Grant money will soon be available to community groups for arts and cultural projects in the coming season of the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) in the Southern Downs.
At its 18 September meeting, the Southern Downs Regional Council approved two amendments to the State Government/Council-funded RADF program. The first was a funding cap of $10,000 for any single grant, giving more groups a chance to share in the $83,000 being offered in the 2024-25 year. The other was a streamlining of the application process, making it possible for groups to receive the council’s response on their applications a fortnight earlier than was previously possible.
Councillor for the Inspired Communities portfolio Morwenna Harslett said arts and culture contributed greatly to the vibrancy of the Southern Downs and its reputation as a creative hub.
The RADF objectives are to support arts and cultural activities that provide public value and build local cultural capacity, innovation and community wellbeing.
The council’s priorities for the program, developed within Arts Queensland’s RADF guidelines, are for arts and cultural tourism like festivals and events, the region’s heritage and collections which could include museums, galleries, libraries and heritage trails, projects to represent groups that generally do not apply for such grants, creative activities to build community resilience and social connections, and employment opportunities for local artists and arts workers.
Groups wanting more information on applications will be able to access the guidelines and application details from the council website when the program opens. Applications must be made at least four weeks before the event or project and at least 30 per cent of the project must be funded outside the RADF grant process.
