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
- Close Date & Time: 18 March 2025 at 11:30 pm (ACT Local Time)
- Activities funded by this grant must commence from 1 July 2025
- 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 significant one-off community celebration.
- Occur in regional or remote Australia.
- Be arts-focused, with possible projects including performances, workshops, exhibitions, parades, or installations.
Ineligible expenditure includes:
- Festival or business start-up costs.
- General marketing for the festival.
- Catering.
- International travel costs.
- Security and hire of amenities (e.g., toilets, garbage bins).
- Insurance costs.
- Operating costs for the festival.
- Infrastructure costs (e.g., building or fitting out permanent structures).
- Publication of festival programs.
- Contingency costs.
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 Australian incorporated organisation with an active ABN.
- Be registered for GST, if required.
- Be free from any outstanding Australian Government funding breaches.
Unincorporated organisations can apply if auspiced by an eligible incorporated organisation.
See the guidelines for full details of organisational requirements.
Festivals Australia Program assessment criteria
1. Quality
- experience and capability of the applicant organisation in the relevant field
- skills and expertise of the key personnel including participating artists
- scale of the project adequate for its purpose
- benefits to the arts and cultural sector, in particular with respect to innovation and collaboration
- benefits to project participants, providing professional development and training pathways
- benefits to the artists involved of the opportunity for wider artistic expression
- benefits to audiences and the Australian community
2. Access
- likely attendance/participation, including visitors to the region
- audience appeal/demand, including visitors to the region
- location of the festival or one-off community celebration
- how the project widens audiences’ access to artforms and mediums, styles, innovation or
experimentation - the involvement and/or participation of artists and other personnel with disability, and the
accessibility of the project for persons with disability - the involvement and/or participation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
- the involvement and/or participation of people from culturally or linguistically diverse
backgrounds - benefits to the artists involved of the exposure to wider audiences
3. Support and partnerships
- community support and engagement
- financial and project partners
- level of co-contribution (cash and/or in-kind)
4. Value for money
- the need for funding support
- the quality and viability of the project plan and timeline
- the viability and adequacy of the proposed budget
- remuneration arrangements for personnel and artists involved
- governance arrangements within the organisation (capacity to administer the funding)
- the applicant’s funding history/compliance
- the overall public benefit of investing in the project
See the guidelines for full details of assessment criteria.
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
Be ready to provide:
- A detailed project plan and budget.
- Evidence of artist participation and community support.
- Any relevant documentation, such as previous or proposed festival programs.
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for Festivals Australia Program
Applications are submitted via SmartyGrants portal.
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
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