Funding for artists and cultural organisations
There are some fantastic funding opportunities that could support local artists, writers, musicians and other creatives across WA and Swan. These grants can support creative people in the community to realise their creative ambitions, develop their skills and connect with audiences. I encourage all local creatives to consider the opportunities below, and contact respective teams to discuss how to apply for these grants and relate your project to each assessment criteria. They may also be able to suggest alternative avenues for support for project work that may be relevant.
Zaneta Mascarenhas
Federal Member for Swan
Regional arts fund – PROJECT GRANTS
Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, delivered by Regional Arts WA
Project Grants provide major funding for high-quality arts projects benefitting regional or remote artists, arts workers, audiences and communities. The focus of the project could include any area of creative practice, multiple art forms or cross-disciplinary practice.
Deadline: 16 August 2024
Amount: Up to $30,000
Further details: Project Grants
You can contact Regional Arts WA to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Regional arts fund – quick response grants
Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, delivered by Regional Arts WA
Quick Response Grants assist regional artists, arts organisations and communities to take up professional or skills development opportunities, or respond to small project opportunities that arise at short notice
Deadline: Monthly rounds February - November. Each round opens the first day of the month and closes the final day of the month
Amount: Up to $3,000 for individuals and up to $5,000 for organisations
Further details: Quick Response Grants
You can contact Regional Arts WA to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Arts Short Notice Activity Program
Western Australian Government
The Arts Short Notice Activity Program (Arts SNAP) for individuals and groups offers funding for regional, national and international short notice activities for artists and creative industry professionals.
The program supports the growth of a vibrant sector that promotes the participation and active engagement of Western Australian artists and arts workers in high quality arts and cultural opportunities. Grants of up to $5000 for national and regional opportunities, and up to $10,000 for international, are available for individuals and groups.
Deadline: 5 December 2024
Amount: up to $10,000 for international opportunities, up to $5,000 for regional and national opportunities
Further details: Arts Short Notice Activity Program
You can contact the Department to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups
Western Australian Government
The program supports the development and growth of a vibrant sector that promotes the participation and active engagement of Western Australian communities in high quality arts and cultural experiences. This program supports individuals and groups to deliver projects that involve artists or creatives who maintain professional arts and creative practices. The three categories are:
- Aboriginal Arts
- Arts and Creative Business Development
- Creative Development.
Deadline: 12 September 2024, 16 January 2025, 15 May 2025
Amounts:
Creative Development: Between $5000 and $80,000
Arts and Creative Business Development: Between $5000 and $80,000
Aboriginal Arts: Between $5000 and $80,000
Further details: Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups
You can contact the Department to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Arts Projects for ORGANISATIONS
Western Australian Government
The program supports the development and growth of a vibrant sector that promotes the participation and active engagement of Western Australian communities in high quality arts and cultural experiences. This program supports organisations to deliver projects that involve artists or creatives who maintain professional arts and creative practices. The four categories are:
- Aboriginal Arts
- Arts and Creative Business Development
- Creative Development
- Annual Program of Activity.
Deadline: 3 October 2024, 9 October, 2025
Amount: Between $5000 and $80,000
Further details: Arts Projects for Organisations
You can contact the Department to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Contemporary Music Fund
Western Australian Government
The Contemporary Music Fund (CMF) assists homegrown contemporary music artists with projects that enable them to produce and promote their work, along with building links nationally and internationally.
Deadline: 5 December 2024
Amount:
Up to $15,000 for international touring/showcasing opportunities
Up to $10,000 for regional and national touring/showcasing opportunities
Up to $5,000 for Professional development opportunities
Further details: Contemporary Music Fund
You can contact the Department to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Regional Performing Arts
Western Australian Government
Funding to support the development of new performing arts work and touring of existing performing arts work in regional Western Australia. Funding is offered in two streams:
Made in WA: funding for the development of new performing art works, which are relevant and responsive to regional audiences and communities, that will be premiered in regional venues.
Playing WA: Funding for the touring of WA produced performing arts shows to regional and remote communities in Western Australia.
Deadline: 3 October 2024, 9 October 2024
Amount:
Playing WA: Up to $150,000
Made in WA: Up to $150,000
Further details: Regional Performing Arts
You can contact the Department to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Connecting to Country
Western Australian Government
The Connecting to Country program supports projects that enable Western Australian Aboriginal people and organisations to undertake on Country activities that foster the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, preservation of culture and strengthening of communities. The program intends to:
- facilitate sharing of cultural knowledge and skills between generations, such as the preservation of language, stories and dance
- recognise Aboriginal cultural leadership within the Aboriginal community and support leadership development in young people
- contribute to stronger community mental health and wellbeing
- strengthen, protect and maintain traditional ways of maintaining cultural knowledge.
