RADF

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Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Charters Towers Regional Council to promote local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

RADF supports quality arts and cultural experiences in our region. Charters Towers Regional Council provides co-investment and in-kind support to deliver RADF as local projects, initiatives and grants programs.

RADF is a flexible fund that includes all relevant artforms, including visual art, craft and design, music, dance, writing, dramatic and physical theatre, media art, film and television, multi-arts, festivals, public art, community cultural development, and heritage and collections, including museums, galleries, and libraries.

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

What are the RADF Objectives?

RADF objectives are to:

  • increase access to arts and cultural experiences in regional Queensland
  • grow employment and capacity building opportunities for artists and arts workers across regional Queensland
  • deliver on local arts and cultural priorities and promote the value of arts, culture and heritage.

How are RADF applications assessed?

All applications are assessed by the local RADF Committee against the equally weighted criteria shown below. The indicators listed are a sample of the evidence needed to achieve each criterion:

High 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.
  • Evidence of delivery against local arts and cultural priorities.

Strong Impact

  • Creates new employment opportunities and skills development for artists and arts workers in Queensland.
  • Builds new audiences, markets and reputation for Queensland arts and culture.
  • Demonstrates community demand and stakeholder involvement in RADF priority setting, decision making and evaluation.
  • Where applicable, demonstrates support for activities that involve Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people, including adhering to cultural protocols.
  • Helps deliver government priorities.

Sustainable Value

  • Demonstrates value for money.
  • Demonstrates sound governance, and ethical business practices, including paying amounts not less than industry award rates, recommended or agreed minimum rates.
  • Proposed activity has a strong delivery plan, including understanding potential risks and their management.

Who Can Apply for Funding

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

  • Be based in the local council area, or if based outside the local council area, can demonstrate how the project will directly benefit arts and culture in the local council area.
  • Be a permanent resident or Australian citizen.
  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
  • Incorporated cultural organisations or individuals.
  • Unincorporated organisations or individuals, auspiced by an incorporated body.

RADF Priorities

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

  • Celebrate heritage, identity and sense of place
  • Activate places and spaces
  • Increase and elevate locally produced arts and cultural activities
  • Develop skills and capacity of local artists and arts workers
  • Facilitate cross-industry partnerships and collaborations to increase social impact of arts activities
  • Facilitate social outcomes through arts activity including health and wellbeing and social cohesion
  • Maximise opportunities for First Nations creatives
  • Liveability and placemaking (events, activations, activities, trails, town centre regeneration)
  • Economic development
  • Youth engagement
  • Infrastructure (pedestrian and active transport routes, precinct development)
  • Sport, recreation, health and wellbeing
  • Inclusivity and diversity
  • Community Safety

Priority Target Groups

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

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
  • Children and Young People (0-25 years)
  • Older People (over 55 years)
  • Regional Queenslanders
  • People with Disabilities
  • Tourists

RADF Funding Rounds

  • Round 1 - closing 30 October 2026
  • Round 2 - closing 30 April 2027

The current Applicant Guidelines can be downloaded here(PDF, 1MB). The RADF Application process is now online. For applications, please complete the Application Form, Project Budget Form and Eligibility Checklist for Professional and Emerging Artists Form. All activities that receive RADF funding are required to complete and submit an Outcome Report within eight (8) weeks of project completion. The Project Outcome Report template can be found here.

A pdf version of the Application Form can be downloaded here(PDF, 324KB) and a pdf version of the Outcome Report template can be found here(PDF, 265KB), contact Council's RADF Liaison Officer at mail@charterstowers.qld.gov.au.

Successful RADF Applications

Charters Towers Regional Council RADF Program approved six (6) applications for funding in the 2025-2026 year, details of which can be viewed here(PDF, 222KB) Funded projects from previous years can be found here(PDF, 319KB). These projects may inspire future applications for community projects.

If you have an idea for a project or would like support in completing a RADF application, contact Council’s RADF Liaison Officer, Kathy Thorley, on 07 4761 5300 or mail@charterstowers.qld.gov.au for assistance.

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