RADF Funding

What Is the Regional Arts Development Fund?

The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Carpentaria Shire Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

RADF 2025–26 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.

Since 2015, councils have delivered locally tailored RADF programs based on the identified priorities, opportunities and capacities of their local communities. This means that RADF may look different from place to place in order to best respond to the ways of working and aspirations of local communities. Carpentaria Shire Council has a RADF Committee consisting of local artists and cultural workers, members of cultural groups, local organisations, and engaged community members. The committee is ratified as an advisory body to the council.

For further information on RADF, please contact the council. For details on other Arts Queensland programs and opportunities, visit www.arts.qld.gov.au.

What Are the RADF 2025–26 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 objectives for the community 

All projects receiving RADF 2025–26 funding must report on their contribution towards RADF outcomes. Applications are assessed using the following criteria:

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 programs
  • 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 Queensland Government objectives including encouraging safe and inclusive communities, building regions, supporting disadvantaged Queenslanders, stimulating economic growth and innovation, increasing workforce participation, and engaging children and young people

Viability

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

Queensland Government LogoCarpentaria Shire, Outback by the Sea

What Kind of Projects Are Eligible for a RADF Grant?

The program supports locally determined professional arts, cultural, and heritage development opportunities by providing one-off, short-term, project-based financial assistance to groups and individuals. Activities and projects must align with one of the set funding categories.

For full eligibility details and information about activities RADF does not support, refer to the Regional Arts Development Fund Guidelines.

Who Can Apply for a RADF Grant?

Individuals and organisations applying for RADF funding must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be based in the local council area, or demonstrate how the project directly benefits arts and culture in the local council area
  • Be a permanent resident or Australian citizen
  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Be an incorporated cultural organisation or individual
  • Be an unincorporated organisation or individual, auspiced by an incorporated body

Local Priorities for 2022–23

Preference will be given to applications that address one or more of the following local priorities:

  • Indigenous youth workshops
  • Heritage and lasting projects
  • Touring dance and musical classes or productions
  • High-quality art works

Priority Target Groups for 2022–23

Preference will be given to applications that address one or more of the following priority target groups:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Young people and children
  • Regional Queenslanders
  • People with a disability
  • Tourists
  • Seniors
  • Men

For more information, contact Council on (07) 4745 2200 or email council@carpentaria.qld.gov.au.

RADF 2025–26 is delivered in partnership with local councils across Queensland. The Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, provides funding, while councils contribute additional investment and in-kind support to RADF delivery.

RADF Funding Application Form 2025-2026

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