Please note: Some of the content on this page was published prior to the launch of Creative Australia and references the Australia Council. Read more.

UNESCO World Heritage Residency program

A residency opportunity for artists to visit Australian UNESCO World Heritage (natural) sites and work towards a public reflection on their learnings.

In 2025, Creative Australia will launch a new initiative called the UNESCO World Heritage Residency program.

The program establishes a residency opportunity for artists to visit Australian UNESCO World Heritage (natural) sites and work towards a public reflection on their learnings.

The program will offer three (3) artist-in-residencies for an Australian artist or collective to work on-site with a confirmed Field Residency Partner at a Australian natural UNESCO World Heritage site within Australia.

Australian Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites are defined by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water[1] excluding all urban sites such as Australian Convict sites, the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens. (See list of eligible sites outlined below).

The Residency is open to Australian artists and collectives working across the following art forms: community arts and cultural development, dance, emerging and experimental arts, First Nations arts and culture, literature, multi-artform, visual arts, theatre, and music.

Applications will be received through an Expression of Interest, and will be assessed by Industry Advisors, selected based on their connection to sites and/or their experience as a practicing artist or arts administrator.

Three (3) awarded residency recipients will receive an instalment of $50,000 each at the beginning of their residencies. Residencies are self-defined in duration (up to a maximum of six (6) months). The residency will culminate in a public reflection on their learnings, such as a seminar, workshop, or new creative work. The self-devised residency must be completed by 31 December 2025.

Applicants must include in their submission a confirmed ‘Field Residency Partner’ who is either an identified individual, collective, community or organisation that will partner with them to support their learning about an eligible Australian natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Applicants will demonstrate cooperation and collaboration with local communities and site owners/custodians to celebrate Australia’s natural environment – specifically at the identified Australian natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites (see below).

Applicants are to consider the importance of partnerships, connection to communities and to sites, as well as the relevance of place.

Applicants are to promote the location of their residency for a self-defined period of time, to be delivered before 31 December 2025.

Applicants are to work towards a public reflection on their learnings, and can be in the form of writing, seminar(s), workshop(s) and/or the creation of new work.

Activities can take place in-person at any of the eligible sites listed below, or in a combination of in-person and online (hybrid).

  • Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte)
  • Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
  • Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Greater Blue Mountains Area
  • Heard and McDonald Islands
  • Kakadu National Park
  • K’gari (Fraser Island)
  • Lord Howe Island Group
  • Macquarie Island
  • Ningaloo Coast
  • Purnululu National Park
  • Shark Bay
  • Tasmanian Wilderness
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
  • Wet Tropics of Queensland
  • Willandra Lakes Region

View list here: Australia’s World Heritage List – DCCEEW

Register to be kept informed of this opportunity (opening in February 2025) here.

Key dates

Expressions of Interest open: Mid-February 2025

Expressions of Interest close: Early April 2025 

Residency: Successful applicants will deliver their outcomes before 31 December 2025

Storytelling and Recording: First Nations Project Fund

Supporting First Nations media organisations and individuals to create culturally significant storytelling and recording projects.

First Nations artist Jono (Eskatology) Stier works with mentor Candice Lorrae. (Photo: Tracey Nearmy/ANU)

Program overview

Storytelling and Recording: First Nations Project Fund supports First Nations media organisations and individuals in creating and sharing culturally significant arts and cultural content. This includes community-based radio and television broadcasting, cultural recordings, community storytelling, and technical media training. The initiative amplifies First Nations voices, fosters cultural preservation, and broadens audience participation through enhanced media production.

Activities and projects must be completed within a 12-month period, running from 1 May 2025 to 1 May 2026. Any activity falling outside this timeframe will be deemed ineligible. 

Projects must adhere to First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) Protocols, demonstrating collaboration, cultural respect, self-determination, communication, consultation, consent, attribution, benefit sharing, recognition and protection, thoughtful information-sharing practices with First Nations communities.

Program goals

This program aims to expand representation, preserve cultural heritage, and build capacity by:

  • increasing representation through elevating visibility for First Nations voices and stories across media platforms
  • enhancing accessibility by creating opportunities for First Nations audiences to engage with First Nations content
  • fostering skills development and empowering First Nations communities with technical and media skills for long-term impact
  • preserving cultural legacy through supporting projects that document traditional practices, languages, and histories to ensure knowledge continuity for future generations.

Eligible applicants include:

  • First Nations media organisations and individuals producing arts or cultural content (radio, television, podcasting or community-based projects)
  • First Nations organisations and individuals working in First Nations storytelling, language recording, or cultural documentation
  • First Nations organisations and individuals focused on collaboration, technical training, cultural projects, or educational resources.

Ineligible applicants include:

  • non-First Nations media organisations and individuals
  • non-First Nations Individuals, organisations, based outside of Australia
  • projects with a commercial focus (e.g., advertising or self-promotion).

Successful applicants will receive funding and support for:

  • studio recording, technical enhancement, and skills building
  • documenting language, traditional practices, and community stories
  • strategies to engage broader communities and grow First Nations audiences
  • access to expert-led training to ensure sustainable community impact.

Eligible projects include:

  • Language and Cultural Preservation
    • documenting First Nations languages, oral histories, cultural practice and traditions
  • Non-Commercial Broadcasting
    • radio or television projects focused on First Nations storytelling
  • Skills Development
    • training programs in areas like audio engineering or media production
  • Story and Legacy Documentation
    • capturing historical stories or culturally significant practices
  • Community Engagement Initiatives
    • projects promoting inter-generational knowledge transfer, cultural exchange and audience interaction.

Applicants can apply for funding to support a range of projects that align with the program’s goals of cultural preservation, skills development, and storytelling. The following project categories are eligible:

Language and Cultural Preservation

  • recording oral histories, traditional songs, and Indigenous languages
  • documenting ceremonies, cultural practices, or significant events
  • creating digital archives or educational tools for preserving cultural knowledge

Broadcast and Media Projects

  • developing radio or television programs featuring First Nations music, interviews, or storytelling
  • producing podcasts focused on First Nations, storytelling, histories, or cultural narratives
  • supporting community-focused media initiatives that amplify First Nations voices

Skills Development

  • training in audio engineering, media production, or broadcasting techniques
  • programs that build technical capacity within First Nations communities

Story and Legacy Documentation

  • capturing historical or contemporary stories through photography, video, or interactive media
  • creating multimedia projects, such as virtual reality experiences or digital timelines, to share and preserve cultural heritage

Community Engagement Initiatives

  • projects that promote cultural exchange, dialogue, and audience interaction
  • initiatives that encourage broader participation and understanding of First Nations cultures

All projects must demonstrate cultural sensitivity and adhere to First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) Protocols, ensuring respectful collaboration and safeguarding of cultural materials.

All projects must adhere to First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) Protocols to ensure cultural respect and protection. Evidence of adherence must be included in applications, particularly for sensitive content. Detailed information about ICIP can be found  here.

