Arts Programs, Projects and Initiatives
Image: Rush Festival, Jackass, 2017
Current Projects
Studio Trails 2026 10 Year Anniversary!
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, Gympie Region Studio Trails continues to champion the cultural and economic growth of our vibrant arts community. This signature event, led by Gympie Regional Gallery, offers visitors and locals an immersive experience—connecting them with the creativity and stories behind the region’s artists. Designed for short-break visitors within three hours of Gympie and for resident’s eager to explore local culture, Studio Trails transforms the region into a dynamic arts destination. Participants gain valuable exposure, networking opportunities, and the chance to showcase their work to a diverse audience.
Designed for short-break visitors within three hours of Gympie and for resident’s eager to explore local culture, Studio Trails transforms the region into a dynamic arts destination. Participants gain valuable exposure, networking opportunities, and the chance to showcase their work to a diverse audience.
Expressions of Interest are invited from artists, arts organisations, collectives and creatives from across the Gympie Region to participate in the Gympie Region Studio Trails 2026.
Submit an Expression of Interest application CLICK HERE
Gympie Region Studio Trails 2026 is proudly supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund
Arts and Culture E-news
Find out all the latest news about upcoming events, workshops, grants, and more across the Gympie region!
Share your events, workshops and program by sending an email to radf@gympie.qld.gov.au
Subscribe now!
Or click on this link to see previous editions.
Regional Arts Development Fund 2025-2026
The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Gympie Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
There are two RADF Grant Categories in 2025-2026.
Creative Projects (Rounds 1- opens 4 August 2025)
- To support projects that improve arts and cultural outcomes in the Gympie region through the development/presentation of new arts or cultural projects and/or through increasing opportunities for participation in and/or appreciation of arts and culture within the Gympie region.
- Maximum $8,000
- Up to 80% of the total project costs.
- Minimum applicant contribution 20% toward the total project costs.
Creative Capacity and Professional Development (Rolling Round)
- To support arts organisations, artists, and arts workers to build on established creative and professional practice and/or share their skills and knowledge with the local arts and cultural community.
- Maximum $2,500
- No co-contribution required.
- Creative Capacity and Professional Development funding can be used to attend or present professional development / workshops; attend conferences, events, or exhibitions where a professional development benefit can be demonstrated; or other capacity building or professional development activities.
The Rolling Round 2025 - 2026 is now open.
To find out all the information you need on how to apply, what’s eligible, and what comes next please
Click here
Arts and Cultural Strategy 2023-2028
The Arts and Cultural Strategy 2023-2028 identifies priorities to develop and celebrate arts and culture in the Gympie region from 2023-2028.. The Strategy was developed in the context of three existing documents: the Arts and Cultural Plan 2015-2025, which was endorsed in January 2015; the formal review which was carried out between April and June 2020; and the Gympie Regional Council Corporate plan 2022-2027. The Arts and Cultural Strategy 2023-2028 was subsequently developed by the Arts, Community and Culture team, in consultation with internal stakeholders.
Community Consultation on the Draft Arts and Cultural Strategy 2023-2028 and Public Art Policy 2023 was launched on 14 June and closed on 30 July. Officers then amended and refined the strategy, incorporating community feedback. The penultimate version of the Strategy was presented to Council workshop on 11 October 2023 and endorsed by Council on 25 October 2023. The Arts and Cultural Strategy 2023-2028 was officially launched on Friday 10 November. To read the final document please visit the Arts and Cultural Strategy, Policies, and Forums page.
New Murals in Gympie and Rainbow Beach
As part of the Creative Partnerships Project in 2023/2024, Heart and Soul Sisters were contracted to create tow new murals.
Annual Projects
Gympie Region Studio Trails
The Gympie Region Studio Trails is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2026!
This signature event, led by Gympie Regional Gallery, offers visitors and locals an immersive experience—connecting them with the creativity and stories behind the region’s artists. Designed for short-break visitors within three hours of Gympie and for resident’s eager to explore local culture, Studio Trails transforms the region into a dynamic arts destination. Participants gain valuable exposure, networking opportunities, and the chance to showcase their work to a diverse audience. Gympie Region Studio Trails 2026 is proudly supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between the Queensland Government and Gympie Regional Council to support local arts and culture across regional Queensland.
Gympie Region Arts and Cultural Forums
The Gympie Region Arts and Cultural Forums are an important part of addressing the need for networking and communication across the sector and a great chance to share your news and views.
Regional Arts Development Fund
The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Gympie Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
For more information on applying to Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund Grants program, click here
Regional Arts Development Fund - Council Initiated Projects
As part of the annual submission to Arts Queensland for the Regional Arts Development Fund, Council applies for funding to support a number of initiatives that respond to the objectives and strategic themes in the Draft Arts and Cultural Strategy.
Image: Gold Rush Parade and Carnivale, 2019
Past Projects
GRC Creative Partnerships Initiative 2022 - 2023
In 2022 Council facilitated a Creative Partnerships Initiative through the Regional Arts Development Fund
Heart and Soul Sisters: Community Mural Projects - Heart and Soul Sisters collaborated with the community to create two community mural projects on amenities blocks at Lake Alford Duck Ponds and Rainbow Beach.
