The Actors’ & Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund of Queensland has announced a new initiative to provide funding and financial aid to Queensland-based artists affected by the catastrophic flooding earlier this year. Fully subsidised by the Australia Council, the South East Queensland Flood Relief Arts Fund will provide relief grants for those who lost income and property in the flooding.

Lismore company NORPA’s rehearsal studio after flooding. Image courtesy of NORPA.

“ABF Qld has a long and proud history of supporting those in the performing arts and this funding from the Australia Council is allowing us to reach the wider arts industry with an extraordinary flood relief round,” said ABF QLD President Michael Balk. “We commend the Australia Council for seeing the real need in our industry and for stepping up to lend a much-needed helping hand.”

The funding will be delivered through grants of up to $5,000, open to artists across all genres and artforms, including music, dance, theatre and visual arts. The grants will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, acknowledging the varied and unique impacts that the floods have...