RADF Community Funding Program Guidelines

The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is an annual partnership between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Fraser Coast Regional Council. RADF promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities and strong regions. RADF is a flexible fund that supports local councils to invest in arts and cultural priorities, as determined by local communities, across Queensland. 

RADF aims 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.

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

Local priorities

The Fraser Coast RADF Community Funding Program is informed by Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Corporate Plan 2023-2028 and the Fraser Coast Arts & Culture Strategy 2022-2026

RADF shares the vision of the Fraser Coast becoming a leading regional centre for living heritage, lively culture, powerful stories and creative communities. 

Priority will be given to applications that deliver the following outcomes:

  • Support locally produced arts, culture and heritage activities that deliver personal, economic and social benefits within our region. 
  • Invest in professional, career and capacity development opportunities for local practitioners to extend local arts, culture and heritage practice.
  • Provide opportunities for local communities to participate in and value the role of arts, culture and heritage and its contributions to resilient, diverse and sustainable communities.
  • Promote the role of arts, culture and heritage to build a strong sense of place and identity.
  • Encourage innovation and creativity in arts, culture and heritage. 
  • Nurture collaboration and partnerships within and beyond our region to maximise investment and outcomes.

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Eligibility

Who can apply for a RADF Grant?

  • Individual emerging and established artists, arts practitioners and cultural workers
  • Businesses
  • Registered not-for-profit organisations
  • Groups and collectives

Applicants must:

  • be based in the Fraser Coast Regional Council area; or able to demonstrate how the project will directly benefit arts and culture in the Fraser Coast community 
  • be Australian citizens or permanent residents
  • hold an ABN; or able to obtain auspice by a suitable party
  • have Public Liability Insurance; or able to obtain auspice by a suitable party
  • have met all acquittal conditions of previous Council grants.

Who cannot apply for a RADF Grant?

  • Government agencies or departments of state or federal government.
  • Educational, religious or medical organisations, where the application is for the organisation’s core business.

RADF Applicant Eligibility Checklist

Eligible expenses

Some examples of expenses related to your funded activity that may be eligible for funding include:

  • Administration costs of the funded activity
  • Arts Practitioner accommodation and travel
  • Arts Practitioner fees or wages
  • Advertising and promotion of the funded activity
  • Career development workshops and training
  • Conference or seminar fees
  • Material and supplies for funded activities
  • Professional training to improve arts business practices
  • Venue hire 

What is not eligible for RADF?

  • Projects for which arts workers are paid less than the recommended industry rates.
  • Projects, activities or costs that are intended for financial gain or fundraising. 
  • Existing or ongoing projects or activities that do not have a clear start and finish date.  
  • Retrospective costs, including reimbursement of costs already incurred. 
  • Recurrent funding or regular operational costs.
  • Purchase of property, capital equipment or assets.  
  • Long-term accredited study, training or university courses that constitute the primary training of artists. 
  • Entertainment for events, unless there is a specific developmental outcome for the artist.
  • Amateur arts activities, except for professional services to amateur arts activity. One of the main RADF aims is to develop emerging and established artists in the region. 
  • Insurance/licences, including but not limited to public liability insurance, liquor licences, event permits, etc.
  • School arts activities, unless those activities form part of the broader community’s arts and cultural development processes or include professional arts development for students from multiple schools.
     

General conditions of funding

  • Applicants can only receive one (1) grant from RADF during the 2023-24 funding period (September 2023 – September 2024).
  • Applications must be submitted using the SmartyGrants application form.
  • Successful grant applicants are required to sign a Funding Agreement and provide additional documentation, including an invoice prior to funding being released. 
  • Successful projects are to commence after the signing of a Funding Agreement.  
  • Organisations that receive funds from Council are required to acknowledge the contribution by Arts Queensland and Fraser Coast Regional Council in any publications or publicity material associated with funded activities.
  • Funds must be used for the purpose which they are granted and any variations in the use of funds must receive prior written approval from Council.
  • The project must be completed and funds expended within twelve (12) months of funds being granted, unless written approval has been given for an extension of your project.
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Funding categories

Develop

Objective

To build the capacity and develop skills of local, professional or emerging creatives through professional development or concept development. 

