THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE RAF HAS A UNIQUE, AND VITALLY IMPORTANT, ROLE TO PLAY IN AUSTRALIA'S CULTURAL LIFE IN THE COMING YEARS - AND ONE WHICH WILL ONLY BECOME MORE IMPORTANT AS THE PROFILE OF REGIONAL AUSTRALIA EVOLVES

Impact Analysis: Regional Arts Fund 2016-2021 Patternmakers 2022

Regional Arts Australia played a vital role in the establishment of the Regional Arts Fund (RAF) in 1996 and, with its member organisations, has managed the fund since 2001 on behalf of the Australian Government.

An overview of the RAF history:

2001 - Initial agreement commented with a grant of $10.1 million

2004 - Funding pool increased to $16.1 million

2008 - Funding pool decreased to $11.8 million

2012 - Fund increased to $12.5 million over a four-year agreement

2016 - Regional Arts Australia signed a new Commonwealth Grant Agreement of $3,371,000 annually over the following four years

2020 - With the impacts of COVID in 2020, the agreement was expended for another year and a further $10 million Recovery Boost was implemented

2021 - Regional Arts Australia signed a new Funding Agreement, which secures the Regional Arts Fund at approximately $3,586,000 per year for six years

PAST RAF FUNDING PROGRAMS

In addition to the Regional Arts Fund, Regional Arts Australia has delivered several funding programs through the RAF structures. Click on the links below for more information on past specific targeted RAF programs.