Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF)
The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) provides funding for projects that promote and develop arts, culture and heritage in the Townsville Region.
It is delivered as a partnership between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Townsville City Council to support local talent, unite communities and celebrate the arts 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.
If you are a local artist, organisation or creative business, grants are available to bring your ideas to life through RADF.
Key Dates
Key dates for recent and upcoming rounds of RADF funding.
RADF Round Two 2024/2025
Applications for the second round of RADF grant funding in 2024/2025 closed 23 March 2025.
RADF Round One 2025/2026
Applications for the first round of RADF grant funding in 2025/2026 will open 1 September 2025.
This round is for initiatives commencing from 1 January 2026.
About RADF
Guidelines and Useful Forms
- Glossary of Terms - Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) (PDF, 617.5 KB)
- RADF Guidelines (PDF, 766.8 KB)
- RADF Assessment Criteria Help Sheet (PDF, 606.8 KB)
Eligibility
Funding availability:
- applications for over $1,000 and up to $10,000 per application are invited.
- you can only receive one (1) grant from RADF per financial year.
To be eligible to apply, applicants can be either:
- an individual professional artist, emerging professional artist, arts worker, cultural worker or project coordinator who holds an Australian Business Number (ABN) or will be auspiced by a not-for-profit, properly constituted incorporated body or individual with an ABN, or;
- a not-for-profit*, properly constituted incorporated body or be auspiced by such a body which is able to accept legal and financial responsibility for the project.
To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
- be based in the Townsville City Council Local Government area, or if based outside the council area, then be able to demonstrate how the project will directly benefit arts and culture in the council area;
- be free of debt to Townsville City Council and have no outstanding acquittals from previous Townsville City Council grant applications;
- hold, or have an auspicing organisation with, public liability insurance to the value of ten million dollars per claim; or occurrence giving rise to a claim; and
- be able to demonstrate how the project will meet a local demand or need within the Townsville community.
Applicants must ensure that the initiatives they are requesting funding for are to commence after the following dates or they will be deemed ineligible:
- after Saturday 1 March 2025 for RADF Round One 2024/2025
- after Tuesday 1 July 2025 for RADF Round Two 2024/2025
- after Thursday 1 January 2026 for RADF Round One 2025/2026
Assessment Process
All applications will be assessed in accordance with Council’s Community Grants Policy. After Council has received your application:
- Council officers review all applications for eligibility against the RADF Program Grant Guidelines. Ineligible applicants will be notified that their application is ineligible.
- Applications are initially assessed by the RADF Committee, comprised of local artists and arts workers.
- The RADF Committee makes grant funding recommendations to Council.
- Final recommendations and decision making occurs at an Ordinary Council Meeting (date to be announced).
- All applicants will receive an email with the result of their application.
How to Apply
Please read the grant guidelines and assessment criteria help sheet prior to preparing your application.
The online application system allows you to save, develop and print out your application before you submit it.
Videos
Acknowledging RADF and Arts Queensland Grants
RADF grant recipients must acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Queensland Government and the Townsville City Council by ensuring that all project materials include:
- the Queensland Government Crest and Townsville City Council logos; and
- the words
‘The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the Townsville City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland’.
To make it easier for successful RADF applicants, the locked Queensland government and Townsville City Council logos can be downloaded below:
- PNG (raster images):
- QG and TCC landscape blue logos (PNG, 131.4 KB)
- QG and TCC portrait blue logos (PNG, 126.6 KB)
- QG and TCC landscape white logos (PNG, 119.0 KB)
- QG and TCC portrait white logos (PNG, 115.9 KB)
- EPS (vector images):
- QG and TCC landscape blue logos (EPS, 1.1 MB)
- QG and TCC portrait blue logos (EPS, 1.2 MB)
- QG and TCC landscape white logos (EPS, 1.1 MB)
- QG and TCC portrait white logos (EPS, 1.1 MB)
Contact Us
For further information contact Council's Grants and Partnerships Team:
- phone: 13 48 10
- email: communitygrants@townsville.qld.gov.au.
The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the Townsville City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
