The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a collaborative initiative between the Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, and Ipswich City Council. RADF is dedicated to promoting the vital role of arts, culture, and heritage in fostering diverse, inclusive communities and strengthening regions.
Ipswich City Council’s priorities for RADF are as follows:
- Centre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Creatives and Communities
Support and elevate First Nations creativity, ensuring meaningful engagement with First Nations communities. - Build Creative Careers
Create sustainable pathways for artists, creatives, and cultural workers by offering career development opportunities and enhancing skills. - Facilitate Participation and Engagement for All
Encourage active participation in the arts by growing audiences and providing inclusive, diverse, and impactful community experiences. - Develop the Sector
Strengthen the creative sector through collaboration, partnerships, and initiatives that foster arts and cultural growth. - Cultivate Identity and Promote Heritage
Celebrate and showcase the region’s creative sector and cultural heritage, attracting talent, investment, and visitors while nurturing civic pride and knowledge.
2025 Regional Arts Development Fund Support Documents
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2025 RADF GuidelinesPDF (206.76 KB)
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Example - RADF Major Projects Application form PDFPDF (434.66 KB)
This is not an actual application form. All applications have to be submitted through SmartyGrants
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Example - RADF Professional Development Application form PDFPDF (306.03 KB)
This is not an actual application form. All applications have to be submitted through SmartyGrants.
Types of Funding
Funding is available to support significant opportunities and structured professional development activities. Significant opportunities may include participation in residencies, prizes or competitions, and industry events, while structured professional development could involve courses or mentoring. A First Nations Elder or Knowledge Keeper may be considered a mentor.
Applicants must demonstrate that the project is competitive, selective, and/or time-sensitive.
Projects must align with one of the following categories:
- Professional Development/Careers: Opportunities that strategically advance or enhance the artistic or professional careers of individuals, groups, or arts organisations. This includes participating in residencies, prizes, industry events, or professionalising artistic activities through consulting and professional services such as editing, writing, photography, PR/marketing/graphic design, visitor insights, project evaluation, and more.
- Professional Development/Skills:
Structured activities that strategically build or enhance artistic or professional skills for individuals, groups, or arts organisations. This includes mentoring, courses, workshops, and peer-to-peer learning. A First Nations Elder or Knowledge Keeper can serve as a mentor.
Funding of up to $2,000 is available, with applications open from February to November each year.
Please review the guidelines for further details on eligibility and application requirements.
Funding is available for professional development, research and making of new work, performances, exhibitions and other public displays of creative work; and community/audience development.
Projects must align to one of these categories:
- Professional Development/Careers: opportunities that strategically develop or enhance artistic or professional careers for individuals, groups or arts organisations, including participating in residencies, prizes or industry events and/or professionalising existing artistic activities through consulting and professional services such as editing, writing, photography, PR/marketing/graphic design, visitor insights, project evaluation, etc. Applicants must demonstrate that the project is selective, competitive and/or relevant and timely.
- Professional Development/Skills: structured activities that strategically develop or enhance artistic or professional skills for individuals, groups or arts organisations, including mentoring, courses, workshops and peer-to-peer learning. A First Nations Elder or Knowledge Keeper can be considered a mentor. Applicants must demonstrate that the project is selective, competitive and/or relevant and timely.
- New Work: research and making activities toward the creation of new work intended for public dissemination or display.
- Performances and Exhibitions: live performances, art exhibitions, gigs, book launches, poetry readings and/or other public displays of creative work.
- Community and/or Audience Development: community and audience participation activities including workshops, tours, artist trails; and/or community and audience development activities including audience research, relationship-building, communication planning, access and inclusion initiatives, etc.
Funding up to $15,000 with applications open over two rounds 1 March, 2025 and 1 September, 2025.
Please review the guidelines for all details in relation to this fund.
Funding support the delivery of related exhibitions, residencies and/or workshops. Funding is available exclusively to artists and creatives who received an opportunity with one of the following:
- The Ipswich Community Gallery
- Hatchery 4305
- Ipswich Art Workshop
Funding up to $2,000 with applications open between February and November each year.
Please review the guidelines for all details in relation to this fund.
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