Regional Arts Development Fund

Local priorities for 2020–21 are:

• professional skills development (personal and community)
• cultural tourism development
• development of digital technology platforms to engage the community

1. Read the guidelines for applicants.
2. Call our  Arts Officer on 4089 2523 (Monday–Wednesday) to discuss your project.
3. Complete the Grant Application Form. If you are applying for project resources, a Small Grant up to $1000, or Professional Skills Development, you should use the Small Grant Application Form.
4. Complete an Eligibility Checklist for each professional or emerging professional artist to be employed through the grant and attach to the Grant Application Form.
5. Submit the Grant Application Form and all required support materials by the due date.

Forms

• Grant Application Form
• Small Grants Application Form
• Outcome Report
• Eligibility Checklist

RADF is a competitive process. We will notify you on the outcome of your application. There may not be enough funds available to support all applications received in any given round.

You must contact the Arts Officer or one of the RADF committee members prior to submitting your application. Failure to do so may affect your eligibility for funding.

Successful Applicants

1. will receive a letter of offer and an Outcome Report template to be submitted no later than eight weeks after project completion. The RADF Committee will review the report to ensure the project was undertaken as proposed and may draw on this information for reports or case studies
2. will need to acknowledge the assistance received through RADF. Refer to How to Acknowledge RADF for information on the appropriate statements and logos
3. must meet reporting obligations, therefore plan ahead before your project or event commences. Useful resources including survey templates are available from Arts Queensland.

If you receive funding, you must report on how your project contributes towards these RADF  key performance outcomes:

Impact

• invests in a diversity of local arts and cultural projects
• engages local communities in arts and cultural activities
• supports local employment and strengthening of local arts sector

Quality

• supports quality arts and cultural initiatives based on local priorities
• local communities value RADF

Reach

• supports engagement with new and diverse artists, audiences and communities
• contributes to diversity and inclusive communities, growing strong regions, and providing training, education and employment

Viability

• • builds strong partnerships between arts and non-arts sectors
  • leverages additional investment
  • funding is used effectively and appropriately

• Arts Queensland — excellent funding, planning, promotion and evaluation resources
• Subscribe to receive Arts on TRaCk, a monthly update on visual and performance arts, culture and heritage within the region, plus funding opportunities and events.

For further assistance contact our Arts Officer on ArtsOfficer@trc.qld.gov.au or 4089 2523 (Monday–Wednesday).

• AQ case studies

Round 26

Round 25

Round 24

Round 23

The RADF committee reviews applications and makes funding and program recommendations. They are also available to provide advice to grant applicants.

• Councillor Annette Haydon, Ravenshoe (Chairperson) — 0437 933 187 and annetteh@trc.qld.gov.au
• Councillor Dave Bilney, Malanda — 0427 332 003 and daveb@trc.qld.gov.au
• Kirsty Veron, Atherton — 0448 641 835 and kirsty.veron@bigpond.com
• Mary Aumont-Smith, Tolga — 0409 700 304 and mdesigner@bigpond.com
• Samantha Banks, Yungaburra — 0424 132 700 and together.tablelands@gmail.com
• John de Rooy, Malanda — 0418 980 644 and contact@tablelandphotography.com.au
• Sharon Robinson, Tolga — 0419 757 392 and contact@rbuss.com.au
• Gordon Grimwade, Yungaburra — 0419 677 022 and ggrimwade@bigpond.com
• Phyne Dugdell, Atherton — 4091 3325 and iapmdugdell@westnet.com.au
• Regional Arts Officer Mark Edwards (non-voting position) — 4089 2523 and artsofficer@trc.qld.gov.au
• Coordinator Tourism, Culture and Events (non-voting position) — 1300 362 242 and gwynethn@trc.qld.gov.au

Purpose

The RADF (Regional Arts Development Fund) is a partnership between the Queensland State Government through Arts Queensland and eligible local councils across the state.

• RADF promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities and strong regions.
• RADF invests in local arts and cultural priorities, as determined by local communities, across Queensland.
• RADF is a flexible fund, enabling local councils to tailor RADF programs to suit the needs of their communities.

