Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF)

Strategic Goals

RADF is aimed at the development of emerging and established artists, creative practitioners, and producers. Funding is awarded to projects that align with Redland City Council's Corporate Plan Our Future Redlands City: A Corporate Plan to 2026 to 2031  and the Creative Arts Service Strategic Plan 2024-2029(PDF, 482KB) priorities:

• Engagement
• Partnerships
• Spaces
• Sustainability.

Redland City Council Corporate Plan Goals

Redland City Council’s RADF program is informed by Redland City Council’s Corporate Plan Our Future Redlands City: A Corporate Plan to 2026 to 2031 and the Creative Arts Service Strategic Plan 2024-2029: Three locally-determined priorities are supported by Redland City Council’s RADF funds:

• Strong communities
• Livable neighbourhoods
• Prosperous economy 

To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Legal status:   

• Be a permanent resident or Australian Citizen
• Be over 18 years of age or have the application co-signed by a legal guardian confirming responsibility of financial management
• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) or be auspiced by an incorporated organisation

Eligible applicants:

• Individual and groups who are professional artists, emerging professional artists, arts workers, cultural workers, producers, or project coordinators.

Location limits:

• The applicant must be based in Redland City or demonstrate how the project will directly benefit Redland City’s arts and culture. 

Previous grant history:

• Have met all acquittal conditions of previous Council grants and sponsorship
• Have no outstanding grant acquittals or debts to Council.

Eligible art forms

RADF provides opportunities through project-based funding in the following artforms:

• Community Arts and Cultural Development
• Circus
• Dance & Physical Theatre
• Developing Professional Skills
• Digital Arts
• Fashion
• Film
• Gaming
• Multi-arts
• Music
• Theatre
• Visual Arts, Craft and Design
• Writing.

The following entities are not eligible to apply for funding:

• Government or semi-government organisations (e.g. hospitals, libraries)
• Public and private education institutions, including P&Cs and tertiary institutions
• Childcare and after-school care providers
• Political parties and lobby groups
• Applicants with outstanding debts or overdue grant acquittals with Council
• Organisations already receiving targeted Council funding for the same project

What cannot be funded

Funding will not be provided for the following:

• Requests for 100% funding of the project. Applicants are encouraged to seek other sources of funding for their projects. Applicants are required to make a significant contribution, which may be in-kind. This contribution must be shown in the application budget.
• Entertainment for events without a specific developmental outcome for artists
• Competitions, prizes, or eisteddfods
• The purchase of capital items e.g., equipment, buildings or vehicles
• Accredited study, training or university courses
• Ongoing operational expenses
• Activities that commence before Council approval is given, RADF should not be used as a ‘top up’ fund.

It is not mandatory for RADF applicants to hold an ABN. However, if they do not hold an ABN the application must be auspiced by an incorporated organisation with an ABN (known as the auspice body) who manages the grant on behalf of the applicant. The auspice body is responsible for providing a financial report on completion of the project, but is not responsible for the artistic direction, delivery or quality of the project.

The auspicing organisation will take on the legal and financial responsibility for the grant, including:

• Signing the funding agreement
• Receiving and administering the funds
• Ensuring the project is delivered as agreed
• Submitting required reports and acquittals

Further details are explained on our auspice fact sheet.

An auspice agreement must be provided with your application as evidence of the partnership. Please download the Auspice Agreement Template and submit with your application.

All applications must be submitted via Council’s online SmartyGrants portal. 

Applying is easy with SmartyGrants:

1. Visit the grant application link provided when the round is open
2. Create a SmartyGrants account or log in if you already have one
3. Start your application and fill in the required details
4. Save your progress and come back any time before the closing date
5. Submit your application once you're ready

Applicants will receive an email acknowledging receipt of their application. This email will contain a unique reference number which should be quoted when making enquiries about your application.

For more information Visit SmartyGrants Help Guide for tips and support.

To see Redland City Council current open funding programs, refer to Council's online portal SmartyGrants.

It is suggested that applicants discuss the proposed project to the RADF Liaisons to ensure the project aligns with the program.

Application requirements:

Applicants must provide the following documentation as part of their submission:

• Resume or CV for each professional involved in the project including their roles, qualifications, and relevant experience. 
• Letter of Confirmation from each professional involved in the project
• Two (2) x Letters of Support that evidence industry or community support for the project
• If applicable, written Letters of Support from relevant communities and organisations for projects involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; people with a disability; or children and young people.
• For items above $1,000 (excluding Artist Fees) attach one (1) quote confirming cost of item.
• For items above $5,000 (excluding Artist Fees) attach three (3) quotes evidencing effective research of best value for money.
• Risk Management Plan

Only the information provided within the application form will be considered during the assessment process. Each application will be evaluated based on the quality, clarity, and relevance of the information provided, and how well it addresses the assessment criteria outlined for the funding round. Applicants are encouraged to respond thoroughly and thoughtfully to each question, ensuring their project aligns with the program’s objectives. 

The RADF Assessment Panel is an external group of industry and Council representatives that reflect the diverse arts and creative communities of Redlands Coast. Panel members are selected for their expertise in the arts and their understanding of developing the creative industries in the region.

For more information, please visit RADF on the Arts Queensland website or email grants@redland.qld.gov.au

Assessment criteria:

All applications are assessed by the RADF Assessment Panel against the following criteria. The indicators listed are samples of the types of support material or evidence required to articulate each criterion:

High quality

• Produces or contributes to high-quality arts and cultural initiatives for local communities.
• Proven capacity to effectively support and deliver arts and cultural services.
• Evidence of delivery against local arts and cultural priorities.

