Applications for Regional Arts Fund Project Grants officially opened on Wednesday, 1st July, 2026 for projects starting in the next calendar year (2027).

The Regional Arts Fund is an ongoing program that provides approximately $6 million per year to support artists and communities in regional and remote areas across Australia. The Regional Arts Fund is part of the Australian Government’s Arts and Cultural Development Program that supports participation in, and access to, Australia’s arts and culture through developing and supporting cultural expression.

The Project Grants fund high-quality arts projects benefitting regional or remote artists, arts workers, audiences and communities. The focus of the project could include any area of creative practice, multiple art forms or cross-disciplinary practice.

The Regional Arts Fund is managed by Regional Arts Australia on behalf of the Australian Government. Regional Arts Australia contracts Regional Arts NSW to deliver the program and award grants to artists, arts workers and organisations in NSW.

To apply, click the link below. This will take you to the Regional Arts Australia online application system. If you have not used SmartyGrants before you will need to set up an account. This account and password can be used to go back to your application at any time and will be the same for any other grants you might apply for in the future using the SmartyGrants system.  Your application will be available to you until you click SUBMIT, or the closing date is reached.

Applicants can apply for up to $30,000.

The Regional Arts Fund Project Grants will open Wednesday 1st July, 2026 at 9:00am AEST. 

Applications close on Monday 17th August, 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

Applicants with accessibility requirements can request an alternative format submission to assit them in submitting their application. Please contact the Funding & Development Manager for more information.

Only organisations or individuals based in the Modified Monash model areas MM 2 – MM 7 are eligible to apply. To check your eligibility, please refer to the Regional Arts Fund Eligibility Map.

To be eligible to apply for a grant, you must meet the following Eligibility Requirements:

• have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) that is registered to your name and location;
• be located in Regional or Remote Australia (MM2-MM7), meaning the postcode for the main business location registered for
  your ABN must be in Regional or Remote Australia;
• if required by the Australian Taxation Office, be registered for the purposes of GST; and
• not have any outstanding reports, acquittals or serious breaches relating to any Australian Government funding or funding from a state or territory Regional Program Administrator. A serious breach is one that has resulted in, or warrants, the termination of a grant agreement.

In addition to meeting the Eligibility Requirements you must also be one of the following types of Eligible Entity:

• an individual over 18;
• an Australian incorporated organisation (for example, an incorporated association, a company limited by guarantee, an
  Indigenous corporation, a proprietary limited company or a cooperative) that can provide evidence of non-profit status; or
• a local government organisation.

The following entities are not eligible to apply:

• a for profit company (including proprietary limited companies and cooperatives that cannot provide evidence of non-profit status)
• individuals operating through a trust or partnership
• an Australian Government or state government entity (except for schools in very remote areas (MM7);
• a Regional Program Administrator or a Regional Program Administrator employee directly involved in the delivery of the Regional Arts Fund;
• for Project Grants, an individual, or organisation who has already received a Regional Arts Fund Project Grant in the same financial year; and
• for Project Grants, an individual, or organisation who has already received multi-year funding for a Regional Arts Fund Project Grant taking place in the same financial year.

Applicants under the age of 18 must be auspiced by a person over the age of 18 or organisation that meets the eligibility criteria. Unincorporated groups (a group of persons who agree to act together as an organisation and form an association, but whose association is not recognised as a separate legal entity from its members) may be auspiced by an organisation that meets the eligibility criteria.

To help you prepare your application, you can download the following: 

Project Grants Application 

Project Grants Budget

For detailed information regarding eligibility, please see RAF Eligibility  and RAF Guidelines.

You can also read a plain english summary of the Regional Arts Fund Projects Grants here.

RANSW will run two online Q&A workshops for applicants to the Regional Arts Fund Project Grants to answer any of your questions regarding eligibility, the application form, budget or support materials, and provide grant writing support to artists wanting to apply.

Introduction to the Regional Arts Fund Project Grants: 10 July 2026, 12PM-1:30PM

Troubleshoot your application: 24 July 2026, 12PM-1:00PM

If you have any enquiries, please contact the Funding & Development Manager at Regional Arts NSW.

Phone: 02 9270 2500

Email: funding@regionalartsnsw.com.au

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• Upper Hunter Shire Council, Scone, Upper Hunter & Kia Ora Youth Music Camp 2026, $15 872
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