Objectives

RADF objectives are to support arts and cultural activities that:

• provide public value for Queensland communities
• build local cultural capacity, cultural innovation and community pride
• deliver Queensland Government’s objectives for the community.

Assessment Criteria

Your application should address how well your project meets the following criteria.

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.

Reach

• Provides access to, and engagement in, arts and culture for diverse communities, practitioners, participants and audiences.
• Evidence of local demand for proposed program/s.
• Demonstrates community and stakeholder involvement in RADF priority setting, decision making and evaluation.

Impact

• Demonstrates cultural, artistic, social or economic returns on investment.
• Supports one or more Queensland Government objectives for the community including encouraging safe and inclusive communities, building regions, supporting disadvantaged Queenslanders, stimulating economic growth and innovation, increasing workforce participation and conserving heritage.

Viability

• Evidence of good planning for strong governance and management of RADF at a local level.
• Evidence of partnership capacity with partners including business and government.
• Evidence of proposed activities networking with, or leveraging from, other local projects, programs or events

Local Priorities

In accordance with TRC’s Corporate Plan, and its strategic outcome to ‘foster creative and cultural industries’, the RADF Committee has prioritised the following objectives for projects in 2020-21:

• professional development for artists, arts workers, and community groups
• cultural tourism development
• development of digital technology platforms to engage the community.

Who Can Apply?

The following categories of individuals and organisations can apply for a RADF grant:

Individual professional artists, emerging professional artists, arts workers, cultural workers and project coordinators who:

• are based in the Council area or, if based outside the Council area, are able to demonstrate how the project will directly benefit arts and culture in the Council area
• are permanent residents or Australian citizens
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or will be auspiced by an incorporated organisation or individual with an ABN.

Incorporated arts and cultural organisations based in the Council area, and unincorporated organisations, auspiced by an incorporated body, based in the local council area.

Those organisations based outside the Council area must demonstrate how the project will directly benefit arts and culture in the Council area.

An applicant who has not satisfactorily acquitted a previous RADF grant is excluded from applying until the previous grant is acquitted.

What Can I Apply For?

RADF supports a variety of arts, cultural and heritage projects that have a developmental focus. One of the main RADF aims is to develop professional artists and arts organisations in the regions.

Free advice on preparing your application is available.

1.  Read these TRC Guidelines for Applicants, including ‘Preparing Your Budget’.
2. Discuss your application plans with the RADF Liaison Officer.

Prior to submitting your application, you are required to contact the RADF Liaison Officer with an expression of interest. Failure to do so may affect your eligibility for funding.

All applicants are required to make a significant contribution to their project — usually one third or more of the total costs. This contribution may be in-kind, or cash.

Arts workers should be paid at the recommended rates and volunteers valued at the appropriate rate.

Quick Response Grants

Applications for Quick Response Grants must be submitted at least six weeks before the proposed project start date. These grants are open all year (or until funds have been allocated).

• Local artists, arts workers or members of community organisations can request funding of up to $1000 for professional skills, career and capacity development to attend training, mentoring or conference opportunities within Queensland.
• Assistance of up to $2000 may be available for eligible practitioners for professional development opportunities outside of Queensland.
• Groups and organisations can also apply for funding of up to $1000 for small scale community arts projects.
• Individual emerging or professional artists, arts workers or groups can apply for a Resources Small Grant of up to $500 to support a specific arts project. Resources, such as art materials, catalogues, promotional support etc. may be eligible, but capital items are ineligible. Quotes are required. Contact the RADF Liaison Officer for details.

For all these grants, use the ‘Small Grants’ application form.

For the best opportunity to secure funding from any of these grants, prior to submitting your application, contact the RADF Liaison Officer at TRC on 1300 362 242 or ArtsOfficer@trc.qld.gov.au

Community Grant Rounds

Projects requesting funding over $1000 can apply for a RADF Community Grant, using the Grant Application form.

There are two funding rounds each year, closing in April and October.

We have a recommended limit of $5000 for any one project, unless it can be shown to be of region-wide benefit. You are encouraged to discuss this aspect for larger projects with the RADF Liaison Officer.