Deadline: 10 October 2024
Amount: up to $25,000
Further details: Connecting to Country
You can contact the Department to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Creativity for Schools
Western Australian Government
The Creativity for Schools Program offers funding support to connect Western Australian creatives with schools.
Creativity for Schools supports activities using arts-based practice to engage students in their learning beyond arts curriculum areas. The two program categories, Collaboration and Residency, will support access, participation and overall engagement for students (K to 12) in transformative creative learning experiences. They will also develop educators to use creative pedagogy across curriculum areas and beyond.
Deadline: 10 October 2024
Amount: Up to $20,000 for residencies and up to $60,000 for collaborations
Further details: Creativity for Schools
You can contact the Department to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Arts Activities in Regional Communities
Western Australian Government
Funding for projects that support participation in, access to and creation of arts and culture in regional Western Australia. For arts and cultural projects in regional WA that align with the following objectives:
- Increase access to and/or participation in arts and culture in regional Western Australia.
- Provide employment opportunities, skills development or/and career pathways for regional Western Australian artists and arts workers.
- Encourage development of regional creative and cultural industries including cultural tourism.
- Support community led activities and creative developments.
- Contribute to social inclusion, wellbeing, cohesion and vibrancy in regional WA communities.
Deadline: 3 October 2024, 9 October, 2025
Amount: Up to $60,000
Further details: Arts Activities in Regional Communities
You can contact the Department to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
Regional Aboriginal Arts Development
Western Australian Government
Funding for projects that support the development of Aboriginal artists and the Aboriginal arts and cultural sector in regional Western Australia. For Aboriginal arts and cultural projects in regional and remote WA that align with one or more of the following objectives:
- support the development of significant and large-scale works created and produced by Aboriginal artists in regional Western Australia
- showcase the unique stories of Western Australia’s First Nations peoples and engage new and diverse audiences
- support regional Aboriginal arts and cultural organisations to develop strategic, business, succession, sustainability, and/or governance plans
- support audience development and economic diversification by strengthening Aboriginal arts and cultural organisations and industry
- support long-term skills development goals for Aboriginal arts workers, artists and communities
- enable employment opportunities and improve economic growth for regional Aboriginal artists, arts workers and communities.
Deadline: 10 April 2025
Amount:
Creative development: Grants of up to $150,000
Business development and capacity building: Grants of up to $50,000
Further details: Regional Aboriginal Arts Development
You can contact the Department to discuss your proposal:
Email: [email protected]
ARTS PROJECTS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS
Creative Australia
This program funds projects that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities. A range of activities can be funded, for example: the creation of new work, productions, festivals, exhibitions, performances, publishing, recording, touring, experimentation, creative development, promotion and marketing, practice based research, market development activity, collaborations and exchanges and professional skills development, including mentoring and residencies. Activities can take place nationally, internationally, online, or in a combination of in-person and online.
Deadline: 3 September 2024
Amount: $10,000 to $50,000
Further details: Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://creative.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/
ARTS PROJECTS FOR Organisations
Creative Australia
This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities. Organisations that undertake arts programs, projects, or that provide services to artists, are welcome to apply.
Organisations can propose a single project, a suite of projects or an annual program of activity.
A range of activities can be funded, for example: the creation of new work, productions, festivals, exhibitions, performances, publishing, recording, touring, experimentation, creative development, promotion and marketing, activities to develop the arts sector, practice-based research, market development activity, collaborations and exchanges and professional skills development, including mentoring and residencies. Activities can take place nationally, internationally, online, or in a combination of in-person and online.
Deadline: 3 September 2024
Amount: $20,000 to $100,000
Further details: Arts Projects for Organisations
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://creative.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/
Flourish: First Nations Fashion and Textiles Fund
Creative Australia
The Flourish: First Nations Fashion and Textiles Fund provides grants to build sustainable businesses and support economic, cultural, and social development opportunities. The opportunity is open to First Nations individuals, groups and organisations (including Art Centres) working in the textile design and fashion sector. Grants can be used to support innovation, production, capacity building, marketing, professional development, seed funding and/or increasing digital visibility. To apply for this opportunity, applicants are required to provide a proposal detailing what they would like to achieve with the fund.
Deadline: 6 August 2024
Amount: $10,000 to $50,000
Further details: Flourish: First Nations Fashion and Textiles Fund
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://creative.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/
Elevate: First Nations Storytelling and Literature Fund
Creative Australia
The Elevate: First Nations Storytelling and Literature Fund is a $10,000 career development grant for First Nations individuals and groups. The opportunity is open to writers, poets, editors, illustrators, journalists, arts workers and groups in the literature sector. Elevate is designed to support and develop career pathways and opportunities which may include capacity building, networking, mentoring, residencies, and audience development for their work.
