11 Nov 2024

Regional Arts Fund invests $1.7m in 84 new projects across regional, rural & remote Australia #

Regional Arts Australia is thrilled to announce a $1.7 million investment in Australia’s regional arts sector through the latest round of the Regional Arts Fund (RAF). The funding will support 84 projects across regional, rural, and remote communities, with an impressive 33 grants awarded to first-time recipients. This latest investment demonstrates the strength of Australia’s regional arts sector and the dedication to nurturing creative ambition and sustainable careers across the country.

Funded by the Australian Government and administered by Regional Arts Australia, the Regional Arts Fund provides essential financial support for artists and arts workers in remote and regional Australia. These funds empower creative individuals and groups to launch innovative projects, share diverse stories, and foster vibrant community connections through the arts.

Some of the latest recipients of Project Grants include:

• The Almiraj Sufi and Islamic Study Centre will present Wide Desert Listening, which artist Sufi Oz will perform with Barkindji/Malyangapa songman Leroy Johnson to celebrate and explore the cultural heritage of Broken Hill in New South Wales.
• Barkly Regional Arts will deliver a year-long series of community arts workshops in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, throughout 2025.
• Musical Theatre Australia will embark on its inaugural tour of the award-winning musical A Girl’s Guide to World War in 2025, bringing high-quality musical theatre to audiences across Queensland.
• Ngapala Artist Development Project will support First Nations artists to visit Ngapala Arts in Copley, South Australia, to run workshops with Ngapala Artists.
• Radical Fields End of Season Harvest is a socially-engaged contemporary arts and cultural event on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in Glenlyon Victoria.
• Hard As Puck - Producer Development will assist filmmaker Chanel Bowen to produce a feature documentary ‘Hard as Puck’, following Para-Ice Hockey players in Western Australian as they vie for a place on the first-ever Australian team.
• The Cocos Batik Revival Project aims to reclaim and revitalise Batik, an important cultural practice for the Cocos Island community.
• 2025 lutruwita/Tasmania Touring Program Van Diemen’s Band will deliver 22 performances across Tasmania.

A full list of recipients can be found on the Regional Arts Fund page.

Australian Government Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, congratulated the recipients and their contributions to Australia’s arts scene. “The Regional Arts Fund helps to get projects off the ground and boosts employment opportunities for artists and arts workers in regional and remote areas of Australia," Minister Burke said. "Regional Australia has a thriving and diverse arts ecosystem, and this funding will help support artists and arts workers navigate it to maintain sustainable careers and reach their creative potential.”

This investment reinforces Regional Arts Australia's commitment to strengthening regional communities by supporting projects that celebrate cultural identity, stimulate local economies, and contribute to Australia’s evolving cultural narrative. Since its inception in 1996, the Regional Arts Fund has been an invaluable resource in building resilient communities that attract tourism, create jobs, and inspire creativity across all corners of the nation.

Ros Abercrombie, Executive Director of Regional Arts Australia, expressed her enthusiasm for the impact these grants will have on communities nationwide. “Through the Regional Arts Fund, we’re unlocking potential, supporting cultural diversity, and sustaining regional arts practices across Australia. This round of funding represents a wide array of unique and exciting projects that will bring creative energy and resilience to communities,” said Abercrombie. “We’re especially pleased to welcome so many first-time recipients, whose fresh perspectives will further enrich the arts across our regional, rural, and remote areas. The future is regional, the future is creative.”

About the Regional Arts Fund
The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia. The program is managed by Regional Arts Australia and organisations in each state and territory.

Through the National Cultural Policy – Revive a place for every story, a story for every place, the Regional Arts Fund received an additional $8.5 million over 4 years from 2023-24.

The next round of Project Grant funding is expected to open for applications in February 2025 for projects commencing from July 2025.

For more information on the latest recipients and their projects, visit: https://regionalarts.com.au/regional-arts-fund/awarded-grants

Media Inquiries
Ros Abercrombie. Executive Director, Regional Arts Australia
Email: ros@regionalarts.com.au