First Nations Industry advisors will assess applications against the following criteria and advise Creative Australia on which projects to prioritise. Your application will be assessed against the published criteria. The bullet points under each criterion indicate what industry advisors may consider, where relevant. Applicants do not need to address every bullet point.

  1. Quality

Industry advisors will assess the quality of the artistic and/or cultural value of your proposed project.

They may consider:

  • the cultural significance and authenticity of the content being produced
  • the creativity, originality, or ambition of the project
  • how the project aligns with First Nations storytelling, cultural preservation, or artistic expression
  • examples of previous work that demonstrate the applicant’s capability in culturally relevant or arts-focused projects.
  1. Viability

Industry advisors will assess the viability of your project with consideration to planning, protocols, and budget.

They may consider:

  • the relevance and timeliness of the proposed activity for the community or audience
  • the skills and experience of the applicant and collaborators to deliver the project
  • evidence of realistic and achievable planning, resource use, and adherence to First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) protocols
  • the feasibility of the project’s budget and timeline
  • the applicant’s previous experience delivering projects of similar size and scope.
  1. Impact

Industry advisors will assess the expected impact or outcome of your project on the community, audience, and cultural preservation efforts.

They may consider:

  • the cultural, artistic, and/or social benefits for First Nations communities or audiences
  • the project’s contribution to preserving language, traditional practices, stories, or cultural knowledge for future generations
  • how the project fosters skills development or capacity building within First Nations communities
  • the potential of the project to engage and inspire audiences, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous
  • how the project supports ethical, inclusive, and accessible practices.

You should submit support material with your application. The Industry Advisory Panel may review this support material to help them gain a better sense of your activity and arts practice.

Evidence of adherence to First Nations Indigenous Culture and Intellectual Property

We do not accept application-related support material submitted via post. Application-related material received by post will not be assessed and will be returned to the sender.

If you think you will have difficulty submitting your support material online or need advice on what type of material to submit, please contact Joseph Clarke, Project Manager, First Nations Arts and Culture.

There are three types of support material you may submit:

  • artistic support material
  • biographies and CVs
  • letters of support.

Artistic support material

This should include relevant, recent examples of your artistic or cultural work.

Types of support material we accept

Our preferred method of receiving support material is via URLs (weblinks).

You can provide up to three URLs (weblinks) that link to content that is relevant to your project activity. This may include video, audio, images, or written material.

These URLs can include a total of:

  • 10 minutes of video and/or audio recording
  • 10 images
  • 10 pages of written material.

Please note: The Advisory Panel will not access any URLs that require them to log in or sign up to a platform. Please do not provide links to Spotify or other applications that require users to log in or pay for access. If you are linking to media files that are private or password protected like Vimeo, please provide the password in the password field on the application form.

Other accepted file formats

If you cannot supply support material via URLs, you may upload support material to your application in the following formats:

  • video (MP4, QuickTime, and Windows Media)
  • audio (MP3 and Windows Media)
  • images (JPEG and PowerPoint)
  • written material (Word and PDF).

Biographies and CVs

You can include your current brief bio or curriculum vitae (CV) that is relevant to your application.

Please note: Brief bios or CV information should be presented as a single document no longer than two A4 pages in total.

Letters of support

Organisations and individuals can write letters in support of your project. A support letter should explain how the project or activity will benefit you, other artists or arts professionals, participants or the broader community. It can also detail the support or involvement of key project partners, or evidence of consultation.

Letters of support must provide evidence of appropriate permissions and support from First Nations organisations, individuals, cultural authorities, communities, and Elders. Please refer to the First Nations Protocols for more information.

You can include up to five letters of support, with each letter not exceeding one A4 page.

Key dates

  • Applications closed

Funding Amount: $10,000 – $50,000 per project

Contact

Joseph Clarke
Project Manager
First Nations Arts and Culture
Email: joseph.clarke@creative.gov.au

If you need help with your application, please call or email us.

Related Links

Frequently asked questions

Opportunities to:

  • produce high-quality media content
  • expand audience engagement.
  • strengthen technical skills
  • preserve cultural heritage.
  1. Cultural and Artistic Merit
  2. Audience and Market Potential
  3. Viability and Capacity Building.

Language and Cultural Preservation:

  • audio: Oral histories, traditional songs, language lessons
  • video: Documentaries of ceremonies or cultural practices
  • digital archives: Apps or web platforms for teaching and preserving Indigenous languages.

Broadcast Projects

  • radio: Programs featuring Indigenous music, interviews, or language learning
  • television: Documentaries or community-focused storytelling
  • podcasts: Series on First Nations, stories, history, or culture.

Story and Legacy Documentation

  • photography: Cultural site documentation (with consent)
  • interactive Media: VR experiences or digital timelines.

All activities and projects must occur within the 12-month period from 1 May 2025 to 1 May 2026. Projects outside this timeframe are ineligible. 

Applications open on 17 December 2024 and close on 4 February 2025. 

Applicants must provide evidence of consultation, collaboration, and consent from relevant First Nations communities, especially for sensitive cultural content. 

No, projects must be completed within the designated timeframe from 1 May 2025 to 1 May 2026. 

The Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising Workshop (Warrane/Sydney)

Understand the foundations of arts fundraising to build greater sustainability for arts organisations and artists.

Registrations for our Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop are now open to organisations and individuals based in and around Warrane/Sydney.

The Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop is ideal for arts organisations and artists looking for the know-how, confidence and inspiration to kickstart or grow income from philanthropy, donors, and business partners.

Join colleagues in your cultural sector gaining insights into national trends; reviewing essential fundraising principles, including the differences between sponsorship and philanthropy; how to be fundraising ready; and strategic insights into crowdfunding, donor circles and trusts & foundations. The course will also explain how to find, retain and build relationships creating long term support using best practice stewardship.

The course will cover the opportunities and resources provided by the Australian Cultural Fund as well as outline matched funding programs provided by Creative Australia.

This workshop is ideal for:

  • arts professionals who want to learn the basics of arts fundraising, philanthropy and sponsorship
  • arts professionals with some fundraising experience and knowledge
    or
  • board members of arts organisations interested in diversifying their organisation’s income streams.

This interactive workshop will cover:

  • business partnerships
  • philanthropy
  • how to make your organisation fundraising ready
  • building a case for support
  • fundraising strategies
  • how to develop a fundraising plan.

And includes lunch, snacks and coffee/tea.

This is a chance to connect with your peers and learn from Creative Australia’s State Manager, Development & Partnerships (ACT/NSW), who will provide local perspective, case studies and insights on how to implement what you’ve learned.

Creative Australia is offering four Community Access Tickets to the upcoming Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop in Warrane/Sydney.

