The Grant Program aims to financially support organisations throughout Queensland to conduct annual agricultural shows, stimulating local cultural, social, and economic growth.

The objective of the Grant Program is to provide organisations with financial support to:

a. meet the operational costs (excluding salary or wage related costs) associated with the conduct of annual agricultural shows, and

b. invest in new infrastructure or upgrades and maintenance to showground facilities essential to the operation of the annual agricultural show.

Eligible grant recipients under the grant program are:

• Show societies, councils or other incorporated entities which: 
  • conduct or support an annual agricultural show 
  • maintain and upgrade showground facilities to support an annual agricultural show 
  • meet the affiliation criteria of the Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies Inc. (QCAS), are a member of QCAS and conduct an annual agricultural show (please refer to the QCAS by-laws online - www.queenslandshows.com.au) 
  • are the owner or trustee of the showground (where the applicant is not the owner or trustee, a grant will be considered subject to confirmation from the owner about suitable arrangements for the show society to hold annual agricultural shows on the land)
• QCAS and other organisations deemed by the Minister to be an eligible recipient under this program.

Where the Minister approves funding for an organisation that is not a council or a member of QCAS, the organisation will be required to: 

• be incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 or the Associations Incorporation Act 1981
• provide evidence of appropriate insurance cover for their agricultural shows
• report gate attendance/takings each year and costs from their most recent annual agricultural show 
• report other information as requested by the department.

Eligible costs

Approved funding may only be applied towards “eligible costs” and must be consistent with the aim and objectives of the grant program. Eligible costs include: 

• agricultural show-related purchases (including show ribbons, trophies) 
• operational costs (including advertising and promotion, equipment hire/lease, health and safety, telephone and internet charges, sundry expenses) 
• entertainment 
• utilities (including water, gas and electricity costs) 
• upgrade and maintenance to existing showground facilities essential to the operation of the annual agricultural show (including repairs, pest control, cleaning and plumbing costs) 
• insurance costs (including general, public liability and volunteers) 
• show societies who own their grounds may use up to 50 per cent of their approved funding allocation towards new infrastructure works essential to the operation of the annual agricultural show that meet the program objectives. This may include demolition of buildings in disrepair and building new infrastructure (i.e. toilet blocks, grandstands, halls stables).

Ineligible costs

Ineligible costs are costs not directly associated with the conduct of an agricultural show and/or do not support the aim or objective of the grant program. Ineligible costs include: 

• wages and salaries of staff engaged by the organisation
• prize money
• donations
• payment of judges (including payment of airfares, food and accommodation costs)
• costs associated with hiring staff from state government agencies (i.e. hiring police officers, ambulance officers and/or security guards)

• Phone: (07) 3452 6730
• Email: lgfundingunit@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au