opportunity and thank them publicly at the performance.

For Artists-in-Residence, the cost of sponsorship is much higher, unless you ask for a small portion of the expenses and split it with another source such as PCAP. Because the contribution is larger, you may want to look to larger corporate organisations that have an interest in your community, such as mining industry, financial institution, retail or food chain etc. Many of these larger organisations want to contribute to the community as part of their corporate responsibility and community relations strategies.

Parents & Friends Committees (P&Cs)

Many P&Cs raise funds especially for projects such as arts and cultural projects and creative engagement. Talk to your school's P&C representatives.

Philanthropy and Local Donations

(Suitable for Artists-in-Residence programs and touring performances)

As a school, you are no strangers to fundraising. There are many ways your students can fundraise for the cost of a performance. Add this to your annual fete fundraising activities or have a special fundraiser with local businesses. You may know of local landowners or business people in your area that may value an opportunity to help out your schools community.

Read more about our initiatives to help Queensland schools.

About the costs

Firstly, the costs involved in all QAC productions are only the costs involved in actually making it happen - there is no commercial gain whatsoever for QAC. We have one purpose and that is to help Queensland children experience the arts.

The major expenses for bringing the arts to rural, remote or isolated communities are artists' fees, travel, accommodation and freighting equipment. These expenses vary depending on the number of artists, the duration and the resources your project requires.

For example, a 60min performance roughly costs $600 to cover artists’ fees, travel and accommodation, insurances and administration. This varies depending on the distance your school is from other schools, because the above rough cost is averaged out over several performances making fixed costs go further.

For an artists-in-residence, these costs are higher because the project is longer with more sustainable outcomes, such as skill development and a public performance or artwork. Artists-in-residence, however, work out more economical the longer they are and the greater the number of students involved.

Please contact us if you have any questions on finding funds for our programs - inschools@qac.org.au or 3846 7477

Image: Students enjoy an Ontour inschools performance Photo: Stefanie Mellon