RADF Community Grants could support:

• development and delivery of diverse, exciting and accessible arts and cultural activities, projects and initiatives for, by and with local communities
• preservation of significant heritage items including stories, sites and collections
• recruitment of specialist expertise to train, support, develop and/or produce arts and culture-driven outcomes in local communities
• initiatives in local communities (e.g. increasing amenity, community pride and liveability of local areas through cultural tourism, public art, place-making projects)
• value adding arts and culture into existing non-arts projects or events to support growing new audiences or markets
• leveraging RADF investment to entice other funding partners to support more strategic arts and culture projects
• regional pooling of RADF investment towards regional initiatives or programs to deliver cross-regional arts and culture-led outcomes
• engagement of key target groups, such as young people, indigenous or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, or programs targeting particular geographic locations.

Not Supported

RADF does not support 100% of any project. Applicants are required to make a significant contribution towards the project — usually one third or more of the total project costs. (This may include in-kind support).

The following categories of applicants and projects are not eligible for funding through the RADF Program:

• Applicants who submit unsigned applications.
• Applicants who have failed to acquit previous RADF grants.
• Amateur arts activities except for professional services to amateur arts activities. One of the main RADF aims is to develop professional artists in the regions. (Use the Eligibility Checklist at the end of the application form to see if you are an amateur or emerging artist. Emerging professional artists are eligible for funding).
• Catering costs, openings, launches and parties, even if they are part of an exhibition or community project.
• Projects for which arts workers are paid less than the recommended rates.
• Activities that commence before Council approval is given. RADF cannot not be used as a ‘top-up’ fund.
• School arts activities — except where those activities form part of broader community cultural development processes or are part of professional arts development.
• Entertainment for events unless there is a developmental aspect included e.g. musicians performing at a community event run developmental workshops for community members prior to the event.
• Competitions/Eisteddfods — the competitive environment does not necessarily nurture emerging artists.
• Purchase of capital items e.g. equipment, buildings or vehicles. RADF gives artists and organisations opportunities for employment, professional development and a chance to practise their art. Buying capital items does not necessarily lead to these outcomes. Capital items can be funded only when they are included as part of a project application and when the RADF Committee considers the purchase integral to that project and where the item will remain available for community use.
• Accredited study, training or university courses — Arts Queensland does not fund the primary training of artists, only their professional development once they are practising.
• Framing or freight — only a small proportion of these costs can be covered as part of presentation costs for significant exhibitions. As a guide only, 10% of the total framing and freight costs would be considered a small proportion. Alternatively, you may consider applying for the Resources Small Grant.
• Publishing costs — requests for grants to publish books should be directed to organisations that provide print-on-demand services. A small proportion of printing costs are eligible as part of the presentation costs for significant projects. As a guide only, 10% of the total publishing costs would be considered a small proportion. Alternatively, you may consider applying for the Resources Small Grant.

Preparing Your Application

Your application should give a snapshot of a potentially successful activity. All information required is requested on the form, so:

• research thoroughly
• prepare accurately and honestly
• provide all information requested on the official RADF Grant Application Form
• describe your activity in terms that match the TRC’s RADF Program.

Helpful resources.

Brief and clear support material strengthens your application. Include only relevant support material, such as:

• up to three letters of support from groups who will benefit
• letters of acceptance from a workshop leader, project partner, community Elder and/or gallery owner
• quotes from tradespeople, publishers or other businesses cited in your budget over $300
• the CVs of all professional arts and cultural workers employed using RADF funds in the activity
• written confirmation from the primary artist(s) of their availability and fee structure.

Sign your application. Unsigned applications are not eligible for funding.

Keep a copy of your completed application. If your application succeeds, you will need it when you prepare your outcome report at the end of the activity.

Artist Eligibility Checklist

Each professional or emerging professional artist receiving financial benefit from an RADF grant must complete the Eligibility Checklist for Professional and Emerging Professional Artists. This checklist determines the professional or emerging professional status of all artists receiving RADF grant money. Possession of an ABN is only one of 12 criteria on the checklist.

Artists being paid by RADF grant money must meet at least three of the 12 criteria on the checklist.

Insurance

If you are to deliver a project/activity in a place where the public attend or that is accessible to the public, you are required to attach a copy of your Certificate of Currency for Public Liability Insurance with your application.

