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Indigenous Regional Arts Development Fund

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Queensland Government’s Backing Indigenous Arts (BIA) initiative aims to build sustainable and ethical Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industries. This initiative aligns with the ‘Maximise opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives’ priority of Queensland’s Time to Shine: a 10-year strategy for arts and culture 2025-2035.

Delivered through the BIA initiative, IRADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, and 16 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Councils, including the Torres Strait Regional Authority.

The BIA IRADF 2025-26 program provides funding to eligible organisations for arts and cultural activities that support:

  • Cultural maintenance - keeping culture strong through passing on of cultural knowledge and practice by recognised, respected Elders, leaders and peers.
  • Arts development - community and individuals’ arts practice, participation and skills development.
Arts Queensland is committed to realising the ambitions of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Economic Participation Framework, the Queensland Multicultural Policy, the Young Queenslanders Strategy and the National Arts and Disability Strategy.

Funding available

Sixteen Queensland Indigenous Councils are eligible to apply for the 2025-26 IRADF Round. Each eligible applicant can apply for up to $25,000 to support a program of activities.

Applicants may consider applying for funding above this amount where they can provide strong justification, including:

  • confirmed financial cash contribution from the applicant, or they have secured partners who are investing in their local IRADF program (other than Arts Queensland)
  • demonstrated capacity for exceptional delivery of IRADF objectives.

Delivery of activities can commence from 1 January 2026 and all activities must be complete by 31 December 2026.

Applications must be submitted by the fund's closing date.

Applications open: Friday 12 September 2025.
Applications close: Friday 24 October 2025.

How to apply

1. View the IRADF supporting documents:

2. Visit SmartyGrants to complete the online application form.

For support with technical issues related to the online application, please contact an Arts Queensland Grants Officer on telephone (07) 3034 4016 or toll free 1800 175 531 or email investment@arts.qld.gov.au

More information

View or download previous IRADF recipients list.

Last updated:
23 September 2025