Experience Gold Coast is honoured to make a significant annual contribution to the arts and culture ecology of the Gold Coast with the launch of an exciting new Grants Fund. The EGC Arts Fund will raise the profile of Gold Coast artists and support their creative capacity by funding a broad range of art form practices where the presentation of local content can be aligned to EGC signature festivals and events.

The funding is aimed at making a significant investment in local artists, local performing arts companies, and creative personnel to deliver high profile and reputation-raising outcomes across all art forms. These art forms can include, but are not limited to, theatre, dance, circus, music of all genres, film and photography, digital and design in all forms, 2D and 3D visual arts, and multi-genre collaborations. New and unusual contemporary arts practices are encouraged.

 

Amount Available

 

Up to $200,000 per application.

 

 

Funding Tiers

 

• Tier 1 – up to $25,000
• Tier 2 – $25,000 to $100,000
• Tier 3 – $100,000 to $200,000

 

Applicants practicing in any art form are encouraged to apply.

The fund will focus on three Grant Categories:

 

1. Gold Coast Stories - Development of new content by Gold Coast artists, companies, and community for presentation across EGC platforms, festivals, events, and stages,
2. Gold Coast Creates- Attracting high calibre artists with strong connection to the Gold Coast back to the City to create and deliver work; and
3. Gold Coast Presents - Presentation of readymade high quality local creative content.

 

By attaching local established and emerging artists to formal large-scale events, venues, and promotional opportunities within the EGC portfolio, EGC aims to provide a platform for career growth and exposure. Current EGC platforms seeking the inclusion of Gold Coast artists include:

 

• Blues on Broadbeach, May 
• Wonder, June
• Cooly Rocks On, June
• Bleach, August
• Kids Take Over, September
• Artcation Festival, all school holidays excluding September
• Groundwater, October
• HOTA Gallery
• HOTA Presents:
  
  • Outdoor Stage
  • Theatre
  • Lawn Bar
• HOTA Outdoor Stage Live Music Season, March – May 2026

 

Applicants who propose visual art projects or artworks for the Gallery need to ensure the proposal is in alignment with EGC festivals and events.

1. Gold Coast Stories

 

Funding to support artists and arts companies to engage and work with the local community to develop creative content of cultural significance that is uniquely Gold Coast to be considered for inclusion across EGC presentation platforms (see list above).

 

The first funding round is open 3 December 2024 and closes on 17 January 2025 with outcome notification mid-February 2025. A second round will be open in March 2025, only if funding allocation is not exhausted in round 1.

Applications accepted across all tiers:

 

• Tier 1 up to $25,000
• Tier 2 – $25,000 to $100,000
• Tier 3 – $100,000 to $200,000

 

 

2. Gold Coast Creates

 

Funding to enable Gold Coast artists, companies, organisations, and collectives to develop works of quality and scale to be considered for inclusion on EGC presentation platforms. Partnerships and collaborations are strongly encouraged in this grant category.

 

The first funding round is open 3 December 2024 and closes on 17 January 2025 with outcome notification mid-February 2025. A second round will be open in March 2025, only if funding allocation is not exhausted in round 1.

  

Applications accepted across all tiers:

 

• Tier 1 up to $25,000
• Tier 2 – $25,000 to $100,000
• Tier 3 – $100,000 to $200,000

 

 

3. Gold Coast Presents

 

Funding for presentation on EGC platforms of readymade high quality local creative content. Provides highly visible opportunities for success by attaching a local Gold Coast artist to major events, signature festivals, HOTA Presents and HOTA Outdoor Stage programming areas.

 

1. Gold Coast Presents Local MUSIC on local stages.
   
   EGC aspires to position local music support acts in front of audiences with local, national, and international mainstage artists.
   
   This grant has one round per year. Call out for inclusion the following year presentation opportunities. Applicants must identify which EGC platforms they want to be considered for in the 2025/2026 program. EOI open 3 December 2024. EOI close 30 April 2025.      
   
   Applications accepted from Tier 1 only up to $25,000.
   
   
2. Gold Coast Presents Local WORKS on local stages.
   
   Provides highly visible opportunities for staging local Gold Coast works in major events, signature festivals, HOTA Presents and HOTA Outdoor Stage programming areas. All artforms and creative projects will be considered including theatre, dance, visual arts, digital projection, creative experiences, audience engagement, etc.
   
   The first funding round is open 3 December 2024 and closes on 17 January 2025 with outcome notification mid-February 2025. A second round will be open in March 2025, only if funding allocation is not exhausted in round 1.
         
   Applications accepted across all tiers:

• Tier 1 up to $25,000
• Tier 2 – $25,000 to $100,000
• Tier 3 – $100,000 to $200,000