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Creative and history grants

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Apply for funding to get your artistic, historical or cultural project off the ground. Check your eligibility and apply.

Female rehearsing a theatrical act in studio with mirrors at Visible Ink studio.

About creative and history grants

Our creative and history grants help local artists, performers and historians to develop and showcase their work. 

The grants support Brisbane’s artistic and cultural sectors by nurturing and promoting creativity. 

View the grants on offer and how they can benefit your group or project.  

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Creative Sparks Grants Program 

These grants help artists and not-for-profit community arts, historical and cultural organisations to create and present their work.

Projects must be shared with the public online or at a location within the Brisbane local government area.

The program aims to create jobs, boost our economy, attract tourism and bring people together by supporting the creative and cultural sector in Brisbane. 

The Creative Sparks Grant Program is managed by Council in partnership with the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. 

Who can apply?

You can apply if you:

  • are an individual professional artist, arts worker, cultural worker, or creative producer in the Brisbane Local Government Area (LGA)
  • are a not-for-profit community art, historical and cultural organisation based in the Brisbane LGA
  • have a demonstrated history of professional arts or creative practice with a track record of public outcomes for their creative practice
  • are a permanent resident or Australian citizen
  • are 17 years of age or over at the time of submitting an application
  • are under 18 years of age, but have your application co‑signed by your legal guardian, confirming they will take responsibility for managing any funding that may be offered to you
  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or are supported by an incorporated auspice organisation that is based in the Brisbane LGA
  • have an accessible public outcome (e.g. performance or exhibit) that occurs within the Brisbane LGA between 29 April 2025 and 24 February 2026
  • have other sources of funding as the program will not support 100% of the proposed activity or project costs
  • hold appropriate insurance (s) (including Workers Compensation, Public Liability, Volunteers Insurance and others) to cover artists and their work.

If you’re applying as an organisation, you must also:

  • employ Brisbane independent artists and arts workers to deliver new projects 
  • have offices located within the Brisbane LGA
  • provide goods and services to residents within the Brisbane LGA.

Funding amount

Up to $15,000

Eligible projects include:

  • testing and developing ideas for local products, markets, partnerships and works to enable creative enterprises to grow and prosper
  • diverse and accessible arts experiences that grow audiences and participation 
  • developing and promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artistic endeavours.

Grant open rounds

Applications for this grant are currently closed.

Please check back for updates on new opening dates.

When this grant is open for applications, check back here for a link to the online application form.

Grant guidelines

Read the Creative Sparks Grants Program Guidelines.

Your grant application will be assessed on how well your project can:

  • show excellence in creative thinking, with clear articulation of creative process including vision, ideas and conceptual rationale
  • show evidence of artistic, creative and/or cultural innovation, boldness and experimentation
  • demonstrate creative skills and ability of artists/arts professionals involved
  • support diverse artists and shows evidence of creative collaborations and partnerships
  • appeal to new or under-served audiences, with the potential to grow audiences by having a strong understanding of who will be engaged, and market development for the project
  • offer different ways in which people can participate in and experience the arts through the provision of a public outcome
  • provide activities that are low-cost or free to the public with application of access and inclusion principles to the project outcome, and adherence to relevant cultural protocols
  • show evidence of local demand for the project
  • demonstrate cultural, artistic, social, or economic returns on investment, including contributing to artistic, cultural and heritage outcomes
  • demonstrate value for money
  • show evidence of realistic and achievable planning and resource use, including clear budget with itemised sources of funding (including artists fees) and a realistic timeline
  • demonstrate strong understanding or history in delivering similar projects
  • cite key artist and confirm the role of partners/collaborators, and the benefit to them 
  • include relevant and high-quality support material including evidence of appropriate cultural permissions.

Subscribe to receive updates

Join our Creative Register to receive updates on upcoming opening and closing dates for grant rounds.

Sign up

Lord Mayor’s Creative Fellowships 

This fellowship supports Brisbane artists, arts workers, cultural workers and creative producers wishing to expand their careers in the arts and cultural sector.

It provides professional development opportunities including:

  • skills development
  • masterclasses/workshops
  • art residencies
  • attendance at conferences
  • short course training
  • defined mentorships
  • structured learning experiences.

Who can apply?

Apply if you:

  • are an individual emerging or early-career professional artist, arts worker, cultural worker, or creative producer residing in the Brisbane Local Government Area (LGA)
  • are a permanent resident or Australian citizen
  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or are supported by an incorporated auspice organisation based in the Brisbane LGA
  • are 17 years of age or over at the time you apply
  • have a professional development opportunity between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026
  • hold appropriate insurance to cover the applicant
  • don't exceed the limitations on funding of up to 50% of travel, accommodation and living expenses of the total project budget requested (e.g. if an applicant is requesting $10,000 for the total project, no more than 50% or $5,000 can be used for travel, accommodation and living expenses combined). Travel can include local, intrastate, interstate and international activities.

Funding amount

Up to $10,000

Eligible projects include:

  • professional development opportunities between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026
  • projects that demonstrate the artistic, cultural, social and/or economic impacts that align with the objectives and intended outcomes of the program
  • projects that attract, develop and retain members of Brisbane’s creative workforce
  • projects that help our artistic and cultural industries become more sustainable and promote Brisbane’s creative profile.

Grant open rounds

Applications for this grant are currently closed.

Please check back for updates on new opening dates.

When this grant is open for applications, check back here for a link to the online application form.  

Grant guidelines

Read the Lord Mayor’s Creative Fellowships guidelines.

Subscribe to receive updates

Join our Creative Register to receive updates on upcoming opening and closing dates for grant rounds.

Sign up

Historical Organisation Assistance Grant Program 

This program provides multi-year funding to community-based, not-for-profit cultural heritage and historical organisations.

It supports local clubs and groups to grow their membership, maintain their facilities and deliver activities that bring Brisbane’s stories to life.

Who can apply?

Apply if you:

  • are a not-for-profit organisation, or are supported by a not-for-profit organisation that is registered or is eligible for registration under the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth) and is based in the Brisbane Local Government Area (LGA)
  • want to advance Brisbane’s culture and care for, preserve and protect our heritage 
  • operate a facility that is intrinsically linked to Brisbane’s history and/or heritage, and is accessible to the public for regular hours
  • are based and currently operating in the Brisbane LGA
  • don't have any overdue grant acquittals or outstanding debts with Council.

Funding amount

$2,000-$10,000 per annum for 3 years

Eligible projects

The program supports investment in long-term organisational sustainability and capacity building by funding expenses for:

  • heritage economy
  • core operations
  • facility maintenance
  • exhibition and display maintenance and development
  • governance and organisational development
  • training and development.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • building digital capacity and/or website development
  • management systems to improve finances and attendance
  • strategic and operational planning including commercialisation of the product and/or diversification of revenue streams
  • marketing and communications plans
  • policy and procedure development
  • collections care and product development
  • improving access to collections
  • significance assessments and preservation need assessments
  • conservation activities and collection management
  • staff professional development, including lectures, education, training and workshops
  • utilities such as electricity, gas, water,
  • telephone and internet costs
  • stationery and postage
  • photocopying
  • contractor and professional service costs
  • cleaning products
  • audit fees
  • accountancy services.

Grant open rounds

Applications for this grant are currently closed.

Please check back for updates on new opening dates.

When this grant is open for applications, check back here for a link to the online application form.  

Grant guidelines

Read the Historical Organisation Assistance Grant Program guidelines.

Subscribe to receive updates

Join our Creative Register to receive updates on upcoming opening and closing dates for grant rounds.

Sign up