Celebrating Multicultural Queensland Program

The CMQ program engages culturally and linguistically diverse communities, groups and individuals, and the broader community, to partner and contribute to building an inclusive, harmonious and united Queensland.

For the CMQ program, the terms ‘multicultural’ and 'culturally and linguistically diverse' refer to people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, people seeking asylum, and Australian South Sea Islander peoples.

The purpose of the CMQ program is to support events and festivals that increase intercultural connections and support social inclusion for culturally and linguistically diverse communities by bringing Queensland communities together.

Funded events and festivals must achieve one or more of the following outcomes:

- Improve appreciation of cultural diversity

- Increase understanding of new and emerging culturally and linguistically diverse communities

- Increase a sense of belonging by people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background

- Improve feelings of social inclusion by people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background

- Increase intercultural connections between people from various backgrounds.

What events can be funded?

- A cultural event that celebrates the traditions of people from a particular cultural group or community, together with the wider community, usually held on a date of cultural significance or as a celebration of cultural heritage.

- An intercultural sporting event that brings together multicultural communities and the wider community to celebrate diversity, foster mutual respect and understanding, and build stronger connections.

- A festival that showcases the cultures and traditions of multiple cultural groups to enhance appreciation and recognition of the diverse cultures in Queensland and increases intercultural connections and social inclusion.

The 2026–27 CMQ program has two funding rounds available for multicultural events.

- Round 1: Events delivered from 1 January to 30 June 2027 (closed)

- Round 2: Events delivered from 1 July to 31 December 2027

- Incorporated association

- Company limited by guarantee;

- Company limited by shares registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

- Cooperative

- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation;

- Local Government Authority (Council).

- State School P&C Association.

- Organisation established through an Act of Parliament;

- Queensland University.

- Unincorporated association with an auspicing arrangement; or

- Social enterprise listed in the Social Enterprise Finder or the Queensland Social Enterprise Council directory.