These tickets are offered free of charge to remove price as a barrier to participation. Places will be allocated by order of RSVP until the allocation is exhausted. Please RSVP directly to michelle.boyle@creative.gov.au

“The ‘Fundamentals of Fundraising’ workshop was a valuable opportunity to consolidate my on-the-job learning as an emerging fundraiser. From the workshop I gained a better understanding of the ‘bigger picture’ of fundraising, which I have applied every day in my role.” – Sophia Halloway, National Gallery of Australia

“Attending the Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising was a really insightful experience, providing me with the knowledge and tools required to refresh our company’s private fundraising strategy” – Katy Green Loughrey, Powerhouse Youth Theatre

 

Michelle Boyle: State Manager Development and Partnerships (ACT/NSW) at Creative Australia

Michelle has over 20 years experience in the cultural and creative industries, having held significant roles in development and partnerships, marketing, events and public relations.

As a strategic fundraiser with Sydney Dance Company for over 13 years, Michelle gained extensive expertise in cultivating and nurturing meaningful partnerships with supporters at all levels of giving. During her tenure, she played a significant role in increasing funding for all aspects of the company, including artistic programming, national and international touring, professional development for emerging artists and engagement with independent and First Nations artists.

Michelle deeply understands the highs and lows of the vital and nuanced relationships with individuals, Foundations and the private sector. She has also enjoyed coaching and mentoring early career colleagues and peers, and, in 2022/2023, participated in The Art and Science of Fundraising mentorship pilot program, led by Creative Partnerships Australia, now Creative Australia.

Inspired by the creativity of artists and creative workers, Michelle is able to confidently forge successful relationships with a broad range of stakeholders based on a genuine love and curiosity for the arts, and appreciation for the impact that shared experiences can have on our communities.

An international traveller from a young age, Michelle has lived and worked around the world. From early life and schooling in the Middle East, Hong Kong and Ireland, to working life in the UK, Vietnam and Australia.

Get in contact with Michelle to book an appointment.

Date, cost and address

Date: Tuesday 11 February 2025, 9am-4pm (AEDT)

Cost: $110

Venue: Cliftons Sydney Margaret Street, 13/60 Margaret St, Sydney, Australia

Register now

The Artist as Fundraiser and the Art in Raising Funds: Naarm/Melbourne

Understand the foundations of arts fundraising to build greater sustainability for arts organisations and artists.

The Artist as Fundraiser is a free 3 hour fundraising workshop that is ideal for artists, producers and collectives looking to boost their knowledge, skills and confidence to strategically build supporter relationships and grow income from donations.

This interactive workshop will cover:

  • How to use the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) donations platform
  • Planning your fundraising campaign (individual donations)
  • Building your case for support
  • Mapping your network and prospects
  • Cultivating relationships, making the ask, stewarding supporters.

Join presenter Steven Richardson, State Manager Development and Partnerships (VIC & TAS), to learn about the support provided by the Australian Cultural Fund as well as the fundraising programs and services provided by Creative Australia.

This workshop is more suitable for independent artists and producers, small collectives and sole traders.

Light catering will be provided.

Accessibility

Parking

Note: you can unload from Little Hoddle St into the Bakehouse driveway, and then park your car.

Drop off/pick up

Best drop off area is Little Hoddle Street (behind the building – our main entrance)

Public transport

You can get to Bakehouse Studios via a range of PTV options – train, tram or bus:

Train

North Richmond train station (Mernda, Hurstbridge and Eltham lines) is 75 metres from the studios and is fully accessible. After departing the station, walk 1 minute (75 metres) via Elizabeth + Lt. Hoddle St

Tram

Closest accessible tram stop via the 109 + 12 tram lines. Get off at Victoria Street, Stop #19 (North Richmond Railway Station/Victoria St), and walk 2 minutes (170m) via Victoria and Little Hoddle St.

Note: there are a couple of ramps and some uneven paths between the station and Bakehouse

Bus

Access via the 246 bus route (Elsternwick – Clifton Hill via St Kilda). Get off on Victoria Pde/Hoddle St stop and walk 3 minutes (180m) via Hoddle St and Elizabeth St

Otherwise the Cromwell St/Victoria Pde stop has 246, 302-305, 309, 318, 350, 905- 908 bus routes, with a crosswalk for the road at the lights, approximately 6 minute walk away (400m).

Date, cost and address

Date: Thursday 20 March 2025

Morning session: 9am to 12pm (AEDT)

Afternoon session: 1pm to 5pm (AEDT)

Registrations closed: Thursday 13 March 2025, 5pm (AEDT)

Cost: Free

Address: Bakehouse Studios, Richmond, VIC, Australia

Register here

The Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising: Naarm/Melbourne

Understand the foundations of arts fundraising to build greater sustainability for arts organisations and artists.

Registrations for our Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop are now open to organisations and individuals based in Melbourne

The Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop is ideal for arts organisations and artists looking for the know-how, confidence and inspiration to kickstart or grow income from philanthropy, donors, and business partners.

Join colleagues in your cultural sector gaining insights into national trends; reviewing essential fundraising principles including the differences between sponsorship and philanthropy; how to be fundraising ready; and strategic insights into crowdfunding, donor circles and trusts & foundations. The course will also explain how to find, retain and build relationships creating long term support using best practice stewardship.

The course will cover the opportunities and resources provided by the Australian Cultural Fund as well as outline matched funding programs provided by Creative Australia.

This workshop is ideal for:

  • Arts professionals who want to learn the basics of arts fundraising, philanthropy and sponsorship
  • Arts professionals with some fundraising experience and knowledge
    or
  • Board members of arts organisations interested in diversifying their organisation’s income streams.

This interactive workshop will cover:

  • Business partnerships
  • Philanthropy
  • How to make your organisation fundraising ready
  • Building a case for support
  • Fundraising strategies
  • How to develop a fundraising plan.

And includes lunch, snacks and coffee/tea.

Community Access tickets: Allocation exhausted

Venue Accessibility: 

Lift and ramp access.

Parking

Note: you can unload from Little Hoddle St into the Bakehouse driveway, and then park your car.

Drop off/pick up

Best drop off area is Little Hoddle Street (behind the building – our main entrance)

Public transport

Train

North Richmond train station (Mernda, Hurstbridge and Eltham lines) is 75 metres from the studios and is fully accessible. After departing the station, walk 1 minute (75 metres) via Elizabeth + Lt. Hoddle St

Tram

Closest accessible tram stop via the 109 + 12 tram lines. Get off at Victoria Street, Stop #19 (North Richmond Railway Station/Victoria St), and walk 2 minutes (170m) via Victoria and Little Hoddle St.

Note: there are a couple of ramps and some uneven paths between the station and Bakehouse

Bus

Access via the 246 bus route (Elsternwick – Clifton Hill via St Kilda). Get off on Victoria Pde/Hoddle St stop and walk 3 minutes (180m) via Hoddle St and Elizabeth St

Otherwise the Cromwell St/Victoria Pde stop has 246, 302-305, 309, 318, 350, 905- 908 bus routes, with a crosswalk for the road at the lights, approximately 6 minute walk away (400m).

This is a chance to connect with your peers and learn from Creative Australia’s State Manager, Development & Partnerships (VIC/TAS), who will provide local perspective, case studies and insights on how to implement what you’ve learned.

