Grants supporting arts and culture activities at festivals and community events across regional and remote Australia to strengthen cultural diversity, promote participation, and grow audiences.
On this page you will find
What is the Festivals Australia Program (FAP)?
The Festivals Australia Program (FAP) funds high-quality art projects that invite community participation and audience engagement.
Grants will support individual art projects that allow community members living in regional or remote Australia to participate in or appreciate an arts-driven experience at a:
- festival – a regularly presented program of events (for example annually or biennially) that is open to the public and provides an opportunity to gather and celebrate; or
- significant one-off community celebration – a schedule of events that is open to the public and is focused on an anniversary or launch of great significance to the community
Festivals Australia Program level of support
Grants
- There is no maximum funding amount.
- Average requested funding is $40,000 per project.
Co-contribution
- No co-contribution is required for this program. However, applicants must demonstrate value for money and provide realistic budgets for their projects.
Festivals Australia Program important dates
- Submissions close at midnight 7 October 2025 (AEDT)
- Earliest project start date: 1 February 2026
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Festivals Australia Program objectives
The program has three key objectives:
- Provide access to a diverse range of engaging and innovative arts projects across regional and remote areas.
- Support partnerships and collaboration within the arts sector.
- Encourage community participation in arts activities at festivals and significant one-off community celebrations.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Festivals Australia Program support
Eligible projects must:
- Be a single discrete activity within a festival or one-off community celebration.
- Take place in regional or remote Australia (RA2 or higher under the ASGS Remoteness Areas classification).
- Be arts-focused, e.g. performances, workshops, exhibitions, installations, parades.
- Demonstrate community participation and engagement.
Ineligible expenditure includes:
- Festival or business start-up costs.
- Core festival costs (marketing, catering, security, insurance, hire of amenities, infrastructure, operating costs, contingency).
- International travel.
- Publication of festival programs.
- Projects primarily in major cities (RA1 classification).
- More than one project per organisation, per festival.
See the guidelines for full details of projects and expenditure eligible for FAP support.
Other Festivals Australia Program important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Festivals Australia Program support
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be an incorporated Australian organisation with an active ABN.
- Be GST-registered if required.
- Have no outstanding Australian Government funding breaches.
- Trusts may apply if the trustee is incorporated.
- Unincorporated groups, individuals, sole traders, partnerships, and co-operatives may apply only through an auspicing arrangement with an eligible organisation.
- Organisations listed on the National Redress Scheme “non-participant” list are ineligible.
Festivals Australia Program assessment criteria
Applications are assessed against four equally weighted criteria (25% each):
1. Quality (25%)
- Experience and capability of applicant organisation.
- Skills of personnel and artists.
- Scale of project appropriate to purpose.
- Innovation, collaboration, artistic expression, and audience/community benefits.
2. Access (25%)
- Likely participation and attendance, including visitors to the region.
- Audience appeal and demand.
- Accessibility for people with disability.
- Inclusion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Inclusion of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
- Benefits to artists of exposure to new audiences.
3. Support & Partnerships (25%)
- Community support and engagement.
- Confirmed/anticipated financial and project partners.
- Level of co-contribution (cash and/or in-kind).
4. Value for Money (25%)
- Demonstrated need for funding.
- Viability of project plan, budget, and governance.
- Fair remuneration for artists and arts workers.
- Organisation’s funding history and compliance.
- Broader public benefit.
How do I get Festivals Australia Program?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure your organisation is eligible for the funding. Organisations that do not meet all of the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
Pay attention to the following points:
- 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
Successful applicants will also demonstrate:
- alignment with the program objectives
- a high-quality and innovative project
- an inclusive, accessible project that will attract and broaden the experiences of audiences, communities and artists
- the financial resources and expertise to successfully complete the project within the agreed timeline
Information to prepare for the Festivals Australia Program application
Applicants must prepare and provide:
- Detailed work plan and budget (with fair artist pay).
- Evidence of artist participation (letters, contracts, or short videos for remote artists).
- Evidence of community support (letters or short videos).
- (Optional but recommended) Consultation plans, festival programs, supplier quotes, business plans, or evaluation reports.
Projects must also comply with:
- Accessibility planning for people with disability.
- Fair pay and safe workplace standards for artists and workers.
- Child safety obligations if activities involve children.
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for Festivals Australia Program
AApplications are submitted online via the SmartyGrants portal: arts.smartygrants.com.au.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Festivals Australia Program grant recipients
Here’s a sample of projects funded.
| Project description | Festival | Awarded funding |
| Cultural stories from Nipissing (Canada) and Murrawarri (Australia) peoples, culminating in a work-in-progress performance | Baiame’s Ngunnhu Festival, NSW | $80,000 |
| Puppet making workshops and an appearance by the giant Diprotodon | Thrive on Arts, 2022, Queensland | $10,000 |
| A performance by four Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists during the closing ceremony concert | Two-day community celebration to commemorate the proclamation date of Price, SA | $2,600 |
| A water-based movement piece and installation delivering a place-based community work | Inaugural annual squid festival in Triabunna, Tasmania | $57,500 |
| A gastronomic hub for audiences to experience curated food, workshops and live performances | The Winterwild Festival, Victoria | $39,528 |
| A place-responsive, choreographed drone light show delivered across regional Western Australian locations | The Fremantle Biennale, WA | $61,650 |
Visit the program page and select ‘Who We’ve Funded’ to see the full list of recipients
Festivals Australia Program resources
Is Your Business Eligible for This Government Grant?
GrantHelper can assist with your organisation’s grant application, no matter what stage of the funding journey you’re at.
Whenever You’re Ready, Here Are 7 Ways We Can Help You
- Grant Application Readiness
Assess your current position, identify gaps, and prepare your organisation to meet the stringent requirements of competitive grant programs. - Grant Application Strategy
Pinpoint the right grants, align your projects with funding priorities, and establish a roadmap that significantly boosts your chances of success. - Grant Application Search
Let us do the heavy lifting to uncover the most relevant and high-value grant opportunities tailored to your business objectives. - Grant Application Writing
Our expert writers craft persuasive applications that showcase your strengths and align seamlessly with the funder’s goals and criteria. - Grant Application Review
Receive detailed, strategic feedback to sharpen your application, address potential weaknesses, and ensure maximum alignment with assessment benchmarks. - Grant Application Management
End-to-end oversight of your grant journey — from planning and writing to submission and reporting — so you can stay focused on running your business. - Grant Application Courses
Access self-paced online training to build your internal capability and develop the skills needed to navigate and succeed in the grant landscape.
Ready to get started?
Not Ready to Enquire Yet?
We understand that winning grants takes time—something many business owners and directors don’t have. That’s why we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Our Insights showcase some of the grant-winning methods we employ at GrantHelper, and they will help you create a stronger grant application.
Explore our Insights page, or our Podcasts page, where you’ll find expert advice, actionable tips, and time-saving strategies to help you get grant-ready.
Alternatively, check out some of the Clients we’ve helped and what they had to say about us.