Strong impact

• Creates new employment opportunities and skills development for artists and arts workers in Redland.
• Builds new audiences or markets and reputation for Redland arts and culture. Demonstrates community and stakeholder involvement in project priority setting, decision making and evaluation.
• Responds to community needs and helps deliver government priorities including alignment to the by Redland City Council’s Corporate Plan Our Future Redlands City: A Corporate Plan to 2026 to 2031 and the Creative Arts Service Strategic Plan 2024-2029 and Queensland’s Time to Shine: a 10-year strategy for arts and culture 2025-2035.
• Articulates how the project will align with one or more of the RADF Objectives

Sustainable value

• Demonstrates value for money.
• Demonstrates sound governance, and ethical business practices, including paying amounts not less than industry award rates, recommended or agreed minimum rates, and adhering to cultural protocols.
• Evidence of local demand for proposed program(s).
• Proposed activity has a strong delivery plan, including understanding potential risks and their management.

Outcome process

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their submission once the assessment process is complete.

Successful applicants will receive a formal offer outlining the funding amount, conditions of funding, and next steps for project delivery.

Unsuccessful applicants will also be advised, and feedback will be provided to support future applications. 

When you apply for a grant, you're committing to deliver the project as outlined in your application. This includes using the funds responsibly, meeting agreed timelines, and submitting any required reports or updates. It’s important to ensure your organisation is ready to manage the grant if successful.

Funding agreement 

All successful applicants will be required to enter into a formal funding agreement with Council which stipulates any funding conditions that must be met prior to the release of grant funds. The funding agreement outlines the terms and conditions under which the grant is provided, including project deliverables, reporting obligations, payment schedules, use of funds and compliance with relevant legislation and policies. It also includes provisions for suspension, repayment, and termination of funding if conditions are not met.

The funding agreement will include the following payment structure:

• Payment of 75% of total approved funding upon submission of the signed funding agreement and invoice
• Payment of 25% of total approved funding upon confirmation that all special conditions, compliance requirements, and necessary permits have been met

Successful grant applicants will be required to complete Redland City Council’s EFTsure onboarding process for secure payment verification. For more information, please visit Onboarding and EFTsure Pty Ltd.

Goods and services tax (GST)

Applicants must indicate whether their organisation is registered for GST, as this may affect the total funding amount and how grant funds are used.

• Applicants who are registered for GST must present all requested funding amounts exclusive of GST.
• Applicants who are not registered for GST must present all requested funding amounts inclusive of GST.

If a GST-registered organisation is successful, an additional 10% will be automatically added to the approved grant amount to cover the GST component. This ensures that GST-registered organisations are not out of pocket for eligible project expenses.

For guidance on GST obligations, please contact your tax advisor or refer to the Australian Taxation Office at www.ato.gov.au or call 13 24 78.

Acknowledgement of funding:

Successful RADF projects must acknowledge the Queensland Government and Redland City Council in all marketing and promotional materials, publications and products. This includes using the RADF acknowledgment text and the logos provided to you by Redland City Council with your funding agreement.

Acknowledgement Text:

This project is supported by The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) which is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Redland City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Before publishing, all materials using the Council logo must be emailed to the Grants team for approval. For approvals or questions, contact: grants@redland.qld.gov.au

As a grant recipient, you are required to submit reports throughout the duration of your grant. This includes a progress report and an outcome report at the end of the grant. These reports help us stay informed about your progress, confirm that funds are being used in line with the agreement, and identify any changes or areas where we can assist. If your project requires adjustments, please submit a variation request for approval.

Milestone reports

Throughout the grant process, two milestone reports will be required to be completed:

1. Midway milestone report:

A brief report must be submitted halfway through the project providing:

• An update on how the project is tracking against planned activities, budget and timelines
• Any emerging challenges and mitigation strategies

 2. Conditions milestone report:

This report is required to release 25% of funds once all compliance requirements, funding conditions, and permitting approvals have been met. It should confirm:

• Notification that all conditions have been satisfied
• Supporting documentation for approvals and compliance

Variation requests

Funding must be used in accordance with the funding agreement. Any changes to the grant activities undertaken or the project duration must be approved by Council.

Requests for variations must be submitted via the SmartyGrants portal under My Submissions. Variations must be approved before you undertake any changes and cannot be sought after the Funding Agreement end date.

The variation form should outline the changes you are seeking to the funding agreement, for example: changes to the nature/purpose of the project, the way in which the project is to be carried out and completed, the budget and/or any extension to the funding period.

Final Outcome Report

To finalise your project, you must complete an acquittal form for your project within four (4) weeks of the completion date via your SmartyGrants account.

Your report should provide a clear and comprehensive overview of your project as outline in your funding agreement. The acquittal form requires you to provide information on the completion of the project activity. This is a report on the project activity, including objectives, outputs and impact, and requires proof of acknowledgment of Council funding and financial evidence for the use of funding. This includes providing adequate receipts, $0 balance invoices, and bank statements reflect the eligible expenses as per the program. 

Applicants that do not acquit their project are ineligible to apply for funding under Council's various funding programs until such time as they have successfully acquitted all previous funding.

Repayment of grant

If a grant recipient is unable to meet the acquittal requirements or does not spend the full amount awarded, they may be required to repay funds to Council. This includes:

• Any portion of the grant used for purposes not approved in the funding agreement, which must be repaid within 30 days of Council’s request (or as otherwise agreed)
• Any unspent funds, unless otherwise agreed, must be returned within 30 days of either the project end date or termination of the funding agreement, whichever occurs first
• Any variance greater than $100 that cannot be demonstrated with appropriate financial evidence.

All repayments must include the applicable GST component based on the original payment.