Regional Arts Services Network

The Regional Arts Services Network (RASN) empowers Queensland’s regions to realise arts and cultural priorities and drive change through arts-led initiatives.

RASN works in partnership with local councils, artists and arts organisations, and communities to foster, facilitate and promote the sustainable growth of regional arts across the state.

RASN service providers deliver local arts services across the state that enhance cultural vitality, create thriving communities, and advance regional development and social priorities in alignment with the State Government’s Creative Together 2020 – 2030 Roadmap.

RASN investment of $7.8 million over 4 years (2021-22 to 2024 - 25) represents the second iteration of the Regional Arts Services Network with 4 Queensland-based services providers helping to broker RASN partnerships:

Empire Theatres,
Regional Development Australia Tropical North in consortium with Cook Shire Council
Topology
Central Queensland University

Find your RASN provider

Regional Development Australia Tropical North
Aurukun, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Douglas, Etheridge, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Mareeba, Napranum, Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw, Tablelands, Torres, Torres Strait Island, Weipa Town Authority, Wujal Wujal, Yarrabah. Contact: rasnmanager@rdatropicalnorth.org.au

Topology
Boulia, Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Croydon, Doomadgee, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, McKinlay, Mornington, Mount Isa, Palm Island, Richmond, Townsville. Contact: manager@topologymusic.com

Central Queensland University

Banana, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Cherbourg, Diamantina, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gympie, Isaac, Livingstone, Longreach, Mackay, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Rockhampton, Somerset, South Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Whitsunday, Winton, Woorabinda . Contact: t.leigo@cqu.edu.au or w.bennett@cqu.edu.au

Empire Theatres
Balonne, Bulloo, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Maranoa, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, Redland, Scenic Rim, Southern Downs, Toowoomba, Western Downs. Contact: michelle@empiretheatre.com.au

RASN case studies

Artists share their creative journeys and challenges in the face of COVID-19

Local artists in Central Queensland respond to the pandemic, creating new work in challenging times.

Download the PDF (PDF) (289.14 KB)

Arts Ablaze conference and regional arts festival

Part conference and part festival, Arts Ablaze 2019 attracted delegates from across Queensland and the Torres Strait and featured a free community celebration, creating a legacy for future arts conferences

Colouring NQ

When COVID-19 hit, Queensland’s arts companies got creative. Townsville-based Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts developed Colouring NQ, a digital colouring book featuring artwork from emerging North Queensland artists which engaged children and the young at heart.

Download the PDF

Background information

The first iteration of RASN (from 2018 – 20202) was backed by an initial $6.5 million Queensland Government investment.

Between 2018-2020, RASN delivered:

Over 220 regional arts projects
Over 160,000 attendees and participants at RASN supported activities
1,189 artist employment opportunities created, 16% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts workers
$1.16m paid to Queensland artists and arts workers through RASN programming
Over 250 capacity-building and training sessions and regional forums
75% Queensland LGAs partnered with RASN
$5.9m new investment (81% cash)

From 2018 to December 2021, the following RASN providers made a major contribution to the strengthening of regional networks and the celebration of local art, culture, and identity.

Creative business champions—free webinar series

The Creative Business Champions program, supported by RASN, is now closed.

From 2021 – 2022, Creative Business Champions provided professional guidance services to build arts sector knowledge and capacity.

View the 2021 Creative Business Champions Free Webinar series