Festivals across regional and remote Australia will receive funding to connect audiences and communities.

A group of people looking at illuminated sculptures at night.
Image Credit: Daly Bay Illuminate by Cherrie Hughes, supplied by the Mackay Festival of Arts

Close to $700,000 in funding will be provided to 18 regional and remote festival projects across the nation, as part of Round 18 of the Australian Government’s Festivals Australia program. 

The program delivers $1.4 million each year over two funding rounds and gives people in regional and remote Australia the opportunity to experience and participate in arts and culture locally.

Supporting a range of music, theatre and dance activities for audiences across regional Australia, the program strengthens community arts participation and inclusion.

Amongst the recipients of this round are:

Bunbury Chinese Lantern Festival - WA – A Race for a Place is a traditional Chinese folk story created by children, for children and performed at the community celebration of the Bunbury Chinese Lantern Festival 2025. Children will perform a musical soundscape to accompany the bilingual narration while interactive circus performers will entertain audiences.

Shine on Gimuy - QLD – Entwined ArtStory Walk is a storytelling platform showcasing Australia’s artistic excellence and First Nations culture. Songlines, creation stories and cultural narratives will be revealed through art and technology creating an evocative and majestic First Nations Art installation. Entwined weaves together art, culture, philosophy, language and customs showcased in an immersive light and art spectacular event in the heart of Cairns.

Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues – VIC - Anchored by storytelling, the Victoria Lane Jazz Quarter and Community Precinct features an outdoor stage and an immersive art installation, inviting attendees to share their jazz tales. Partnering with local clubs and artists, it aims to foster community pride and ownership. This initiative will provide a dynamic, free space for locals and visitors, showcasing local talent and enhancing the festival experience for all.

Applications to the Festivals Australia program are assessed on specific criteria that consider project quality, accessibility, partnerships, and value for money.

A full list of recipients can be found at Festivals Australia grant recipients — Round 18 February 2024.

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