Four-year funding goes to 39 organisations for the first time, with increased investment by the Queensland Government.

There was some welcome news for small to medium arts organisations in Queensland, with the announcement of increased organisational funding to the sector for 2017–2020 totalling $30.5 million. Queensland Premier and Minister for the Arts, Annastacia Palaszczuk, made the announcement over the weekend at the Brisbane Festival opening of Ballet Preljocaj’s Snow White. However, the good news was somewhat marred by an embarrassing faux pas when the Premier welcomed the French company to the Festival, saying, “of course, we don’t have a contemporary dance company here in Brisbane.”

^{Queensland Premier and Minister for the Arts Annastacia Palaszczuk}

In fact, Brisbane is home to Expressions Dance Company, which, under the artistic directorship of Natalie Weir, has been nominated for a number of Helpmann Awards and Australian Dance Awards. Queensland is also home to DanceNorth. Both companies are among the 39 organisations to have received four-year funding through the Organisations Fund 2017–2020 (compared to 35 in 2014–2016).

In January this year, the Premier announced that Queensland-based small to medium arts organisations would be to apply for...