Rockhampton Regional Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund – Australia

Deadline: 26-May-23

The Rockhampton Regional Council is seeking applications for the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), a partnership between state and local governments which invests in quality arts and cultural experiences across Queensland based on locally determined priorities.

Purpose

• The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is delivered as a partnership between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and eligible local councils across the state.
• 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 a flexible fund, enabling local councils to tailor RADF programs to suit the needs of their communities.

Objectives

• RADF objectives are to support arts and cultural activities that:
  • provide public value for Queensland communities
  • build local cultural capacity, cultural innovation and community pride
  • deliver the Queensland Government’s objectives for the community.
• RADF is not intended to be used as the main income source for any professional artists or arts worker or for recurrent funding of projects or organisations, (e.g. for the same component of the same event every year.)

Priorities

• Leadership: Key facilitation in supporting the arts and cultural sectors, placing an emphasis on engaged and participatory arts/cultural practice and maintaining an open and transparent culture of communication and engagement.
• Exchange: Council encourages cross artform exchanges, focusing on collaboration, partnership development, promotion of Region and inclusivity and access for the diverse communities.
• Visibility: Increased visibility of artists and creative work is supported as being integral to the development of audiences and enhancement of the built and natural environment in the Region. Council encourages participation in arts and cultural activities and advocates for ongoing investment in these sectors within the Region.

Categories of Funding

• Quick Response Grant
  • For any project or activity that requires funding outside of the grant rounds.
  • Assistance is available for up to 65% of the total costs to a maximum of $1000
• Development Grant
  • This grant covers the following activities
    • Professional career development
    • Skills development workshops
    • Concept development
    • Creative development of new work
  • Assistance is available for up to 65% of the totals costs to a maximum of $5,000.
• Project Grant
  • This grant covers the following activities
    • Exhibitions
    • Performances
    • Festivals and events
    • Public presentations
  • Assistance is available for up to 80% of the totals costs to a maximum of $10,000.

Outcomes

• Quality
  • RADF supports quality arts and cultural initiatives based on local priorities
  • Local communities value RADF
• Reach
  • RADF supports engagement with new and diverse artists; growing strong regions; and providing training, education and employment
• Impact
  • RADF invests in a diversity of local arts and cultural projects
  • RADF engages local communities in arts and cultural activities
  • RADF supports local employment and strengthening of local arts sector
• Viability
  • RADF builds strong partnerships between arts and non-arts sectors
  • RADF leverages additional investment
  • RADF funding is used effectively and appropriately
• Note: The indicators listed are a sample of the types of evidence needed to demonstrate achievement of each criterion and will vary according to the nature of the project activity.
• Quality
  • A high standard of artistic and cultural products, processes and/or services
  • Artistic and/or cultural innovation
  • Contribution to art form or artist development
  • Personnel with the expertise and experience to deliver artistic or cultural objectives
• Reach
  • Participant or audience numbers or public outcome
  • Demand or need for the project or program
  • Communication and marketing to target audience
  • Accessibility of program to diverse audiences, participants and communities or to a specific target group
• Impact
  • Ongoing programs based on learnings of project.
  • Skills developed in the community.
  • Depth of the engagement achieved.
• Viability
  • Good planning and achievable outcomes
  • Effective use of resources and appropriate budget
  • Personnel with management and administration skills
  • Enterprising and innovative approach

RADF Funding could support

• Development and delivery of diverse, exciting and accessible arts and cultural activities, projects and initiatives for, by and with local communities
• Value adding arts and culture into existing non-arts projects or events that could support growing new audiences or markets
• Strategic arts and culture initiatives in local communities
• Initiatives or programs to deliver cross-cultural arts and cultural outcomes
• Professional, career and skills development opportunities for local artists and arts workers
• Engagement of key target groups – youth, new arrivals and outer regional communities
• Contract of expertise to develop and/or produce arts and cultural outcomes

Eligibility Criteria

The following categories of individuals and organisations can apply for a RADF grant:

• Individual professional artists, emerging professional artists, arts-workers, cultural workers and project coordinators who:
  • Are based in the Rockhampton Region, or those based outside the Council Region that are able to demonstrate how the project will directly benefit arts and culture in the Rockhampton Council area.
  • Are permanent residents or Australia citizens
  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or who will be auspiced by and incorporated organisation or individual with an ABN
• Organisations: Incorporated arts and cultural organisations based in the Council area. Eligible organisations include arts and cultural not-for-profit organisations and Australian companies that are either based in Queensland or able to demonstrate how their project will directly benefit Queensland arts and culture.
  • Organisations must be registered under law as either incorporated associations or a company limited by guarantee. One person must be nominated as the accountable representative of the collective for management, reporting and financial matters.
• Groups: Collectives or cooperatives are community groups or groups of artists that are not incorporated but must be auspiced by an incorporated organisation including Local Government, or an individual with an ABN.

For more information, visit Rockhampton Regional Council.