TRC’s Arts & Cultural Priorities

We have an active Cultural Plan to guide development.

Some of the major local RADF objectives are:

• The celebration of our communities’ unique character, identity and history.
• Professional development for artists and arts workers.
• Increased engagement of young people in the arts and cultural sector.
• Development of digital technology platforms to engage the community
• Cultural tourism initiatives enhancing local skills, products and services.
• The brokering of sponsorships and partnerships in making funding applications.
• The celebration, maintenance and transfer of traditional knowledge in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Preparing Your Budget

The budget section of your application should account for all costs of your project. You should:

• ensure that your budget estimates are as accurate as possible and use only whole dollar amounts
• ensure that your income and expenses totals are equal
• provide written quotes for all expense items in the RADF component column that exceed $300.

Applicants must prepare a project budget.

• Complete the project budget table to account for all estimated income and expenses associated with your project. Round all amounts to whole dollars. Add additional rows as required.
• List all income items separately under the relevant sub-heading. Describe income type and source of the contribution. The total dollar amount should be written in column 2 Income.
• List all expense items separately under the relevant sub-heading. The total dollar amount should be written in column 2 Expenses.
• For all income and expense amounts, indicate in column 3, if these are cash (financial) or in-kind contributions by writing “cash” or “in-kind”.
• Ensure cash expenditure is matched by cash income, with the shortfall covered by the RADF grant
• Cash contributions involve the transfer of money between parties. Examples of cash contributions include ticket sales, participant payments, cash donations, fundraising takings, grants.
• In-kind contributions are non-monetary forms of support. Examples include: volunteer labour (accepted value = $33/hr), donated goods, services provided at no cost, and discounts.
• The total RADF Grant Request should be no more than 65% of your total project budget. That is, 35% of your income (cash and in-kind) must come from other sources.. List RADF components in column 4.
• When you have completed your budget, the total income and total expenses must be EQUAL.

If you are registered for GST, income and expense amounts must be exclusive of GST. Council will pay the grant plus GST.

If you are not registered for GST, your income amounts must be exclusive of GST. However, expenditure amounts should be inclusive of GST.

Example Budget

Intellectual Property

Arts Queensland and Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) acknowledge and agree that Intellectual Property Rights in works created by a RADF recipient will not transfer to either TRC or Arts Queensland as a result of a RADF Grant Funding Agreement.

As per Arts Queensland’s RADF funding agreement with TRC:

1. A RADF grant recipient agrees to an irrevocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free licence in favour of Arts Queensland, that enables Arts Queensland to use, reproduce and adapt the relevant Intellectual Property in the RADF Recipient’s work produced pursuant to the RADF Program for the purposes of Arts Queensland publicising the RADF Program or promoting arts and cultural development in Queensland and
2. On signing of this funding agreement that the RADF grant recipient does not regard the use by Arts Queensland of the RADF grant recipient’s work in order to publicise the RADF Program or to promote arts and cultural development in Queensland as an infringement of the RADF Recipient’s Moral Rights.

Altering Applications

Sometimes circumstances change and you cannot carry out your activity exactly as described in your application. When this happens, you must:

• notify the RADF Liaison Officer at ArtsOfficer@trc.qld.gov.au
• negotiate any change before beginning your activity.

Request approval in writing immediately if there are any changes to:

• key personnel
• timelines
• budget
• funding from other sources
• location or venues
• anything else that would alter the outcomes of the agreed activity.

The RADF Committee can:

• approve the changes
• request that you complete a new application form
• ask you to return the funds and re-submit your application in the next round.

Any agreement to alterations must be:

• made in writing
• endorsed by the RADF Committee
• approved and signed by Council representative.

If you fail to obtain written approval, you may be required to repay the funding and you may not be eligible for future funding.

For applicants requiring an extension to the agreed activity, written approval needs to be sought prior to the original due date of the outcome report.

Assessment

Once the funding round has closed, the RADF Liaison Officer sends all applications to the RADF Committee for assessment. The committee may require more information or support material if they are uncertain about an application. Usually you will have only a short time to respond.

RADF committees use a series of resources when assessing applications. They will look for activities that:

• develop the paid artist’s professional life
• increase the sustainability and vibrancy of creative communities
• benefit their community, both directly and indirectly
• align with local and/or regional plans, and state priorities.

