The creative arts on Redlands Coast have received a boost, with seven local projects awarded a share of $42,753 through round 1 of the 2025–2026 Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).
Redland City Mayor Jos Mitchell said the funding would support projects that benefitted both emerging and established creative practitioners.
“There is a vibrant arts sector on Redlands Coast and this funding will help to foster that creative community by encouraging partnerships and skills development,” the Mayor said.
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“The diverse range of media represented in this funding round includes both individual artists and community arts events.
“Several of the projects selected through the organisation’s grant approval process involve the sharing of creative knowledge, including two recipients who will use the funding to gain valuable experience overseas in their respective areas of pottery and weaving, and will share their new-found knowledge through workshops upon their return.”
Arts, Culture and Heritage Portfolio representative Cr Paul Bishop said the RADF funding helped deliver rich arts experiences within the community.
“The initiatives in this round encompass everything from pottery, traditional Polish weaving and the visual arts through to classical music, storytelling through writing or digital works, and singing,” Cr Bishop said.
“There is also funding for next year’s Quandamooka Festival, which fits with RADF’s objective to elevate First Nations creators and to promote the value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities.
“All these initiatives help to support the development of local artists and foster a thriving creative community.”
The successful RADF Round 1 recipients are:
- Kristina Newton – a series of classical music concerts across Stradbroke, Coochiemudlo, Russell and Macleay Islands.
- Rough Sea Films – a six-week writing workshop for the Bay Islands community, helping emerging writers turn their stories into memoirs, fiction, oral histories, screenplays or digital works.
- Maria Cleary – a two-week intensive course for intermediate to advanced potters at La Meridiana Ceramic School in Italy in 2026.
- Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation – the 2026 Quandamooka Festival.
- Polish Ex-Servicemen’s Association – training with master weavers in rural Poland, focusing on the ceremonial breadbasket used in the Polish bread and salt ritual.
- Erika Scott – artwork development, public programs and transportation costs associated with a new exhibition with the Institute of Modern Art.
- Mirusia Productions – Rising Stars 2026, a professional vocal development program for emerging singers delivered through four intensive workshops and a Showcase performance.
Applications for round 2 of the 2025–2026 RADF program are scheduled to open on 16 February 2026.
RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Redland City Council to promote local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
More information on the RADF program and successful recipients is available on Council’s Grants and sponsorship webpage.
