Brisbane Powerhouse, producer of Melt Festival, has announced the return of the Melt Development Program, offering vital support for LGBTQIA+ artists and producers to showcase their work as part of the city-wide celebration, running from 22 October to 9 November 2025.
Supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, the program will focus on helping artists from Regional Queensland travel and present their work at this year’s festival, while also providing funding for Brisbane-based creatives.
The program offers funding in two strands for applicants:
- Regionally based Queensland applicants can apply for up to $15,000 to support their work within the festival, which recognises the additional costs associated with freight, logistics, travel and accommodation.
- South-East Queensland and metropolitan applicants can apply for funding of up to $10,000, depending on the scale and scope of the project.
Melt celebrates the unique stories, perspectives and creativity of the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2024, the inaugural festival reached over 20 million people, attracted 196,000 attendees, presented 137 events and showcased over 280 artists.
Sixteen projects from across Queensland were supported through the 2024 Melt Development Program, including the standout production Tina – A Tropical Love Story.
Featured on Opening Night, this vibrant work saw First Nations drag performer Miss Ellaneous (Ben Graetz) take audiences on a thrilling journey of self-discovery, blending storytelling, cabaret and drag, all inspired by the iconic music of Tina Turner.
Direct from its sell-out season at Darwin Festival, this commissioned piece was a highlight of the 2024 program, featuring a stellar line-up of extraordinary Queer First Nations artists.
Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the Melt Development Program provides Queensland artists and arts workers statewide with the opportunity to present performances and exhibitions as part of a dynamic new city-wide arts festival.
“The Queensland Government is proud to invest in the Melt Development Program to support Queensland artists to present their work and grow their profile and audiences at an internationally recognised festival,” he said.
“This initiative helps amplify diverse voices and stories from across Queensland as we work to share our culture and creativity with the world in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Minister Langbroek.
“The Melt Development Program is a vital investment in Queer creativity. It empowers artists to take risks, share their stories and connect with audiences in bold new ways,” said Melt Festival Executive Producer, Emmie Paranthoiene.
“Following the incredible success of last year’s festival, we’re thrilled to extend this initiative and strengthen Queensland’s Queer cultural landscape.”
The Melt Development Program is set to support approximately 20 creatives from both South-East Queensland and regional communities across the state, providing artists with the opportunity to showcase their work on a prominent national stage as part of a festival renowned for celebrating diverse LGBTQIA+ artists and allies.
Applications for the Melt Development Program are now open and close Monday 14 July 2025. For more information and to apply, visit: www.melt.org.au for details.
Image: Miss Ellaneous (Ben Graetz) in Tina – A Tropical Love Story (supplied)