Regional Arts Development Fund

Arts Queensland is proud to partner with local government to support quality arts and cultural experiences across Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).

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 delivered in partnership with 59 Queensland local councils.

Objectives

RADF supports arts and cultural activities that:

provide public value for Queensland communities
build local cultural capacity, cultural innovation and community well-being
deliver Queensland Government’s objectives for the community.

Case studies

Building a Healthy Planet with the arts

Plastic Boutique’s community arts initiative connected communities across Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions and created employment for artists.

Bundaberg photographer Sabrina Lauriston presents solo exhibition for International Women’s Day

Bundaberg photographer Sabrina Lauriston’s exhibition, I am Woman, explores the lives of the region’s local women.

Bent not Broken – art project at Julia Creek

A regional collaborative arts projects provided opportunities for the community to connect whilst learning new skills.

Topology’s Small Town Creative Bootcamps

Classical music maestros in tune with Bundaberg communities for inaugural Milbi Festival.

Rockpocalypse

From its beginnings as a role playing game, Rockpocalypse has evolved into a place-based theatre work that, from the rubble of Rockhampton's final days, unearths fertile ground for the seeds of hope.

Billy Buckett – A Rock ‘n’ Roll Love Story

Home-grown musical Billy Buckett – A Rock ‘n’ Roll Love Story rocked the Logan Entertainment Centre in 2018 with musical numbers ranging from toe-tapping rockers to spine-tingling ballads.

RADF funding

The Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, provides RADF funding to councils in 2022 - 2023. Councils also provide financial and in-kind support to RADF delivery as local projects, initiatives and grants programs.For more information or to apply for funding, please contact your local council.

RADF does not operate in the Brisbane City Council area or in Indigenous Council areas.

Applicants in the Brisbane City Council area are encouraged to apply through the Creative Sparks funding program, which is a joint initiative of Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Applicants in an Indigenous Council area are encouraged to apply through the Indigenous Regional Arts Development Fund, which is a partnership program between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Councils, Communities and incorporated Community Organisations.

Assessment criteria

All applications are assessed by the RADF Assessment Panel against the below four equally weighted criteria. The indicators listed are a sample of the types of evidence needed to achieve each criterion:

Quality

Produces or contributes to high quality arts and cultural initiatives for local communities.
Proven capacity to effectively support and deliver arts and cultural services.

Reach

Provides access to and engagement in arts and culture for diverse communities, practitioners, participants and audiences.
Evidence of local demand for proposed program/s.
Demonstrates community and stakeholder involvement in RADF priority setting, decision making and evaluation.

Impact

Demonstrates cultural, artistic, social or economic returns on investment.
Supports one or more of the Queensland Government objectives for the community including safeguarding our health, supporting jobs, backing small business, making it for Queensland, building Queensland, growing our regions, investing in skills, backing our frontline services, protecting the environment.

Viability

Evidence of good planning for strong governance and management of RADF at a local level.
Evidence of partnership capacity with partners including business and government.