The Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP) will award over $1.4 million to 24 arts and cultural organisations across the state, fostering creative activation and community engagement from Cairns to Coolangatta.
Brisbane-based Blue Roo Theatre, empowering performers with disabilities, will produce Laughing Out Loud and Our Brisbane Story, while Cairns’ Tropical Arts will stage a vibrant retelling of Richard III featuring diverse artists. In Central Queensland, Isaac Regional Council will create a community-driven art installation celebrating St. Lawrence’s wildlife, and visual artist Shannon Michaels will develop a multisensory piece for vision-impaired audiences, set to tour Adelaide in 2025.
Five projects will receive New Music funding, supporting Queensland-based musicians and composers.
Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek praised the program’s impact. “This funding will boost employment and visitation, showcasing Queensland as a vibrant, creative, and innovative destination ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.
Blue Roo Theatre President Deborah Walker emphasized the funding’s significance in celebrating diversity. “This investment enables us to inspire audiences, foster social inclusion, and provide opportunities for performers and emerging arts leaders with disabilities,” she said.