“The Creative Partnerships ‘Fundamentals of Fundraising’ workshop was a valuable opportunity to consolidate my on-the-job learning as an emerging fundraiser. From the workshop I gained a better understanding of the ‘bigger picture’ of fundraising, which I have applied every day in my role.” – Sophia Halloway, National Gallery of Australia 

“Attending the Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising was a really insightful experience, providing me with the knowledge and tools required to refresh our company’s private fundraising strategy” – Katy Green Loughrey, Powerhouse Youth Theatre  


Steve Richardson – Creative Australia State Manager Development & Partnerships: VIC & TAS

Steven brings many years of significant fundraising experience, having been primarily responsible for raising financial investment in all of his previous executive positions.

As founder of Black Arm Band, he raised more than $8 million and brokered many significant partnerships.

With a background spanning a variety of artistic, producing, and programming roles – including as a director, curator and producer – Steven’s varied experience allows for a holistic view of fundraising. As Artistic Associate for Melbourne Festivals, and founding Artistic Director of Arts House, he raised or assisted in raising significant financial investment.

Steven has served on a number of advisory boards, including five years as Deputy Chair of the Dance Board for the Australia Council for the Arts, Vichealth Arts Advisory and others.

Get in contact with Steven to book an appointment.

Date, cost and address

Date: Tuesday 11 March 2025, 9:30am – 4:30pm (AEDT)

Cost: $110

Address: Bakehouse Studios, Richmond, VIC, Australia

Register here

The Artist as Fundraiser and the Art in Raising Funds: Brisbane/Meanjin

A free 3 hour fundraising workshop, ideal for artists, producers and collectives looking to boost their knowledge, skills and confidence to strategically build supporter relationships and grow income from donations.

The Artist as Fundraiser is a free 3 hour fundraising workshop that is ideal for artists, producers and collectives looking to boost their knowledge, skills and confidence to strategically build supporter relationships and grow income from donations.

This interactive workshop will cover:

  • How to use the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) donations platform
  • Planning your fundraising campaign (individual donations)
  • Building your case for support
  • Mapping your network and prospects
  • Cultivating relationships, making the ask, stewarding supporters.

Join presenter Matthew Higgins, State Manager Development and Partnerships (QLD), to learn about the support provided by the Australian Cultural Fund as well as the fundraising programs and services provided by Creative Australia.

This workshop is more suitable for independent artists and producers, small collectives and sole traders.

Light catering will be provided.

Accessibility
For any access needs please email cpa.programs@creative.gov.au  to discuss requirements, including parking.


Matthew Higgins – State Manager Development and Partnerships (QLD) at Creative Australia

Matthew Higgins is a strategist and advocate whose work is grounded in the belief that arts, culture, and creativity are the heart of a thriving society – weaving the fabric of connection and community, shaping identities, igniting innovation, and forging pathways towards equity, inclusion, and resilience for all.

As State Manager Development and Partnerships (Queensland) at Creative Australia, Matthew contributes to the co-design and delivery of national arts fundraising capability programs and services. This includes a free coaching and advice service to empower artists and organisations with the knowledge, skills and confidence to cultivate private sector support through philanthropy and partnerships.

Matthew brings a wealth of experience across various art forms and business models, drawing insights from non-profits of varying sizes in both regional and metropolitan settings and a history of successfully nurturing private sector support for arts and culture. With over a decade of experience across performing arts, festivals, major events, and community-engaged practice, he has held roles at Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane Festival, Destination NSW, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Sydney Mardi Gras and Dancenorth Australia. As an independent producer, he has presented sell-out seasons at La Boite Theatre Company and World Theatre Festival. A City of Sydney Creative Fellowship recipient for his work with LGBTQIA+ artists, Matthew has also participated in an international festival leadership development program in Cyprus.

Passionate about equity, diversity and inclusion, Matthew volunteers as a member of the Queensland Government’s LGBTQIA+ Roundtable and Brisbane Powerhouse’s Melt Reference Group, having previously served on Townsville City Council’s Inclusive Communities Advisory Committee.

Date, cost and address

Date: 10am – 1pm ACDT, Tuesday 21 January 2025 (AEST)

Register by: Tuesday 14 January, 5pm (AEDT)

Cost: Free

Address: Level 1/88 Tribune St, South Brisbane, Australia

Register here

Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising (Jambinu/Geraldton)

Understand the foundations of arts fundraising to build greater sustainability for arts organisations and artists.

Registrations for our Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop are now open to organisations and individuals based in and around Jambinu/Geraldton.

The Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop is ideal for arts organisations and artists looking for the know-how, confidence and inspiration to kickstart or grow income from philanthropy, donors, and business partners.

Join colleagues in your cultural sector gaining insights into national trends; reviewing essential fundraising principles, including the differences between sponsorship and philanthropy; how to be fundraising ready; and strategic insights into crowdfunding, donor circles and trusts & foundations. The course will also explain how to find, retain and build relationships creating long term support using best practice stewardship.

The course will cover the opportunities and resources provided by the Australian Cultural Fund as well as outline matched funding programs provided by Creative Australia.

This workshop is ideal for:

  • arts professionals who want to learn the basics of arts fundraising, philanthropy and sponsorship
  • arts professionals with some fundraising experience and knowledge
    or
  • board members of arts organisations interested in diversifying their organisation’s income streams.

This interactive workshop will cover:

  • business partnerships
  • philanthropy
  • how to make your organisation fundraising ready
  • building a case for support
  • fundraising strategies
  • how to develop a fundraising plan.

And includes lunch, snacks and coffee/tea.

This is a chance to connect with your peers and learn from Creative Australia’s State Manager, Development & Partnerships (WA), who will provide local perspective, case studies and insights on how to implement what you’ve learned.

Venue accessibility:

The venue has wheelchair accessibility. For accessibility enquiries, please contact us here.

“The ‘Fundamentals of Fundraising’ workshop was a valuable opportunity to consolidate my on-the-job learning as an emerging fundraiser. From the workshop I gained a better understanding of the ‘bigger picture’ of fundraising, which I have applied every day in my role.” – Sophia Halloway, National Gallery of Australia 

“Attending the Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising was a really insightful experience, providing me with the knowledge and tools required to refresh our company’s private fundraising strategy” – Katy Green Loughrey, Powerhouse Youth Theatre  

 

James Boyd: State Manager Development and Partnerships (WA) at Creative Australia

James Boyd has spent the last twelve years working across the arts and cultural sector, philanthropy and business to encourage innovative cross-sector engagement through strategic partnerships, sponsorship and philanthropy.

He has worked with over 250 arts companies in WA and SA on strategic sustainability and fundraising. As Development Director for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra he was one of the first to introduce US style development practices in a major Australian arts company. As part of Artsupport Australia, an office of the Australia Council, he was part of a team that brokered over $80million of philanthropic support to the arts from trusts and foundations.

