A total of 77 arts projects will share in over $1.7 million thanks to the latest round of Regional Arts Fund Project Grants.

Performer in pink leotard is suspended mid-air with arms and legs outstretched. Crowd below applauds.
Briefs Factory performing its show Dirty Laundry at Broome Mardi Gras. Photo by Abby Murray. Supported by a 2024 Regional Arts Fund Project Grant.

The grants will support a range of new arts projects in regional and remote areas and help to drive cultural and economic vitality in 72 locations, generating over 850 new employment opportunities for artists and arts workers across Australia.

Projects will begin rolling out from January 2026 and are expected to reach an audience of 1.2 million Australians. The projects feature 11 different art forms and include:

  • Alice Springs, Northern Territory—Red Dirt Poetry—NT Poetry Slam Tour from Mparntwe/Alice to Garramilla/Darwin—The poetry slam competition will span the NT and include workshops in each location. Two winners will be sent to Sydney to represent the NT at the National Australian Poetry Slam at the Opera House.
  • Lightning Ridge, New South Wales—Rebel Black—Resonance: Artist Residencies and Sound Futures in Lightning Ridge—Three regional musicians will attend a residency for 9 months, before delivering a headline musical performance during the 2026 Open Mic + Headlines concert series.
  • Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley regions, Queensland—Lizzy Stanfield Flores—The Bear Truth School Tour—This innovative touring performance will explore Queenslanders' experiences with gender-based discrimination, societal expectations, and empowerment, using the viral online question 'Would you rather be trapped in the woods with a man or a bear?' as its launch point. The Bear Truth will encourage students to reflect on and create a future built on empathy and understanding.
  • Yorke Peninsula, South Australia—Nharangga Warra Aboriginal Progress Association—Winda the Owl: Stories in Fire and Lanterns—A community celebration on Narungga Country will bring to life the story of Winda the Owl through fire, lanterns and storytelling. Guided by Narungga Elders, this immersive event invites participants to gather in light and language.

The Regional Arts Fund supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia and is managed by Regional Arts Australia and organisations in each state and territory.

The next round of Regional Arts Fund Project Grants is expected to open for applications in February 2026.

For a full list of recipients and more information about funding opportunities, visit the Regional Arts Fund page.