The Regional Arts Fund (RAF) is an initiative of the Commonwealth Government, supporting the arts in regional, rural and remote Australia. The Commonwealth Government has determined the objectives and general eligibility of the fund. Regional Arts Victoria will administer the RAF in Victoria until 30 June 2012. (The funding does not come from RAV but from the Federal Government).
Applications will be accepted from individuals and incorporated, not-for-profit organisations, registered in Victoria. Applicants will need to have an ABN or be auspiced by an organisation that is properly registered.
Please note that not all projects that meet the eligibility criteria can be funded. It is important that applicants articulate how their project may be competitive in this regard.
The following activities may be eligible for funding under the Regional Arts Fund:
- Activities that significantly involve regional artists or cultural workers
- Arts projects, including cross-artform and multi-media projects
- Community celebrations, festivals, community milestones and anniversaries
- Activities that promote sustainability for regional arts and cultural development
- First time or previously unsuccessful applicants to the RAF or any other arts funding programs are encouraged to apply
- Galleries and Museums can apply for projects that are not collections based that fall within the program guidelines
- Not all applications considered can be offered a grant or the total amount requested
- Applicants must be resident in postcodes classified as regional, remote or very remote area, according to the Victoria ARIA Remoteness Areas Classifications (PDF 929k).
Regional Arts Funds cannot be applied to:
- Capital works or equipment
- International travel
- Administration costs of an organisation, as opposed to direct costs of a project
- Heritage projects such as conservation or signage at a heritage building or site
- Infrastructure projects, including buildings and the purchase of assets
- Touring projects that primarily involve touring from major urban centres to regional communities
- Competitions, awards, prizes or fund-raising projects
- Any component of a festival or program that receives funding through other funding programs manage by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Please note, separate elements of the same festival or program not funded by DEWHA may be eligible if the artists and art forms are different - please contact RAV if you an uncertain)
- Curriculum-based activities in schools, or courses of ongoing education and training in government or private institutions in Australia or overseas, academic activity, including wages or course work that is required as part of any academic program
- Those ongoing activities of collecting institutions for collection development, maintenance and conservation
- Projects that have commenced or been completed
- Projects that commence before the stated starting dates for each grant round
- Projects managed by grantees who have not acquitted previous Australian Government grants
- Professional and skills development projects that are related to a course of study are ineligible
The Regional Arts Fund is designed to support arts and cultural projects that offer long-term impact, sustainability and skills development opportunities. The Fund has been created to support arts projects that demonstrate partnerships between professional artists, arts and cultural groups, businesses, local government and the wider community. Projects must demonstrate how they contribute to the development of the arts as well as appropriate consultation with project partners in the development process.
Applicants should download the latest version of the Regional Arts Fund Guidelines and Application forms.
