Festivals Australia supports community participation in, and access to, the arts and aims to support partnerships and collaboration across the sector.
Who can apply
Regional artists, arts workers, and organisations can apply for arts and cultural projects that encourage community participation and audience engagement from people living in regional and remote communities in a festival or community celebration.
When to apply
There are two funding rounds each year which generally open in February and September each year.
Funding available
The Australian Government provides approximately $1.3 million each financial year through this program.
About the program
Festivals Australia is open for applications from 20 February 2023 to 20 March 2023 for projects commencing from 1 July 2023.
Festivals Australia funds high-quality arts projects that invite community participation and audience engagement. Projects can include but are not limited to a parade, performance, workshop, installation or exhibition.
The aim is to give community members living in regional or remote Australia the chance to participate in or attend an arts experience at a festival, or a significant one-off community celebration.
Please note: Festivals Australia will only fund a single project at a festival, not a range of unrelated activities across a festival program.
All applications are assessed with the assistance of independent assessors.
COVID-19 Update
The Department acknowledges the continuing impacts of COVID-19 on all of its programs including the Festivals Australia program. We wish to assure our stakeholders that wherever possible, the department will continue to provide administrative support for your Festivals Australia funded activity and offer flexibility around your proposals. If you have any queries or concerns please contact the Program Officer at your earliest convenience.
Festivals Australia video case studies
Our video case studies show the quality and variety of community projects which have been funded through the Festivals Australia program.
Program logos
The Festivals Australia logo is used to acknowledge Australian Government support for projects funded under Festivals Australia.
Program documentation
Festivals Australia program documentation, including program guidelines and frequently asked questions, are available on the GrantConnect website at https://www.grants.gov.au.
After you register simply click on 'Grant Opportunity' to be directed to the appropriate page.
Contact
The Program Officer
Festivals Australia
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the Arts
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 1800 590 577
Email: Festivals@arts.gov.au
Who we've funded
National Summary of Festivals Australia Projects
- Festivals Australia September 2022 round 15—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia February 2022 round 14—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia September 2021 round 13—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia February 2021 round 12—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia September 2020 round 11—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia February 2020 round 10—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia September 2019 round 9—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia February 2019 round 8—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia September 2018 round 7—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia February 2018 round 6—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia September 2017 round 5—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia March 2017 round 4—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia October 2016 round 3—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia March 2016 round 2—grant recipients
- Festivals Australia October 2015 round 1—grant recipients
- Complete a work plan and a detailed project budget.
- Provide confirmation of artist participation for each of the participating artists and evidence of community support for the project.
- Make sure you complete the application: incomplete applications are not considered.
- Keep it short: only the first 10 pages of an application’s support material are assessed.