Regional Arts Development Fund

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

RADF 2023-2024 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.

From 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 place to place as to best respond to the ways of working and aspirations of local communities.

Charters Towers Regional Council has a RADF Committee.  The RADF Committee consists of local artists and cultural workers, members of cultural groups, members of local organisations or associations, people active in their community, and is ratified as an advisory committee to Council.

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 2023-2024 Objectives?

RADF 2023-2024 objectives are to:

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

RADF 2023-2024 Key Performance Outcomes (KPO):

All projects receiving RADF funding are required to report on their contribution towards RADF. The following are used to assess applications for funding:

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 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

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, are able to 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.

Local Priorities for 2023-2024

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

• Strengthening our community by creating partnerships
• Sharing stories and celebrating our history
• Activating local places and spaces
• Elevating First Nations arts

Priority Target Groups for 2023-2024

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

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

2023-2024 RADF Funding Round

• Round 1 closing 9 October 2023
• Round 2 closing 25 March 2024

The current Application Package can be downloaded here, along with the Application Form here.  All activities that receive RADF funding are required to complete and submit an Outcome Report within eight (8) weeks of project completion.  An Outcome Report template can be found here.

For enquiries or Word versions of the Application Form or Outcome Report, contact Council's RADF Liaison Officer at mail@charterstowers.qld.gov.au.

Successful 2022-2023 RADF Applications

Charters Towers Regional Council RADF Program approved five (5) applications for funding in the 2022-2023 year, details of which can be viewed here.  Funded projects from previous years can be found here. 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.