18 June 2025

Over $1 Million Invested in Regional Arts Across Australia #

Regional Arts Australia is proud to announce over $1 million in funding to support 44 new creative projects through the latest round of the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund. This vital investment will see a total of $1,018,292.64 distributed across 39 unique locations, spanning regional centres, rural towns, and remote communities across Australia.

The latest round of the Regional Arts Fund once again highlights the powerful role the arts play in shaping thriving regional communities. From generating employment and building local skills to preserving cultural knowledge and strengthening community identity, these projects show how creative investment delivers meaningful social and economic outcomes across regional, rural, and remote Australia.

Recognising Regional Excellence #

Australian Government Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, congratulated the recipients and acknowledged the vital role they play in shaping regional Australia’s arts landscape. “The government is making this investment because we believe that no matter where you live, the best of the Australian arts should be within reach.”

Echoing this sentiment, Ros Abercrombie, Executive Director of Regional Arts Australia, praised the strength and diversity of the projects supported. “This round of the Regional Arts Fund captures the incredible diversity and strength of Australia’s regional arts sector. From remote communities to rural towns and regional centres, these projects are a testament to the creative ambition, cultural leadership, and deep community connection that thrive outside our cities. We’re proud to support initiatives that not only enrich local life but contribute to a national story that is inclusive, bold, and beautifully grounded in place.”

From Coast to Desert: Creative Projects Funded Far and Wide #

This round of the Regional Arts Fund Project Grants showcases the extraordinary breadth and depth of creative talent across Australia’s regions, from coastal towns to desert communities, from tropical north Queensland to the southern tips of Victoria and the wilds of Western Australia. 

Geographically, the funding has been distributed across a wide spread of communities:

• 11 projects (25%), totalling $286,563.40, will take place in regional centres 
• 19 projects (43%), totalling $413,205.79, are based in rural towns 
• 14 projects (32%), totalling $318,523.45, will unfold in remote communities 

First Nations Cultural Leadership #

Importantly, 9 of the 44 projects (20%) are led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals or organisations.  Projects include:

• Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation (Roebourne, WA) will support Yindjibarndi Elder Wendy Hubert’s participation in the 25th Biennale of Sydney (2026). Wendy will lead the creation of a large-scale garden celebrating ancestral knowledge of native plants used for food, medicine, and ceremony. She and five regional arts workers from Karratha will travel to Sydney to install the garden - offering a powerful space for communities to gather, learn, and yarn.
  
• Ganhaarr Cultural Education and Entertainment Indigenous Corporation (Peeramon, QLD) will partner with Normanby Aboriginal Corporation and Topology Music to host the Normanby On-Country Creative Bootcamp. This week-long residency will bring together ten emerging Indigenous musicians in Cape York for songwriting, performance development, and cultural immersion to build mentorship networks and confidence for live shows.
  
• Bunna Lawrie (Goolwa, SA) will collaborate in a tri-First Nations music tour across Canada and the USA with Song to the Whales, blending Mirning Whale Dreaming songs with First Peoples of North America. Performances will headline major events including the International First Peoples Festival (Montreal), Landscape of Nations (Niagara Falls), and Lincoln Centre (New York), showcasing powerful cross-cultural storytelling on a global stage.

Diverse Projects Drive Cultural Impact #

This round of Regional Arts Fund recipients reflects a vibrant mix of artforms, cultural practices, and community priorities. From community-led festivals and cross-cultural collaborations to cutting-edge installations and youth engagement programs, the funded projects reflect the depth, diversity, and creative vitality of regional, rural, and remote Australia.

Professional development and artistic innovation also shine through - supporting everything from emerging playwrights in South Australia to experimental sound and projection artists in Northern Territory and Western Australia.  From grassroots organisations to solo artists, the diversity of recipients demonstrates the reach and relevance of the Regional Arts Fund in supporting both local expression and national conversations.

You can learn more about the full list of Regional Arts Fund Project Round winners here >> 

Round 2 of the Regional Arts Fund Project Grants opens in July, 2025.

About Regional Arts Australia
Regional Arts Australia (RAA) is a not-for-profit arts organisation, dedicated to unlocking cultural and creative ambition across the vast landscapes and communities of regional, rural, and remote Australia. For 80+ years, we've been a trusted national voice for the arts in regional Australia, advocating for and delivering Government funding to celebrate and elevate diverse stories and creative initiatives from right across the country.

About the Regional Arts Fund
A central pillar of Regional Arts Australia’s operations is managing the Regional Arts Fund on behalf of the Australian Government. The Regional Arts Fund is an ongoing program that provides approximately $6 million per year to support artists and communities in regional and remote areas. It is part of the Australian Government’s Arts and Cultural Development Program that supports participation in, and access to Australia’s arts and culture across regional, rural, and remote Australia.

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.

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