Apply For a bursary
The 2026 annual PGQ bursary program has commenced. Closing dates:
- 31 March 2026 – Round 1 closed
- Glenn R. Cooke (Directors Circle) Bursary – CLOSED
- 14 October 2026 – Round 2 Now Open
Unfortunately, the PGQ Board will not consider retrospective funding proposals.
Public Galleries Queensland offers four types of funding for professional development activities.
FUNDING IS PROVIDED IN FOUR AREAS:
1. INDIVIDUAL BURSARIES for Staff/Volunteers
Grants of up to a maximum of $1,000 are available for gallery staff and volunteers to assist them attend seminars, conferences, biennales, exhibitions or courses. Grants can be used towards conference registration fees, associated workshop fees, travel, accommodation and living expenses during the period of the event.
Closing Date: 14 October 2026 (Round 2)
Amount: Up to $1,000
Restrictions: Open to all staff and volunteers. Permanent staff members must apply through their organisation’s PGQ organisational membership number. More information on PGQ membership here.
Please submit your application online: Individuals
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2. INDIVIDUAL BURSARIES for Artists/Curators
Grants of up to a maximum of $500 are available for independent artists and/or curators to assist deliver lectures, workshops, or similar in partnership with a regional or metropolitan gallery. Grants can be used towards travel, associated workshop fees, workshop materials, accommodation and living expenses during the period of the partnership arrangement.
Closing Date: 14 October 2026 (Round 2)
Amount: Up to $500.
Restrictions: Applicants must be individual members of PGQ. The partnership organisation must also be a member of PGQ. More information on PGQ membership here. List of current PGQ organisational members here.
Please submit your application online: Individuals
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3. ORGANISATIONAL GRANTS
Grants up to a maximum of $1,000 to assist public galleries to undertake organisational initiatives. These might include:
- Costs towards improvements in the gallery/museum exhibition program such as touring exhibition fees and display improvements.
- An appropriate consultant to work with the institution on skill development in areas such as:
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- Education and Public Programs,
- Exhibition Development, or
- Strategic Planning and Policy Development.
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- On-site training workshops and seminars in specialist areas such as volunteer recruitment, board management and gallery/museum practice.
Closing Date: 14 October 2026 (Round 2)
Amount: Up to $1,000
Restrictions: Applicants must be organisational members of PGQ. More information on PGQ membership here. It is expected that the organisation will make a contribution to the initiative (can be in-kind).
Please submit your application online: Organisations
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4. GLENN R. COOKE (DIRECTORS CIRCLE) BURSARIES 2026
In 2020 PGQ’s Board of Directors initiated the Directors’ Circle fundraising initiative aimed at growing PGQ’s Bursary Program in a targeted and strategic way. The PGQ Board changed the bursary name to the Glenn R. Cooke Bursary in 2025 to honour the memory of Glenn R. Cooke (see PGQuarterly article).
PGQ are offering 3 bursaries of $1,000 each to cover travel expenses to attend Sydney Contemporary (3-6 September 2026) at Carriageworks, Sydney.
Closing Date: NOW CLOSED
Amount: 3 bursaries of $1,000.
Please submit your application via the Glenn R. Cooke Bursary application form.
Restrictions: Open to current PGQ organisational members’ directors or one senior staff member (e.g. 2IC). One individual application only per organisation.
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If you are having trouble using the form, contact the Membership Officer, Michele Pickering, by email membership@magsq.com.au or phone 07 3059 9745 (Thursdays and Fridays).