Image: (L-R) Joe Bauer, Rita Artman, Connor McDuff, Monica Ferreira, Toby Hendy and Zachary Staines. High-res images are available to download here.
Screen Queensland has today announced the five Queensland creator-led businesses sharing in $250,000 through the inaugural Online Elevation Fund.
Each business will receive a $50,000 grant to strengthen operations, grow audiences and convert current creative success into long-lasting revenue models.
The first-of-its-kind fund will help these established Queensland online creators make targeted operational investments to expand into multiplatform content and distribution, grow production teams, secure studio space, diversify business activities and optimise revenue streams.
Recipients include ArtSpear Entertainment, led by Brisbane-based creators Rita Artmann and Joe Bauer, whose parodies of film, digital games and popular culture have amassed more than one billion views on YouTube.
Also selected is Ms Moni, a favourite of millions of families through her series of inclusive, interactive videos that integrate Auslan and Key Word Signs and support language, speech and communication development in young children through music, movement and play.
Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the Online Elevation Fund reinforces the Queensland Government’s commitment to growing the creative economy, a vital part of Arts Queensland’s Time to Shine strategy.
“The Online Elevation Fund is dedicated to fostering more opportunities for local creatives in the fast-growing creator economy, where TikTok projects alone are estimated to be worth US$1.2 trillion in the Asia Pacific by 2030¹,” Mr Langbroek said.
“By investing in creator-led enterprises, we are enabling Queenslanders to expand their potential, driving employment and innovation via accessible platforms with local and international reach.”
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney congratulated the five recipients, recognising the importance of early investment in creative business development.
“Our Online Elevation Fund is helping local online creators to transform the momentum of their current success into long-term business sustainability, which is an essential element of a thriving creator economy,” Ms Feeney said.
“Screen Queensland is committed to growing our state’s online creative sector through strategic investment in our industry-leading Online Program.
“This new fund follows the successful Channel Lab: Short Cuts initiative, launching several AACTA Award-nominated projects and our Online Production Grants projects including Ina, which made its World Premiere at the prestigious Canneseries, and Finally, A Show About Men!, which released through high-profile Australian comedy platform Grouse House.”
The five businesses supported by the Online Elevation Fund are:
- ArtSpear Entertainment, Rita Artmann and Joe Bauer
- CrackerMilk, Connor McDuff
- Ms Moni, Monica Ferreira
- Tibees, Toby Hendy
- Zachary Staines, Zachary Staines
1 The Art and Science of Authenticity, TikTok APAC.
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Media contact
Carrie Barber
Marketing and Communications Manager
07 3248 0500 | media@screenqld.com.au
