General News
30 April, 2026
Boost for 19 coastal events
NEARLY $80,000 has been awarded to 19 organisations to run festivals and artistic events on the Cassowary Coast.
Two Innisfail festivals will receive boosts in funding to help run their events this year and a range of other groups will also be recipients under a community grants and support program given the go ahead at last week’s Cassowary Coast Regional Council meeting.
The Innisfail and District Historical Society is to benefit from a $7500 grant towards the Tropical Art Deco Festival, while the Innisfail Gem Festival 2026 will receive $5000.
Other groups will receive grants for a range of events, projects, programs and equipment.
An executive summary of the program tabled at the meeting said: “Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s community grants and support program provides support for identified community members and local community organisations that endeavour to make positive change and contribute to a vibrant community.”
A range of local organisations will also receive grants under the latest round of the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).
The Mission Beach Community Arts centre is one of the recipients, with $5000 towards a project called ‘Reflect and creates: mosaic gazing balls for the garden’.
Also, under that centre’s auspices, applicant Eve Rose is to receive $4900 to help stage the Cassowary Coast Talent Quest 2026, which has a total project value of around $12,000.
“We are so grateful to have secured funding this year from council and local businesses to run another successful Talent Quest in 2026,” Ms Rose, who created the first event last year, told The Observer.
“We are so grateful the RADF is able to support the talented and creative kids and youth of the Cassowary Coast”.
CCRC Community Grants and Support Program
Innisfail and District Historical Society Inc – Tropical Art Deco Festival 2026, $7500
Innisfail Gem and Allied Craft Club Inc – Innisfail Gem Festival 2026, $5000
Cassowary Coast Women’s Business Network – Cassowary Coast Business Bazaar, $5000
Innisfail PCYC Project – youth footwear project, $2000
Cardwell and District Pickleball Club – functional sustainable seating, $2448
Mission Beach Historical Society – ‘Hear Ye, Hear Ye’, $1328
Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation – marquee for community events, $1903
Global Care Innisfail Empower Church – local food relief initiative, $7500
Goondi State School P & C Association – shade sail for adventure playground, $7500
Catholic School Parents Qld (Good Counsel College) – awards and graduation Event, $5676.
List of recipients – RADF grants round
Mission Beach Community Arts Centre Inc – ‘Reflect and creates: mosaic gazing balls for the garden’, $5000 (total project value $8227)
Evette Rose (Auspiced by Mission Beach Community Arts Centre)/Cassowary Coast Talent Quest 2026, $4900 (total project value $12,189)
Kurrimine Beach Progress Recreation and Sporting Association – gateway to Kurrimine Beach mural, $5000 (total project value $8302)
Michelle Larsen – ‘Reef to rainforest: three artists, two worlds, one backyard’, $2580 (total project value $7171).
Gumboot Theatre – Dimboola Theatre Restaurant, $5000 (total project value $34,609)
Innisfail Young Performers Competition Association – 2026 Innisfail Young Performers Competition, $3500 (total project value $26,000)
Lochlan Collinson – (Auspiced by Derek Collinson) – Creative Generation 2026 State Schools Onstage, $4414 (total project value $6791)
Jitta Art – professional development and mentoring support, $975 (total project value $1500)
The Rainforest School Parents and Friends Inc – Dangiang Sunda artist residence 2026, $2000 (total project value $10,511).
Read More: Cassowary Coast