Flipside Circus
Gympie Regional Council was proud to bring the award-winning Flipside circus to Gympie in October 2024 for two days of free circus skills workshops culminating in a performance of The Cubby, a brand-new work created with regional and remote Queensland communities. Over 130 people joined Flipside Circus at the Pavilion to be enthralled by Flipside's high energy performance.
For most of the audience it was their first time seeing a show live, so Flipside quickly showed them how to clap and cheer for the performers - an exercise they showed great talent for! Flipside loved the venue, the audience, and the vibe and we hope to see them back in Gympie soon. Flipside Circus is Queensland’s largest youth arts company – an award-winning company with a reputation for excellence in training and performance as well as for supporting Queensland’s world-leading circus sector. Gympie Regional Council was proud to bring Flipside Circus to Gympie as a Regional Arts Development Fund project.
MZAZA performance August 2024
Three-time Queensland Music Award winners MZAZA toured nationally in 2024 and Gympie Regional Council was proud to bring them to Gympie for a free performance on Friday 9 August.
MZAZA has enraptured audiences at MONA FOMA, Queensland Music Festival, Cygnet, National and Woodford Folk Festivals, and visited airwaves and venues internationally and now it was Gympie’s turn.
A sold-out crowd was awed and exhilarated by the impressive and powerful performance.
To see more about MZAZA please click here. MZAZA
Arts and Cultural Forums 2024
The first Arts and Cultural Forums for 2024 was held on Wednesday 21 February at the beautiful Gympie campus, University of the Sunshine Coast, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie. This was an opportunity for the creative sector and general community to take a look at Creative Recovery and hear more about the new Creative Recovery Mentoring Program.
The second Gympie Region Arts and Cultural Forum for 2024 was held on Tuesday 10 September in the Gympie Music Hall at the AICM (Australian institute of Country Music) co-presented with Creative Arts Gympie Region. Approximately 45 artists, arts workers, and advocates joined us to meet, mingle, and hear from key creative stakeholders, including Perseverance Street Theatre Company, the Australian Institute of Country Music, Mary Valley Arts Link, ART POST and Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival, and take the first steps towards exploring Cultural Mapping in the Gympie Region.
Arts and Cultural Forum 2023
The Arts and Cultural Forum was held on Tuesday 11 July 2023 at the Pavilion, as part of Community Consultation on the Draft Arts and Culture Strategy 2023-2028. Approximately 46 community members and stakeholders participated in a positive and challenging discussion ranging from the wording of the strategy, to the community’s most urgent concerns and priorities. Valuable feedback on the strategy, priorities, and actions was received and documented. The forum concluded with a performance by Linc Phelps.
GRC Creative Partnerships Initiative 2022 - 2023
In 2022 Council announced its Creative Partnerships Initiative, as part of its annual submission to RADF.
The Creative Partnerships Initiative requested quotes from organisations, groups, arts and cultural practitioners and workers to fund creative projects and initiatives that supported the establishment of strategic partnerships with Council and the local creative sector.
An Online Information Session was held on Monday 6th February 2023. The recorded session can be accessed here
First Nations Regional Partnerships
Respectful and meaningful engagement with our First Nations people is a priority for the three neighbouring local government organisations in Gympie, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast. The three Council boundaries all fall within the Kabi Kabi Native Title Claim area; therefore, a regional collaboration is an opportunity for a comprehensive approach to effective engagement with the broader First Nation’s community.
This project aims to:
- Establish lasting and meaningful connections with First Nations artists and cultural practitioners across the local government areas with the Traditional Owners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people residing in the Gympie, Noosa and Sunshine Coast regions;
- Engage key stakeholders and local government officials in Cultural Protocols Training and Cultural Awareness sessions.
- Develop a framework to collaborate effectively with consideration and respect to engagement protocols.
- Provide an opportunity for First Nations people and arts and cultural practitioners to inform Councils on their priorities and how to work together to achieve desired outcomes.
- Scope and plan for a pilot project developed from the framework and to work as a catalyst for future projects.
The Tank – Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum
This project aims to support the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum in the development and curation of the primary exhibit space located near the entry to the Museum – The Tank.
Currently this space houses a collection of artifacts, memorabilia and donated heirloom objects. The vision for this space is to curate a contemporary, dynamic and interactive exhibit with the inclusion of digital storytelling to present the chronological story of gold mining in Gympie.
Red for Remembrance 1918 - 2018 We Will Not Forget
On the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War, Remembrance Day 11 November 2018, we remembered all those who served, died or suffered serving our country during conflicts. This project acknowledged our region’s history and the significant contribution of Queenslanders in the WW1 campaign for their courage, integrity, resilience, mateship, teamwork, duty and sacrifice.
This historic event was commemorated with a major event from 4pm on Saturday 10 November at Memorial Park in Gympie.
A series of short film documentaries was created as part of the project.
This project was proudly supported by the Queensland Government.