He is a graduate of the Executive Program for Non-profit Leaders in the Arts, Stanford University, USA; holds a Graduate Certificate of Social Impact from UWA; and has a BA Arts Management from WAAPA. He is a 2020 Churchill Fellow: Global Responses Offering Arts Organisations Perspectives and Actions to Help Navigate Private Sector Funding Dilemmas.

Get in contact with James to book an appointment.

Date, cost and address

Date: 9am – 2.30pm AWST, Tuesday 4 February 2025

Cost: $44

Venue: Geraldton Multipurpose Centre, Geraldton, Australia

Register now

Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising (Mulubinba/Newcastle)

Understand the foundations of arts fundraising to build greater sustainability for arts organisations and artists.

Registrations for our Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop are now open to organisations and individuals based in and around Mulubinba/Newcastle.

The Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop is ideal for arts organisations and artists looking for the know-how, confidence and inspiration to kickstart or grow income from philanthropy, donors, and business partners.

Join colleagues in your cultural sector gaining insights into national trends; reviewing essential fundraising principles, including the differences between sponsorship and philanthropy; how to be fundraising ready; and strategic insights into crowdfunding, donor circles and trusts & foundations. The course will also explain how to find, retain and build relationships creating long term support using best practice stewardship.

The course will cover the opportunities and resources provided by the Australian Cultural Fund as well as outline matched funding programs provided by Creative Australia.

This workshop is ideal for:

  • arts professionals who want to learn the basics of arts fundraising, philanthropy and sponsorship
  • arts professionals with some fundraising experience and knowledge
    or
  • board members of arts organisations interested in diversifying their organisation’s income streams.

This interactive workshop will cover:

  • business partnerships
  • philanthropy
  • how to make your organisation fundraising ready
  • building a case for support
  • fundraising strategies
  • how to develop a fundraising plan.

And includes lunch, snacks and coffee/tea.

This is a chance to connect with your peers and learn from Creative Australia’s State Manager, Development & Partnerships (ACT/NSW), who will provide local perspective, case studies and insights on how to implement what you’ve learned.

Creative Australia is offering four Community Access Tickets to the upcoming Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop in Mulubinba / Newcastle.

“The ‘Fundamentals of Fundraising’ workshop was a valuable opportunity to consolidate my on-the-job learning as an emerging fundraiser. From the workshop I gained a better understanding of the ‘bigger picture’ of fundraising, which I have applied every day in my role.” – Sophia Halloway, National Gallery of Australia 

“Attending the Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising was a really insightful experience, providing me with the knowledge and tools required to refresh our company’s private fundraising strategy” – Katy Green Loughrey, Powerhouse Youth Theatre  

 

Michelle Boyle: State Manager Development and Partnerships (NSW & ACT) at Creative Australia

Michelle has over 20 years experience in the cultural and creative industries, having held significant roles in development and partnerships, marketing, events and public relations.

As a strategic fundraiser with Sydney Dance Company for over 13 years, Michelle gained extensive expertise in cultivating and nurturing meaningful partnerships with supporters at all levels of giving. During her tenure, she played a significant role in increasing funding for all aspects of the company, including artistic programming, national and international touring, professional development for emerging artists and engagement with independent and First Nations artists.

Michelle deeply understands the highs and lows of the vital and nuanced relationships with individuals, Foundations and the private sector. She has also enjoyed coaching and mentoring early career colleagues and peers, and, in 2022/2023, participated in The Art and Science of Fundraising mentorship pilot program, led by Creative Partnerships Australia, now Creative Australia.

Inspired by the creativity of artists and creative workers, Michelle is able to confidently forge successful relationships with a broad range of stakeholders based on a genuine love and curiosity for the arts, and appreciation for the impact that shared experiences can have on our communities.

An international traveller from a young age, Michelle has lived and worked around the world. From early life and schooling in the Middle East, Hong Kong and Ireland, to working life in the UK, Vietnam and now Australia.

Get in contact with Michelle to book an appointment.

Date, cost and address

Date: 9am – 4pm AEDT, Tuesday 26 November 2024

Cost: $110

Venue: Newcastle City Hall, Waratah Room

Register now

MUSIC AUSTRALIA

Core Contribution Fund

2-year funding for eligible organisations providing services to key areas of the contemporary Australian music industry.

“New and sustainable growth requires ambitious models of investment. Traditionally, core operations and staffing have only been partially funded through project and program-specific grants. Music Australia recognises the important role of trade associations, peak bodies and member organisations – the majority of which are run on a volunteer basis or with minimal staffing support. This targeted investment will increase the strength of Australian organisations and the value they subsequently provide to their respective memberships, made up of Australian artists and industry professionals.” – Millie Millgate (Director, Music Australia)

About the program

The Music Australia Core Contribution Fund is designed to support eligible organisations providing services to key areas of the contemporary Australian music industry. It provides a 2-year investment for core operations and staffing to build stability and capacity in the Australian contemporary music sector, with a focus on industry representative, advocacy, member and/or growth and development organisations representing and/or supporting: 

  • a key sector area or membership 
  • a specific genre of music 
  • gender equity 
  • Australian artists/musicians.

Organisations may apply for between $100,000 and $140,000 for 2 years of operational costs. This equals between $50,000 and $70,000 per year, to be paid in 2 equal instalments. 

Supported expenses must last no longer than two years from the proposed start date. The applicant may determine the most appropriate start date for their organisation, the earliest being 1 January 2025. For your planning, please note that the budget template runs across two calendar or two financial years (i.e. 2025 or 2025-26 and 2026 or 2026-27).   

Please read the following grant guidelines for further information.

If you need advice about applying contact Music Australia: musicaustraliagrants@creative.gov.au or +61 2 9215 9028.  

  • Australian organisations whose primary activity is providing services to key areas of the Australian contemporary music industry.  

The activity of the organisation must meet the Music Australia Council’s agreed definition of contemporary music, as follows: 

“Australian contemporary music is any genre or subgenre of music currently composed, written, produced by Australians and licensed, recorded, presented, and distributed through commercial and non-commercial activity. For the purposes of Music Australia’s initial investments, the focus will be on musical works that are new, original and relevant to contemporary Australia.” 

  • A consortium may apply in certain circumstances, but the proposal must be funded and contracted through one member of the consortium.  
  • Music Australia requires that organisations be registered under Australian law (for example, incorporated association or company limited by guarantee) or created by law (for example, a government statutory authority).  Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status.    

You cannot apply for this grant if:  

  • you are a radio station
  • you are a tertiary education or private training institution
  • you are an individual or group 
  • your organisation is not legally constituted    
  • your organisation is a Trust or Partnership 
  • your organisation is in receipt of Multi-Year Investment from Creative Australia in 2024, 2025 or 2026 
  • your organisation is a pilot service delivery partner with Music Australia or Creative Australia in 2024 or 2025 
  • your organisation is a national training organisation, funded by the Australian Government 
  • your organisation’s primary activity is not supporting a sector of the Australian contemporary music industry 
  • you have an overdue grant report 
  • you owe money to Creative Australia 
  • your organisation is not registered in Australia. 

