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QLD Live Music Venue Business Grants Round 2

  • Funding to support the costs of trialling alternative venue use outside of standard business hours, as well as equipment purchases or venue improvements
  • 50% co-contribution required
  • Applications are open until 6 May 2025

The Live Music Venue Business Grants, offered by Arts Queensland, provide funding of up to $100,000 to support live music venues with a capacity of 500 persons or less. The grants aim to help venues adapt to changing audience demands and increased operating costs by enhancing their ability to attract audiences and diversify income streams.

Key Requirements

Queensland live music venues of up to 500-person capacity are able to apply to one of following streams:

  • Stream 1: up to $50,000 to offset the costs of trialling alternative venue use outside of standard business hours that could lead to new revenue streams, i.e. daytime or Monday and Tuesday nights etc.
  • Stream 2: up to $100,000 to support equipment purchases or venue improvements that
    • increase accessibility, venue capacity or patron experience (including sound proofing, air conditioning and ventilation)
    • increase the earning potential and profit from current operations or new activities
    • reduce existing operating costs such as hire fees, insurance or security or improve energy efficiency.

What is eligible for funding?

Funding can be used for:

  • Costs associated with trialing alternative venue uses to develop new revenue streams.
  • Equipment purchases or venue improvements that enhance accessibility, capacity, patron experience, earning potential, or reduce operating costs.

What companies are eligible for funding?

To be eligible for funding your venue must:

  • Be based in Queensland and have a capacity of 500 pax or less
  • Meet the definition of a live music venue described above
  • Not contain gaming machines
  • Not be under notice that you are to be placed under external administration; petitioning for
    bankruptcy; or winding up/ deregistering an organisation/business

To be eligible for funding your application must:

  • Not be auspiced
  • Provide evidence of confirmed non-Queensland Government investment* of at least 50% of the project costs (can be cash from your own business and/or other partners/funders, and/or in-kind)
  • Include all compulsory support material.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Demand Driven – Grants are awarded to eligible applicants in the order applications are received until funding is fully allocated.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging a specialist government grants consultant, such as Avant Group to assist with eligibility checks and collation of relevant documentation.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documentation and provide tailored support to strengthen your grant submission.

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.