Maximum Funding
150000
Deadline
March 17, 2026
State / Territory
Federal
Industry Focus
Arts, Culture, Community
The Festivals Australia program provides funding to support individual art projects in regional or remote locations. Eligible projects take place at festivals or significant one-off community events such as a town celebration or opening of a new community resource. Round 22 is now open, with funding available for activities commencing from 1 July 2026.
Applications close 17 March 2026 at 11:30pm AEDT. The total funding pool for this round is $740,000.
The program has three clear objectives: providing access to diverse and innovative arts projects that grow audiences at regional and remote festivals, supporting partnerships and collaboration across the arts sector, and encouraging community participation. Your application needs to demonstrate how your project delivers against these objectives, not just describe the art itself.
Location eligibility is the first hurdle. Festivals Australia does not fund projects in major cities or metropolitan areas. Before you invest time in an application, use the Festivals Australia Eligibility Map to confirm your event location qualifies. Enter the full delivery address and check the remoteness classification displayed.
The strongest applications tend to show genuine community engagement rather than just presenting art to an audience. If your project invites local participation, involves regional artists or arts workers, or creates skills transfer opportunities, make that prominent. Assessors are looking for projects where the community is involved, not just watching.
Partnerships also matter. If you are collaborating with other arts organisations, local councils, community groups, or cultural institutions, describe those partnerships and what each party contributes. A project with multiple stakeholders invested in its success is more compelling than a solo effort.
Budget realism is important across the funding range. A $5,000 project needs a tight scope with clear deliverables. A $150,000 project needs a detailed budget, evidence of organisational capacity, and a strong case for why the scale is justified. Applications are assessed by independent assessors and approved by the Minister for the Arts or their delegate, so expect rigorous scrutiny at the higher end.
Use the Festivals Australia Eligibility Map at spatial.infrastructure.gov.au. Enter the full address where your project will be delivered. The map will show the remoteness classification and confirm whether the location is eligible. Major cities and metropolitan areas are excluded.
Yes, but you must be auspiced by an organisation that meets the eligibility criteria. The auspicing organisation applies on your behalf and takes responsibility for funding compliance and acquittal.
Projects can include parades, performances, workshops, installations, exhibitions, and other arts activities delivered at a festival or significant one-off community celebration. The key requirement is that it is a single project, not a collection of unrelated activities.
Funding from this round is available for activities commencing from 1 July 2026. Your project timeline should reflect this in the application.
The program usually runs two rounds per year, opening in February and September. However, the Office for the Arts is currently considering moving to one round per year from 2026-27, so timing of future rounds may change.
Festivals Australia is one of the longest-running federal arts funding programs, providing approximately $1.4 million each financial year. For regional arts organisations, it offers a direct pathway to federal funding without competing against major metropolitan institutions.
The scope of eligible projects is broad enough to accommodate everything from small community workshops to large-scale festival installations. If you are already planning an arts project for a regional festival, this funding can significantly offset delivery costs.
The independent assessment process also means strong applications are judged on merit rather than political connections. A well-written, clearly scoped application from a small regional organisation has a genuine chance of success.
We write it for you. Grant applications are time consuming and competitive. We handle the writing, positioning, and submission so you can focus on your creative work.
We know what assessors look for. Our team has helped clients secure over $45 million in government funding. We understand how to frame arts projects around program objectives and assessment criteria.
Strategic positioning. We help you articulate community engagement, partnership value, and regional impact in a way that resonates with independent assessors.
Fixed pricing, no surprises. Our fees are transparent and structured so you know exactly what you are paying before we start.
Standard turnaround: 3-4 weeks. Rush options available when capacity permits.
Expert grant writing, real results