This investment will support your organisation’s core operational needs, providing stability for your organisation and building capacity in the contemporary music sector.  

This can include:    

  • staffing costs including wages and fees 
  • administration and other operational running costs 
  • professional skills development for artists and/or arts workers 
  • sector development or capacity building 
  • promotion and marketing
  • market development activity.

Access costs are legitimate expenses and may be included in your application. We encourage applicants to ensure that their work is accessible to everyone. Therefore, budgets may also include costs associated with making activities accessible to a wide range of people (e.g. Auslan, translation to other languages, captioning, audio description, temporary building adjustments, and materials in other formats).   

If you are a d/Deaf applicant, an applicant with disability, or are working with d/Deaf artists or artists with disability, you may apply for access costs associated with the use of an interpreter, translation services, specific technical equipment, carer, or support worker assistance. Please  contact Music Australia to discuss your specific needs.   

You can’t apply for:   

  • artistic project costs such as creating new work, artistic and/or creative development, production, performing, recording, touring or festivals – if you are seeking funding for these activities, please apply to Arts Project for Organisations 
  • the presentation of live music (for example as a live music venue or festival)
  • staffing or wage costs for international personnel 
  • operations that do not have a contemporary music focus 
  • expenses that have already been incurred 
  • activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to Creative Australia’s First Nations Cultural & Intellectual Property Protocols

Your application must comply with the following Protocols. We may contact you to request further information during the assessment process, or if successful, as a condition of your funding. 

Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts 

All applications involving First Nations artists, communities or subject matter must adhere to these Protocols, and provide evidence of this in their application and support material.  More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here. 

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework 

All successful applicants are required to comply with all Australian law relating to employing or engaging people who work or volunteer with children, including working with children checks and mandatory reporting. Successful organisations who provide services directly to children, or whose funded activities involve contact with children, will additionally be required to implement the  National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. 

You must submit additional support material with your application. Industry Advisors will review this support material to help them gain a better sense of your activity.  

You must provide:  

  • up to 3 URLs (weblinks) that best demonstrate your organisation’s activity as it relates to this Core Contribution Fund application. These URLs may include website links, video, audio, images and written materials  
  • the organisation’s last 2 years of audited financial accounts, or equivalent financial data. 

For organisations who report on a calendar year basis this should be for 2022 and 2023; for organisations who report on a financial year basis this should be 2022-23 and 2023-24 (if available). 

You may also provide:  

  • existing business, operational or strategic plans
  • biographies or CVs of key personnel – these should be presented as a single document not longer than 5 A4 pages in total  
  • letters of support.

Individuals, groups or organisations can write letters in support of your application.  

If relevant to your organisation, letters of support must provide evidence of appropriate permissions and support from First Nations organisations, communities, and Elders. Please refer to the First Nations Protocols for more information.  

You can include up to five letters of support, with each letter not exceeding one A4 page.  

We do not accept application-related support material submitted via post. Application-related material received by post will not be assessed and will be returned to the sender. If you think you will have difficulty submitting your support material online or need advice on what type of material to submit, please  contact Artists Services.  

Our preferred method of receiving support material is via URLs (weblinks).  

You can provide up to three URLs that link to content that is relevant to your proposal. This may include video, audio, images, or written material.  

Please note: Our industry advisors will not access any URLs that require them to log in or sign up to a platform. Please do not provide links to Spotify or other applications that require users to log in or pay for access.  

If you are linking to media files that are private or password protected like Vimeo, please provide the password in the password field on the application form.  

Other accepted file formats  

If you cannot supply support material via URLs, you may upload support material to your application in the following formats:  

  • video (MP4, QuickTime, and Windows Media)  
  • audio (MP3 and Windows Media)  
  • images (JPEG and PowerPoint) 
  • written material (Word and PDF).  
  • proposals are reviewed by expert industry representatives called Industry Advisors  
  • Industry Advisors are experts in their field with relevant experience and knowledge of the contemporary music industry
  • proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations for Music Australia to consider when making the final investment decisions for organisations
  • Industry Advisors will be published on our website following notification. Further detail on Industry Advice can be found  here.    

We will review your proposal against three selection criteria listed below.

Under each criterion are bullet points indicating what may be considered when reviewing your proposal. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

Viability

Industry Advisors will review your organisation’s track record of delivery and assess the viability of your proposal and your organisation’s demonstrated capacity to deliver its vision. We may consider:

  • value for money as evidenced in your responses and budget to deliver services to the sector
  • organisational structure and the experience of the people leading and governing your organisation
  • the financial health of your organisation, including the effective use of resources
  • the diversity and scale of income and co-funding you generate and receive (e.g. earned income, grants, memberships, sponsorship, and in-kind contributions)
  • whether your work is supported by meaningful evaluation
  • how you demonstrate cultural competencies and adherence to relevant cultural protocols, particularly if your organisation works with diverse artists, audiences or communities. Where relevant, evidence that the Protocols for First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to
  • factors that have impacted your organisation’s financial health, planning and priorities
  • appropriate governance arrangements. You may wish to refer to our guide on  Essential Governance Practices
  • capacity to deliver the proposed services or activities
  • relevance and timeliness of this opportunity for your organisation
  • realistic and achievable planning
  • the safety and wellbeing of people involved in the activities
  • where relevant, evidence that you have considered and addressed any access issues associated with your project
  • where relevant, evidence of an environmental impact plan which may include cost-benefits.
Impact

Industry Advisors will assess how your activity contributes towards building a sustainable and diverse contemporary music sector. They may consider how your proposed activity:

  • contributes to building capacity in the contemporary music industry in Australia, with a focus on organisations representing:
    • a key sector area or membership
    • a specific genre
    • gender equity
    • Australian artists/musicians.
  • demonstrates collaboration and/or leadership on industry-wide issues
  • contributes to increasing diversity (including First Nations, disability, gender, LGBTIQ+, age and cultural diversity) within the contemporary music sector
  • the diversity of stakeholders that may be beneficiaries of the services to be provided
  • benefit for and impact on careers, artistic or cultural practice.
Alignment

Assessors will consider how your organisation’s vision and plan aligns with one or more of the principles and actions of the five pillars identified in the National Cultural Policy – Revive, Creative Australia’s Corporate Plan and the goals of Music Australia.

This may include:

  • First Nations arts and culture are self-determined
  • the creative workforce has the skills needed to maintain thriving careers and businesses
  • viable lifelong careers in creative fields attract and retain a broad creative workforce
  • creative careers and business models are financially sustainable
  • supporting the development of original music
  • growing the market for contemporary Australian music.
Music

Key Dates

Applications close: Tuesday 12 November, 3pm AEDT 

Activity dates: Supported expenses must last no longer than two years from the proposed start date. The applicant may determine the most appropriate start date for their organisation, the earliest being 1 January 2025. 

Amount: Between $100,000 & $140,000 split over 2-years ($50,000 – $70,000 per year). 