All applications are judged on merit with committee decisions based on:

• • RADF key objectives
  • RADF assessment criteria, including quality, reach, impact and viability
  • the artist eligibility criteria and CV
  • your evidenced capacity to manage your project
  • your ability to meet Council’s arts and cultural priorities
  • TRC’s arts and cultural plan
  • TRC’s available RADF budget for the year.

The committee meets about four weeks after the round closes. Individual assessments are compared and a group assessment made and the committee’s final recommendations documented.

If you are successful, you will be required to sign and return the paperwork within a set timeframe.

If you are unsuccessful, you will receive a letter of notification with feedback from the committee. It is recommended that you contact the RADF Liaison Officer to discuss improvements to your next application.

The RADF Committee is a local, skills-based advisory group, approved by TRC, and working under TRC’s procedural guidelines to avoid conflicts of interest. Nominations for the committee are renewed every two years.

Grant Conditions

• All RADF-funded activities are required to complete a Project Outcome Report. This will be provided to you or can be downloaded from trc.qld.gov.au
• RADF funded activities must acknowledge the Queensland Government and TRC in all promotional material, publications and products by inclusion of the RADF acknowledgment text and logos.

Acknowledgement

The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Tablelands Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Logos are available from Artsofficer@trc.qld.gov.au

Reporting & Acquittal

You must complete and submit an outcome report to TRC no more than eight weeks after completing your funded activity. This acquits the local RADF monies you spent. The outcome report includes information about the success of your project, budget (including receipts for items over $300) and support material (including photographs, video clips, participant feedback and publicity).

If you fail to acquit your grant, you will be ineligible to apply for future funding through RADF and Arts Queensland. In some circumstances, you may be asked to repay the grant.

Your outcome report must show evidence of the outcomes of the activity and how the RADF money was spent. It is a chance to reflect on the level of success your activity achieved by:

• identifying key outcomes
• assessing the benefits and drawbacks
• checking your financial estimates against your actual expenditure
• learning from any difficulties — these can often teach more than successes
• recognising the potential for growth or new directions in your work
• setting new priorities.

The outcome report may also be used to nominate your activity for case studies, as an example of best practice, which may be made available to the public. It is important to plan for documentation of the project, using photographs, video clips, participant feedback and publicity. Resources.

Dispute Resolution

Occasionally conflict can arise between applicants and committee members or TRC staff. If this happens you should tell the RADF Liaison. You have the right to request a meeting with a committee member or TRC staff member to get feedback about your application or to see minutes of assessment meetings.

Information Privacy & Right to Information

The information you provide in your RADF grant application will be used by TRC to process and assess your application and, if successful, process, pay and administer your grant. TRC may contact other funding agencies to verify grants requested from other funding agencies in support of your project.

If your application is successful, TRC may disclose to Arts Queensland the:

• information you provide in your grants application
• amount of funding you receive
• information you provide in your outcome report and text and images relating to your funded activity

The information may be used by TRC or Arts Queensland for reporting purposes, training, systems testing and process improvement. It may be anonymised and used for statistical purposes. It may also be used by TRC or Arts Queensland for the promotion of RADF or the promotion of funding outcomes for arts and cultural development in Queensland.  For this purpose, the information and your contact details may be provided to Queensland Government Members of a Parliament, the media and other agencies who may contact you directly. TRC and Arts Queensland may also publish the information in their annual reports, on websites and in the media.

• TRC and Arts Queensland treat all personal information in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009.
• The provisions of the Right to Information Act 2009 apply to documents in the possession of TRC and Arts Queensland.

Translating & Interpreting Services

Contact Translating and Interpreting Services during business hours.

Useful Websites

• Arts Queensland — grant funding information, funding sources benefiting arts and culture, case studies and resources.
• Regional Arts Australia — recommended rates schedule for arts projects and volunteers.
• Australian Copyright Council — information and guidance about creating copyright in Australia.
• The Arts Law Centre of Australia — specialised legal and business advice and referral services, professional development resources, contracts and advocacy for artists and arts organisations.

Interest-free Loans

The QuickstART Fund provides microloans managed through Foresters Community Finance.