Grant funding for festival activity

Government Grants

Grants can be sought through applying to government funding programs. It is usually a highly competitive process and the value of applications almost always exceeds the funding available. The information required is different for each program, and can be very detailed.  It is important to identify those which may be relevant to your particular event and establish that you meet the eligibility criteria.

Sources of advice on funding programs can be your Local Arts Council, the Council Community Development Officer or Library staff.

Be aware of application closing dates and when the results of applications are announced and allow sufficient lead time. Developing applications can be very time consuming and valuable time and energy can be wasted on applications for projects or events which are ineligible.  Always talk to the funding body about your plans to make sure you are on target.

Regional Arts Fund

www.arts.gov.au/arts/regional_arts_fund

The Regional Arts Fund (RAF) is an Australian Government initiative through the Commonwealth Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), to support the Arts in Regional, Remote and Very Remote/Isolated Australia, offering applicants the chance to be granted $5,000 to $30,000 towards their artistic projects. Grant rounds are conducted in March and August each year.  RAF is managed in Queensland on behalf of the Commonwealth by QAC through its Creative incommunities Department.

Regional Quick Response Grants offer assistance up to $1,500 to individuals or organisations for projects that demonstrate a community benefit and are unable to source funds elsewhere.  An application for this program can be received at any time and an answer given as to its success or otherwise within 48 hours.  The Quick Response Grant Scheme operates during the months of February to November each year.

While DEWHA is responsible for the Regional Arts Fund, it is delivered by the peak regional arts organisation in each state, and by arts departments in the territories. Follow this link to find the RAF organisation for your state.

Commonwealth Government funding programs

Festivals Australia

www.arts.gov.au/arts_culture/arts/festivals_australia or Freecall 1800 819 461

Festivals Australia is an Australian Government program which funds Australian regional and community festivals to assist them to present quality cultural projects. Funding is available to add a new or special sort of cultural activity. Activities that are eligible for funding are those that have not been previously presented and that could occur without the funding.

Festivals Australia Regional Residencies program provides regional and remote communities with the chance to organize community celebrations and local festivals, aiming to tell their stories and the stories of their communities. Under the scheme, artists may also undertake residencies to work within the community and represent these stories through cross media arts projects such as visual arts/crafts, literature, dance, music, drama or theatre.  This Program is a great boon for regional and remote areas.

There are two funding rounds a year for these programs which are advertised nationally, with closing dates of 15 February (for projects starting after 1 July) and 15 July (for projects starting after 1 January). Application forms and guidelines are available on line.

Indigenous Culture Support

www.arts.gov.au/indigenous/Indigenous_Culture_Support

The Indigenous Culture Support program (ICS—formerly the Regional Arts and Culture Support program) supports the maintenance of cultural practice within Indigenous communities and the promotion of Indigenous cultures as dynamic and integral elements of Australian culture and identity. ICS funds activities that encourage culturally vibrant Indigenous communities. These activities are developed in a creative environment and contribute to the cultural identity and well being of Indigenous individuals and communities. The program supports activities that:

• foster, maintain and preserve regional and local Indigenous arts and cultures; and
• support community participation in the process of cultural transmission.

State-specific Regional Funding Opportunities

Contact the peak regional arts organisation in each state, and arts departments in the territories. Follow these links:

Queensland Arts Council - Community Funding page
Regional Arts New South Wales - Grants page
Tasmania Regional Arts - Funding page
Country Arts South Australia - Assistance and Funding page
Country Arts Western Australia - Community Funding page
Arts Northern Territory - Home page
Arts ACT - Home page

Yakka Tip:

When applying for sponsorship, funding and grants, be sure to include the value of volunteer time and in-kind expenses already confirmed. Even though these wont come out of your overall budget they are very valuable and need to be included.

glos•sa•ry [glos-uh-ree, glaw-suh-ree]

in-kind expenses: in-kind expenses are the estimated costs of resources that, if not donated, would have to paid for or purchased. An example of an in-kind expense is the number of hours a group of volunteers will work on a cultural event - you can calculate the equivalent cost of hiring staff to do this work and add this as an in-kind cost on your funding application budget.

on-costs: the additional costs associated with staging a cultural event or project, such as employers' superannuation contributions, workers compensation, holiday pay or insurance. These costs should also be included in your funding application budget.

There are further grants links in Useful resources relating to grants.