Festivals Australia supports community participation in, and access to, the arts and aims to support partnerships and collaboration across the sector.

The Festivals Australia objectives are to:

• provide access to a diverse range of engaging, innovative arts projects that grow audiences at festivals across regional and remote Australia;
• support partnerships and collaboration across the arts sector; and
• encourage community participation in arts projects at regional and remote festivals.

To achieve these objectives, Festivals Australia offers funding to 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
• significant one-off community celebration 

The Australian Government provides approximately $1.4 million, subject to annual indexation, each financial year for the Festivals Australia Program. There are two funding opportunities each year, with approximately $700,000 allocated to each funding round. For Festivals Australia Round 21, there is approximately $719,000 available.

There is no limit to the amount of funding that may be requested. However, the average funding request is around $40,000. Applicants should keep in mind that the Program supports projects that deliver strongly against the Program objectives in regional and remote areas. To be competitive, all applications for funding must include realistic budgets and represent value for money.

To be eligible you must:

• be an Australian incorporated organisation
• have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered for the purposes of GST, if required by the Australian Taxation Office not have any outstanding reports, acquittals or serious breaches relating to any Australian Government funding. A serious breach is one that has resulted in, or warrants, the termination of a grant agreement.

Applicants from the Australian external territories, such as Norfolk Island, are eligible to apply.

Unincorporated groups are eligible for funding but must be auspiced by an organisation that meets the above criteria.

Festivals Australia does not fund projects that take place in major cities or metropolitan locations.

• Phone: 1800 590 577
• Email: festivals@arts.gov.au