Regional Arts Development Fund Program
Due to the number of high-quality applications received already this financial year for arts projects that deliver creative outcomes and share local stories our Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is closed for further applications until July 2025.
We're thrilled that there has been such demand for this fund but understand that this may be disappointing news to groups and individuals with projects in the pipeline for this financial year.
To avoid further disappointment, prepare early for next financial year by ensuring your project is in line with our RADF guidelines and mark 8 July 2025 in your calendar for when the application portal will open for applications over $5,000. Applications for $5,000 and under will be open again from 1 July 2025. If you would like to discuss your funding application prior to submission reach out to the Grants team or Arts and Culture team at 1300 COUNCIL.
The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is delivered as a partnership between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and eligible local councils across the state. RADF promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities and strong regions. RADF invests in local arts and cultural priorities, as determined by local communities, across Queensland. RADF is a flexible fund, enabling local councils to tailor RADF programs to suit the needs of their communities.
This program is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Arts Queensland RADF Core Objectives
RADF objectives are to support arts and cultural activities that:
- Provide public value for Queensland Communities
- Build local cultural capacity, cultural innovation and community pride
- Deliver Queensland Government’s objectives for the community
Western Downs RADF Objectives
- GROW – Capacity building to grow our cultural ecology and economy
- CONNECT – Connect and sustain communities through arts and creativity
- COMMUNICATE – Communicate and celebrate our diverse stories and identities
- ACTIVATE – Activate and experience our places, spaces and heritage
Who can apply for a Western Downs RADF grant?
The following categories of individuals, sole traders and organisations can apply for a Western Downs RADF grant:
- Individual professional artists, emerging professional artists, arts workers, cultural workers or project coordinators
- Incorporated organisations
- Unincorporated organisations which are auspiced by an incorporated body
Applicants based outside the Western Downs Regional Council local government area are eligible to apply, however they must demonstrate how the project will directly benefit arts and culture in the Council area.
What does Western Downs RADF not support?
RADF is not intended to be used as the main income source for any professional artist or arts worker or for recurrent funding of projects or organisations, e.g. for the same component of the same event every year.
For more information on categories of individuals and organisations that are not eligible for funding through the Western Downs RADF Program, please refer to the full RADF Guidelines(PDF, 5MB).
Western Downs RADF Program Areas
Projects and Events
To support local creatives to deliver cultural activities for peers in the local area, and engaging audiences from the broader community.
Professional Development and Capacity Building
To facilitate access to affordable development workshops and training, by subsidising the costs of professional development and capacity building activities which may include bringing professional tutors (professional artists or arts workers) to the Western Downs, supporting knowledge sharing across the Western Downs, or supporting Western Downs residents to travel elsewhere to engage in professional or technical skills development workshops and conferences to develop their careers, and for ongoing benefit of community.
Collections and Local History
To support ongoing work documenting, protecting, conserving, interpreting and digitising local collections to make them more understood and accessible. To support the undertaking of significance and preservation assessments. To discover, document, interpret, celebrate, and preserve cultural heritage, historic and natural assets through oral history and digital storytelling with a view to actively encourage cultural tourism to the region.
Apply for Funding ($5,000.00 and Under)
Apply for Funding (Over $5,000.00)