Apply now

Please note: To apply you must be registered in our application management system a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date.

Contact

If you have a question, or need help with your application, please contact Music Australia here.

Frequently asked questions

No, the Core Contribution Fund is not for the presentation of live music.

No, the fund is for organisations whose primary activity is providing services to key areas of the Australian contemporary music industry.

First Nations Arts and Culture Business Innovation Award

Recognising innovation and excellence in entrepreneurship among small to medium Australian First Nations arts and culture businesses and arts organisations.

First Nations Arts and Culture Awards 2024 trophies. Photo: Maja Baska

First Nations Arts and Culture Business Innovation Award

We are excited to invite nominations for the 2025 First Nations Arts and Culture Business Innovation Award. This award recognises innovation and excellence in entrepreneurship among Australian First Nations small to medium arts and culture businesses or community organisation (including Art Centres) nation-wide.  

This new initiative is part of Creative Australia’s First Nations First industry development programs. The programs have been developed in response to extensive community consultation on priorities and needs of the sector in response to Pillar 1, First Nations First – Revive, the Australian Government’s shared vision for Australia: a place for every story and a story for every place.  These new initiatives aim to elevate existing programs and deliver new funding that build on a 50-year legacy of First Nations leadership and investment at Creative Australia.

One award valued at $25,000 will be offered to one Australian First Nations led arts and culture business or community organisation (including Art Centres).  The recipient will be presented with the award at the First Nations Arts & Culture Awards.

About the First Nations Arts and Culture Awards

The First Nations Arts and Culture Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding work and achievements of First Nations artists, practice, cultural advocacy and leadership. The Awards are held on the evening of Tuesday 27 May 2025, which coincides with the commencement of Reconciliation Week. The following awards will be presented:

The First Nations Arts and Culture Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding work and achievements of First Nations artists, practice, cultural advocacy and leadership. The Awards are held on the evening of Tuesday 27 May 2025, which coincides with the commencement of Reconciliation Week. The following awards will be presented:

Who can’t be nominated

You are ineligible for this award if:

  • you are under 18 years of age
  • you do not identify as Australian First Nations
  • you’re based outside of Australia
  • you have an overdue grant report for Creative Australia
  • you owe money to Creative Australia.

Please note: we do not accept self nominations across all categories.

Applications will be assessed against two criteria.

This award is for small to medium First Nations Arts and Cultural Businesses.

Under each criterion are bullet points indicating what the Peer Assessors may consider when assessing your application. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

1. Innovation and Recognition

  • contribution to Australian First Nations arts and culture
  • uniqueness and innovation in practice
  • leadership in bold ideas and new ways of doing business and collaborations
  • First Nations industry and peer recognition.

2. Impact

  • business activity directly benefits Australian First Nations communities
  • demonstration of business growth and achieving goals
  • best practice principles for business and governance have been applied and shared
  • contribution and expanding to areas of practice
  • evidence of promoting ethical and environmentally sustainable practices.

You must submit a CV/extended bio for the nominee (approx. 2 x A4 pages, or a link to a CV/bio on the nominee’s website).

You may submit up to four letters or statements of support (approx. 2 x A4 pages, or up to 5 minutes of audio/video).

Types of support material we accept
  • our preferred method of receiving support material is via URLs (weblinks)
  • you can provide up to two URLs that link to content that is relevant to your nomination.
Please note:
  • do not supply any URLs that require users to log in or sign up to a platform.
  • do not provide links to applications that require users to log in or pay for access.
If you are linking to media files that are private or password protected, please provide the password in the password field on the nomination form.

Other accepted file formats
If you cannot supply support material via URLs, you may upload support material to your nomination in other formats, for example:

  • video (MP4, QuickTime, and Windows Media)
  • audio (MP3 and Windows Media)
  • images (JPEG and PowerPoint)
  • written material (Word and PDF).
We do not accept support material submitted via post. Material received by post will not be assessed and will be returned to the sender. If you think you will have difficulty submitting your support material online, or need advice on what type of material to submit, please contact Artists Services.
To nominate, log in to our Application Management System. You must register an account if you do not already have one. It may take up to two business days for us to process your registration. Once you have logged in:
1. Select ‘Submit a Nomination’ from the left panel menu
2. Under ‘Awards’ select ‘Start a new award nomination’
3. Ensure you select the correct award from the list of options
4. Complete the fields and select answers using the dropdown menus
5. Upload any necessary support material
6. Select ‘Save’ once complete
7. If you are not ready to submit your nomination you can return to it through ‘Your Draft Applications’ in the left panel menu
8. When you are ready to submit your nomination, select ‘Submit’.

Key dates

Amount: One award of $25,000

Applications closed

Notifications: February 2025

The First Nations Arts & Culture Awards are on Tuesday 27 May 2025.

Please note: To nominate you must be registered in our application management system a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date.

Contact

To discuss your application, please contact:

Tahjee Moar
Project Manager
First Nations Arts and Culture
Phone: +61 2 9215 9095
Email: Tahjee.Moar@creative.gov.au

If you need help with your nomination, please call or email us.

Related Links

Youth Award for Achievement in the Arts

Recognising the achievement of one Australian First Nations artist or arts worker in community arts and cultural development, dance, experimental arts, literature, multi-arts, music, theatre and/or visual arts, between the age of 18 and 35.

First Nations Arts and Culture Awards 2024 trophies. Photo: Maja Baska

Youth Award for Achievement in the Arts (18-35 years of age)

We are pleased to invite nominations to the 2025 Youth Award for Achievement in the Arts. This award recognises the achievement of one Australian First Nations artist or arts worker in community arts and cultural development, dance, experimental arts, literature, multi-arts, music, theatre and/or visual arts between the age of 18 and 35.

This new initiative is part of Creative Australia’s First Nations First industry development programs. The programs have been developed in response to extensive community consultation on priorities and needs of the sector in response to Pillar 1, First Nations First – Revive, the Australian Government’s shared vision for Australia: a place for every story and a story for every place. These new initiatives aim to elevate existing programs and deliver new funding that build on a 50-year legacy of First Nations leadership and investment at Creative Australia.

One award valued at $25,000 will be offered to one recipient.

We are seeking nominations from arts and community organisations and individuals.

The recipient will be presented with the award at the First Nations Arts & Culture Awards ceremony to be held on Tuesday 27 May 2025.

About the First Nations Arts and Culture Awards

The First Nations Arts and Culture Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding work and achievements of First Nations artists, practice, cultural advocacy and leadership. The Awards are held on the evening of Tuesday 27 May 2025, which coincides with the commencement of Reconciliation Week. The following awards will be presented:

Who can’t be nominated

You are ineligible for this award if:

  • you are under 18 years of age
  • you do not identify as Australian First Nations
  • you’re based outside of Australia
  • you have an overdue grant report for Creative Australia
  • you owe money to Creative Australia.

Please note: we do not accept self nominations across all categories.

Nominations will be assessed against two criteria.