  • Specialist arts training, workshops, capacity building and professional development to extend arts and cultural professional practice in the region.
  • Support Arts Practitioners who wish to engage in professional growth through concept development, grant writing techniques, budgeting and project implementation. 

What funding is available?

$500 to $2,000, covering up to 100% of eligible expenses

Examples of eligible expenses

  • Registration fees, travel and accommodation fees for attending or presenting:
    • short-term professional development training
    • professional development seminars or conferences
    • fixed-term professional workshops
    • short-term development activities with a suitably qualified mentor or established practitioner.
  • Short-term venue hire for development activity.
  • Marketing profile for an established or emerging artist, including professional photography, videography and/or biography.
  • Concept development including professional research and development of ideas and new project proposals to the implementation stage. The project should demonstrate how it will contribute to the future arts and cultural development of the region.

Share

Objective

To engage the Fraser Coast community to value, celebrate, share and participate in arts, culture and heritage by supporting projects that strategically promote and celebrate our stories; or focus on community participation in creative experiences. 

  • Host and support events with and for community, that maximise opportunities for arts and cultural engagement.
  • Develop arts programs and promote local creative enterprise within other key festivals and events.
  • Support and develop inclusive arts projects and activities that engage and profile the diversity of individual and groups in the region.

What funding is available?

$500 to $10,000, covering up to 75% of eligible expenses

Examples of eligible expenses

  • A community-focused arts or culture experience within other key festivals.
  • A performance, activity or digital media project that shares a unique story.
  • Sharing and preserving our heritage and culture collections through captivating storytelling and displays.

Please note: Only costs related directly to delivering the activity itself are eligible, such as:

  • Artist/professional fees
  • Travel and accommodation for visiting artists
  • Project materials
  • Promotion/advertising
  • Venue hire
  • Administration costs.

Please note that exceptional applications requesting more than the funding amount listed may be considered. Please contact the RADF Liaison to discuss your proposal.

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Assessment criteria

Develop

Quality 

  • Invest in professional, career and capacity development opportunities for local practitioners to extend local arts, culture and heritage practice
  • Proven capacity to effectively support and deliver arts, cultural or heritage services

Reach 

  • The potential for learnings to be shared beyond the development opportunity

Impact

Viability

  • Evidence of good planning, a realistic budget and strong governance

Share

Quality 

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

Reach 

  • Supports locally produced arts, cultural or heritage activities
  • Nurtures collaboration and partnerships within and beyond our region to maximise investment and outcomes
  • Provides opportunities for local communities to participate in, and value the role of, arts, culture and heritage’s contributions to resilient, diverse and sustainable communities
  • Evidence of local demand for proposed project/s

Impact

Viability

  • Evidence of good planning, a realistic budget, strong governance and project management
  • Capacity to build partnerships with local businesses and government

The RADF Application Process

Application
  • Eligibility Checklist
  • Conceptualise Project
  • Contact RADF Liaison
  • Plan Project
  • Submit Application via SmartyGrants
Assessment
  • Council Officer Checks Eligibility
  • Advisory Committee Assesses Applications
  • Council Endorses Conditional Approval
Commence Project
  • Supply Supporting Material
    • Signed Funding Agreement
    • Insurance
    • Bank Statement Header
    • Invoice
    • Risk and safety assessment
  • Commence Project
Funding Allocated
Manage and Execute Project
Project Acquittal

Supply an Outcome Report via SmartyGrants including:

  • Project outcomes
  • Project Budget and invoices
  • Participant feedback
  • Evidence of marketing material

RADF Tools and Resources

# Name Size File Type Download

Need help?

For additional assistance contact Council’s RADF Liaison Officer, by phone 1300 79 49 29 or email: ArtsCulture@frasercoast.qld.gov.au

For general advice and guidance on grant writing and developing a project for support, refer to the Grant Writing Resources on the Arts Queensland website at: www.arts.qld.gov.au/arts-acumen/grant-writing-support

You can find additional funding and career opportuntities on our Creative Opportunities page.

 

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