RADF Committee supports development of local arts and culture

RADF Committee supports development of local arts and culture

Gladstone Regional Council has endorsed the appointment of 10 residents to the Gladstone Region Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) Committee.

Residents appointed to the RADF Committee include: Wesley Walker, Norma Tanna, Tina SkyringQuirk, Belynda (Bindi) Waugh, Margaret Worthington, Josh Kearney, Adrienne Ward, Helena Sant, Jennifer Ryan and Michael Lunan.

Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said endorsement of the committee followed the RADF annual general meeting on August 23.

“The RADF is a program developed by the Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland and administered by Gladstone Regional Council to provide funding for development of arts and cultural activities,” Councillor Burnett said.

“The RADF committee decide, in accordance with the RADF guidelines, if applications meet criteria and are eligible for funding.”

Council has approved RADF funding assessed by the outgoing RADF Committee.

The successful RADF projects include theatre workshops designed to help young people in foster care, a public artwork to be created at Barney Point, as well as professional development and mentoring opportunities for local artists to develop a script, attend country music masterclasses and a touring art exhibition Reef: Art/Wonder/ Science.

Queensland Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said RADF delivered on the Queensland Government’s commitment to foster diverse and inclusive communities, grow strong regions and provide training, education, and employment opportunities for Queenslanders.

"The Queensland Government is contributing $2.08 million to leverage up to $1.92 million from local councils resulting in up to $4 million available to support arts and cultural activities throughout the state in 2016-17," the Premier said.

"This funding promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of inclusive communities and strong regions and ensures Queenslanders can engage with arts locally.

"Each year around 500,000 people are involved in RADF projects as practitioners, participants or audience members,” she said.

A full list of successful RADF 2016-17 Special Round fund recipients follows:

(-ENDS)