Deadline: 6 August 2024
Amount: $10,000
Further details: Elevate: First Nations Storytelling and Literature Fund
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://creative.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC TOURING PROGRAM
Creative Australia
The Contemporary Music Touring Program (CMTP) supports national touring activity undertaken by Australian musicians performing original Australian contemporary music.
The tour must comprise of performances in at least three venues or locations outside of the performer’s hometown. Tours that include regional and remote destinations, or which assist performers residing in regional and remote areas to tour, are a priority for funding. Grants are available from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the number of tour venues or locations in regional or remote areas.
Deadline: 3 September 2024 and 4 March 2025
Amount: $5,000 to $50,000
Further details: Contemporary Music Touring Program
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://creative.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/
Creative Futures Fund: Development Investment
Creative Australia
The Creative Futures Fund is an initiative of the National Cultural Policy, referenced in the policy as “Works of Scale”. The Fund will support the creation and sharing of Australian stories and new ways for people to engage with them.
Creative Futures Fund: Development Investment can support the creation and testing of new ideas and works, the establishment of new partnerships, collaborations and skills to lay the foundations for future delivery. This stream is also suitable for applicants who are testing their work in the market.
Creative Australia is seeking great ideas that are ambitious, unexpected and innovative. This includes new works and projects that may leverage existing intellectual property. The innovation could be in the story, the artforms or mediums used, the partners and artists you work with, or the way you will present or share the work.
The investment available is significant, so they want to know what that investment may help you do that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Funding business as usual activity is not a priority.
The fund will only support Australian stories, for example the intellectual property must be majority owned by Australian creatives, be an Australian concept, with subject matter that is relevant to contemporary Australia.
Deadline: 6 August 2024
Amount: $50,000 to $250,000
Further details: Creative Futures Fund: Development Investment
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://creative.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/
Creative Futures Fund: Delivery Investment
Creative Australia
Creative Futures Fund: Delivery Investment will bring new Australian stories to life so people can engage with and experience them.
It is for works in their final stages of development that are ready for presentation. Investment can be used to adapt existing works that have already had a public outcome, develop and deepen partnerships, secure co-investment, realise and share the work, and capture the impact this has had for you, your collaborators and those experiencing the work.
Creative Australia is seeking great ideas that are ambitious, unexpected and innovative. This includes new works and projects that may leverage existing intellectual property. The innovation could be in the story, the artforms or mediums used, the partners and artists you work with, or the way you will present or share the work.
The investment available is significant, so they want to know what that investment may help you do that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Funding business as usual activity is not a priority.
The fund will only support Australian stories, for example the intellectual property must be majority owned by Australian creatives, be an Australian concept, with subject matter that is relevant to contemporary Australia.
Deadline: 6 August 2024
Amount: $250,000 to $1,500,000
Further details: Creative Futures Fund: Delivery Investment
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://creative.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/
Acme London Residency
Creative Australia
This residency supports visual artists to develop their practice and professional networks with $30,000 while living and working at Acme’s East London residency space, the Fire Station.
Deadline: 6 August 2024
Amount: $30,000
Further details: Acme London Residency
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://creative.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/
Helsinki International Artist Programme Residency
Creative Australia
This three-month residency program offers time and space for open-ended research and experimentation, without the requirement to produce finalised work. The HIAP residency venues are located on Suomenlinna island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located a 15-minute ferry ride away from the centre of Helsinki, and in the Cable Factory cultural complex in Helsinki.
The HIAP residency program focuses on visual arts, however, it is open to artists and curators from various disciplines. Collaborating with local and international partner organisations, residencies extend to such creative fields as dance, theatre, literature, and music. The activities are organised predominantly through thematic residency programs that highlight a geographical area or concentrate on a specific contemporary topic or an aspect of artistic practice.
The HIAP residency program offers time and support for developing new work in dialogue with the local art scene. The goal is to offer space for experimental, cross-disciplinary art practices and to actively contribute to topical debates within and around the context of art.
Deadline: 6 August 2024
Amount: $12,500
Further details: Helsinki International Artist Programme
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://creative.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/
Australian cultural fund
Creative Australia
The Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) is a fundraising platform for Australian artists. Through the ACF, artists upload their project, start their fundraising campaign and invite art lovers and supporters to donate with 100% of donations going directly towards artists’ creative projects. Through the ACF you can offer tax deductibility to your donors. The ACF has helped raise millions of dollars for Australian artists, enabling a wide range of projects to come to life and offering support to Australia’s cultural sector.
