Initiative Grants

A group of people

Initiative Grants

A grant program for initiatives that increase visitation in regional and remote WA. These grants are made available through the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund’s Cultural Tourism Accelerator Program.

How to apply

  1. Download and read the Guidelines [PDF]
  2. Contact the Regional Arts WA Project Officer to discuss your proposed request and check your eligibility
  3. Submit your application via SmartyGrants

Hint: Use the Applicant and Resource Guide [PDF] to help you through your application.

Grant Categories

Applicants can apply for one of the two below categories:

Experience Initiative  – $10,000

  • An initiative that adds an offer or experience to an existing program, to increase visitation or extend the visitor experience of ‘place’.
  • For example, a regional gallery organising exchange visits to other regional gallery – programming artists talks, music; increased transport options to festivals (free bus from different city or town); a series of cultural precinct activations featuring street performers, musicians.

OR

Partnership Initiative  – $15,000

  • An initiative that develops a partnership with hospitality, accommodation, retail or events businesses to increase visitation and develop cross markets.
  • For example, partnering with a local deli to provide gift snack pack of local produce to out-of-town visitors attending a performance; artists working with cultural tour operators to develop new ‘arts and environment’ tours; partnership with boutique bed and breakfast to develop and market a culture weekend package.

Important Dates

  • 23 Jan 2022  Applications close
  • 1 Apr 2022  Funded Initiatives can begin
  • 31 Oct 2022  Funded Initiatives must be complete

Guidelines

Read through the Regional Arts Fund Cultural Tourism Accelerator Program Guidelines [PDF] for eligibility and grant criteria. If you require further assistance accessing the Guidelines, please contact us at investment@regionalartswa.org.au

Regional Eligibility

Applicants must reside in postcodes classified as regional using the Modified Monash Model Map. The applicant’s physical address must be MMM Classification 2 or above. To check how your address is classified visit the Doctor Connect Locator Map.

Regional Arts WA Support

Project Officers are available to talk through your project and provide help with the application process. Regional Arts WA can also provide written feedback on draft applications that are submitted by 9am Monday 10 January 2022. Please ask a Project Officer if you would like to receive this feedback.

Project Officers can also provide additional support to those who have additional needs. In particular; first time or young applicants, and/or applicants who are disadvantaged through cultural, physical or language barriers. Please tell a Project Officer if you have additional needs for support.

Assessment Process

All Regional Arts Fund Cultural Tourism Initiative Grants are assessed by an independent, external panel of artists and cultural workers from across WA. You can see the full list of peer assessors here and find out more about the process on the Assessment FAQs page.

The Australian Government Minister for the Arts has the option to announce the successful recipients, after which Regional Arts WA staff notify all applicants. Notification of the outcome can take around three months after the Grant round closing date. Please be aware this is an indicative time frame only.

Links and downloads

Successful recipients must display the Regional Arts Fund logos on all promotional material relating to the supported project. This is a combined logo set, featuring the logos of the Australian Government, Regional Arts Australia, and Regional Arts WA. If you have any questions about how to use the logos, please contact the Regional Arts WA Project Officer. 

Photo credit: Margaret River Readers’ and Writers Festival 2019. Photo by Michelle Troop, courtesy Arts Margaret River.

Eligibility

Individuals, groups, incorporated not-for-profit organisations, local governments based in regional WA
Amount Experience: $10,000
Partnership: $15,000
Dates

Closed
Guidelines

Download Guidelines [PDF]
Application Guide

Download Application Guide [PDF]
Contact Project Officers
Amber Launay: 08 9200 6207
Shandell Cummings: 08 9200 6204
investment@regionalartswa.org.au
Technical Support
Rachel Rainford: 08 9200 6203
Regional Freecall
1800 811 883

 

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for both the Experience and Partnership Initiative Grants?

No, applicants can only apply for one Initiative Grant.  

However, across the Cultural Tourism Accelerator Program, applicants can apply for one Campaign (either Targeted or Flash) and one Initiative (either Experience or Partnership), but not for the same costs. Each application must be made on a separate form. 

Do I have to have an existing project/venue/event?

Yes, this funding is designed to value-add to existing venues, projects, events, festivals. The application form will ask for details of your existing program/venue/event.

Can for-profit small business or private business apply?

No, but we encourage businesses to partner with individual artists or arts organisations who can apply. Small business and private business project partners are greatly encouraged.

What is “visitation” in this context?

Physical attendance by someone whose postcode is different from that of the project location they are visiting. It does not include digital attendance, only includes physical attendance at a venue, event or program location.

 

How will visitation be measured?

Applicants should design visitation measurement as part of their application. Applicants will be required to collect data supporting the effectiveness of their initiative. This could include engagement with social media, participation, attendance by postcode.

In addition, each recipient will assist in a national survey coordinated by Regional Arts Australia and be required to collect a minimum of 30 responses from visitors. These can be collected during or after the event. This survey will provide deeper insights into visitation, reasons for visitation and the importance of arts and cultural activity when choosing to travel.

All Cultural Tourism Accelerator Grants

Regional Arts WA

Targeted Campaign
Regional Arts WA

Flash Campaign
A crowd of people walking through a market stall

RAF Cultural Tourism Accelerator

About Regional Arts Fund (RAF)

The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government Program that supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities in Australia. It meets the strategic priorities of supporting participation in, and access to, the arts; and encouraging greater private sector support for the arts.

The Regional Arts Fund is designed to benefit regional and remote arts practitioners, arts workers, audiences and communities. The program is managed nationally by Regional Arts Australia and is delivered in all states and the Northern Territory by Regional Program Administrators.

Regional Arts WA Funding Programs
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