Deadline: Always open
Further details: Australian Cultural Fund
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 9215 9000
Online: https://australianculturalfund.org.au/contact/
Plus1
Creative Australia
Plus1 is a program to assist small-to-medium not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations develop their fundraising capacity, attract private sector support, grow stronger and broader networks and build supportive partnerships. The program pledges dollar-for-dollar matched funding of monies raised through a nominated fundraising campaign. Successful organisations are able to leverage this pledge to help develop and secure support.
Deadline: 6 August 2024
Amount: up to $50,000
Further details: Plus1
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 03 9616 0321
Email: [email protected]
MatchLab
Creative Australia
MATCH Lab is a matched funding program for independent artists and small groups. The program aims to build artists’ skills in fundraising, increase their knowledge of philanthropy and business partnerships, develop their broader arts business experience and learn more about creating sustainable sources of revenue for their work into the future.
We’re looking for enthusiastic independent artists and small groups of artists who have a project to fund and are keen to learn the art of fundraising and building a sustainable arts practice.
Creative Australia will give your project a boost by matching dollar-for-dollar (up to $10,000) what you raise during your fundraising campaign. This incentive should help you leverage support for your new project.
Deadline: 6 August 2024
Amount: up to $10,000
Further details: MATCH Lab
You can contact Creative Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 03 9616 0321
Email: [email protected]
National cultural heritage account
Office for the Arts
The National Cultural Heritage Account is a grant program that assists Australian cultural organisations to acquire significant cultural heritage objects that they could not otherwise afford. The National Cultural Heritage Account helps to retain and protect Australia's cultural heritage for future generations and provide public access to important objects that tell a story about our cultural identity. Australian cultural organisations that can care for and provide permanent public access to Australian protected objects have a priority for funding.
Deadline: Always open
Further details: National Cultural Heritage Account
You can contact the Office for the Arts to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 1800 819 461
Email: [email protected]
Cultural Gifts Program
Office for the Arts
The Cultural Gifts Program offers tax incentives to encourage people to donate cultural items to public art galleries, museums, libraries and archives in Australia. If you have an item recognised as important to Australia’s culture you can donate it and receive a tax deduction. Donations include paintings, books, sculptures, installations, new media, manuscripts, personal papers, jewellery, ceramics, technological or scientific collections.
Deadline: Always open
Further details: Cultural Gifts Program
You can contact the Office for the Arts to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 02 6271 7106
Email: [email protected]
FEATURE FILM PRODUCTION FUND
Screen Australia
Screen Australia’s Feature Film Production program aims to support a diverse slate of Australian films for theatrical release that entertain and enlighten domestic and international audiences while reflecting the unique characteristics of Australian identity.
Deadline: 29 August 2024
Amount: up to $1 million
Further details: Feature Production Fund
You can contact Screen Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 1800 507 901
Email: [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE FUND
Screen Australia
The International Finance fund provides support to Australian projects with a very high level of global appeal, to assist them to develop pitching materials and strategy, in order to best attract international partnerships and finance in the current market.
It is open to long form drama and documentary projects on any platform which are market ready, have undergone a successful development process and can demonstrate development funding from an arm’s length commercial partner.
Deadline: Always open
Amount: $5,000 to $20,000
Further details: International Finance Fund
You can contact Screen Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 1800 507 901
Email: [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL PITCHING EVENTS AND TALENT LABS
Screen Australia
International Pitching Events and Talent Labs provides support to producers selected for competitive overseas pitching events in order for them to secure finance, production and marketplace partners for Australian projects, or for key creatives invited to attend premium overseas talent labs to enable professional development and to build international industry networks.
Deadline: Always open
Amount: $5,000 to $20,000 (depending on duration)
Further details: International Pitching Events and Talent Labs
You can contact Screen Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 1800 507 901
Email: [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL MARKETING SUPPORT: FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
Screen Australia
For the promotion of Australian content and talent at the key international festivals and awards events, enabling the enhancement of international marketing strategies in conjunction with other partners.
Limited funding to acknowledge the importance of global strategies for new titles, restricted to their world or international premiere and planned related sales and marketing activities at significant industry events.
Deadline: six weeks in advance of the event.
Amount: up to $20,000 for feature films and television series and $10,000 for short films.
Further details: International Marketing Support: Festivals and Awards
You can contact Screen Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 1800 507 901
Email: [email protected]
P&A PLUS
Screen Australia
This program is designed to enhance the distribution and marketing of quality Australian films across traditional and alternative release platforms.
Funding can be sought to support the traditional theatrical Australian and New Zealand release of completed feature films that have an established local distributor attached, or for alternative release campaigns in certain circumstances.
Deadline: always open
Amount: To be determined by Screen Australia
Further details: P&A Plus
You can contact Screen Australia to discuss your proposal:
Phone: 1800 507 901
Email: [email protected]