Under each criterion are bullet points indicating what the Peer Assessors may consider when assessing your nomination. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

1. Merit

  • contribution to First Nations arts and cultural expression and practice
  • depth in area/s of practice
  • quality of work and/or projects
  • demonstrated ability, skills and creative thinking
  • public or peer responses to your body of work or practice.

2. Impact

  • demonstrated industry and community standing
  • evidence that the Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to, including consultation and engagement with First Nations elders, collaborators and communities
  • the artist/art worker’s future goals and their likely impact
  • relevance and timeliness of the Award.

You must submit a CV/extended bio for the nominee (approx. 2 x A4 pages, or a link to a CV/bio on the nominee’s website).

You may submit up to four letters or statements of support (approx. 2 x A4 pages, or up to 5 minutes of audio/video).

Types of support material we accept
  • our preferred method of receiving support material is via URLs (weblinks)
  • you can provide up to two URLs that link to content that is relevant to your nomination.
Please note:
  • do not supply any URLs that require users to log in or sign up to a platform.
  • do not provide links to applications that require users to log in or pay for access.
If you are linking to media files that are private or password protected, please provide the password in the password field on the nomination form.

Other accepted file formats
If you cannot supply support material via URLs, you may upload support material to your nomination in other formats, for example:

  • video (MP4, QuickTime, and Windows Media)
  • audio (MP3 and Windows Media)
  • images (JPEG and PowerPoint)
  • written material (Word and PDF).
We do not accept support material submitted via post. Material received by post will not be assessed and will be returned to the sender. If you think you will have difficulty submitting your support material online, or need advice on what type of material to submit, please contact Artists Services.
To nominate, log in to our Application Management System. You must register an account if you do not already have one. It may take up to two business days for us to process your registration. Once you have logged in:
1. Select ‘Submit a Nomination’ from the left panel menu
2. Under ‘Awards’ select ‘Start a new award nomination’
3. Ensure you select the correct award from the list of options
4. Complete the fields and select answers using the dropdown menus
5. Upload any necessary support material
6. Select ‘Save’ once complete
7. If you are not ready to submit your nomination you can return to it through ‘Your Draft Applications’ in the left panel menu
8. When you are ready to submit your nomination, select ‘Submit’.

Key dates

Amount: One award of $25,000

Applications closed

Notifications: February 2025

The First Nations Arts & Culture Awards are on Tuesday 27 May 2025.

Please note: To nominate you must be registered in our application management system a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date.

Contact

To discuss your application, please contact:

Tahjee Moar
Project Manager
First Nations Arts and Culture
Phone: +61 2 9215 9095
Email: Tahjee.Moar@creative.gov.au

If you need help with your nomination, please call or email us.

Related Links

First Nations Established Artist of the Year Award

Recognising excellence in artistic practice and outstanding achievement in the arts for an established artist with ten or more years of continued artistic practice.

First Nations Arts and Culture Awards 2024 trophies. Photo: Maja Baska

First Nations Established Artist of the Year Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts

We are excited to invite nominations for the newly created 2025 Artist of the Year Award. This Award recognises excellence in Australian First Nations artistic practice and outstanding achievement in the arts for an established artist with more than ten years of continued artistic practice.

This opportunity is available to artists practicing in community arts and cultural development, dance, experimental arts, literature, multi-arts, music, theatre and/or visual arts.

This initiative is part of Creative Australia’s First Nations First industry development programs. The programs have been developed in response to extensive community consultation on priorities and needs of the sector in response to Pillar 1, First Nations First – Revive, the Australian Government’s shared vision for Australia: a place for every story and a story for every place. These new initiatives aim to elevate existing programs and deliver new funding that build on a 50-year legacy of First Nations leadership and investment at Creative Australia.

One award valued at $25,000 will be offered to one recipient.

We seek nominations from arts and community organisations and individuals.

The recipient will be presented with the award at the First Nations Arts & Culture Awards ceremony to be held on Tuesday 27 May 2025.

About the First Nations Arts and Culture Awards

The First Nations Arts and Culture Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding work and achievements of First Nations artists, practice, cultural advocacy and leadership. The Awards are held on the evening of Tuesday 27 May 2025, which coincides with the commencement of Reconciliation Week. The following awards will be presented:

Who can’t be nominated

You are ineligible for this award if:

  • you are under 18 years of age
  • you do not identify as Australian First Nations
  • you’re based outside of Australia
  • you have an overdue grant report for Creative Australia
  • you owe money to Creative Australia.

Please note: we do not accept self nominations across all categories.

Applications will be assessed against two criteria.

Under each criterion are bullet points indicating what the Peer Assessors may consider when assessing your application. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

1. Merit

  • contribution to Australian First Nations arts and cultural expression
  • demonstrated artistic achievement within the area of practice
  • outstanding body of work
  • depth in area/s of practice
  • continued artistic practice maintained over ten years or more.

2. Impact

  • substantial contribution to the development of First Nations arts
  • evidence that the Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to, including consultation and engagement with First Nations elders, collaborators and communities
  • excellence and leadership in arts and culture
  • industry and peer recognition and acknowledgment
  • contribution to diverse cultural expression.

You must submit a CV/extended bio for the nominee (approx. 2 x A4 pages, or a link to a CV/bio on the nominee’s website).

You may submit up to four letters or statements of support (approx. 2 x A4 pages, or up to 5 minutes of audio/video).

Types of support material we accept
  • our preferred method of receiving support material is via URLs (weblinks)
  • you can provide up to two URLs that link to content that is relevant to your nomination.
Please note:
  • do not supply any URLs that require users to log in or sign up to a platform.
  • do not provide links to applications that require users to log in or pay for access.
If you are linking to media files that are private or password protected, please provide the password in the password field on the nomination form.

Other accepted file formats

If you cannot supply support material via URLs, you may upload support material to your nomination in other formats, for example:

  • video (MP4, QuickTime, and Windows Media)
  • audio (MP3 and Windows Media)
  • images (JPEG and PowerPoint)
  • written material (Word and PDF).
We do not accept support material submitted via post. Material received by post will not be assessed and will be returned to the sender. If you think you will have difficulty submitting your support material online, or need advice on what type of material to submit, please contact Artists Services.
To nominate, log in to our Application Management System. You must register an account if you do not already have one. It may take up to two business days for us to process your registration. Once you have logged in:
1. Select ‘Submit a Nomination’ from the left panel menu
2. Under ‘Awards’ select ‘Start a new award nomination’
3. Ensure you select the correct award from the list of options
4. Complete the fields and select answers using the dropdown menus
5. Upload any necessary support material
6. Select ‘Save’ once complete
7. If you are not ready to submit your nomination you can return to it through ‘Your Draft Applications’ in the left panel menu
8. When you are ready to submit your nomination, select ‘Submit’.

Key dates

Amount: One award of $25,000

Applications closed

Notifications: February 2025

The First Nations Arts & Culture Awards are on Tuesday 27 May 2025.

Please note: To nominate you must be registered in our application management system a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date.

Contact

To discuss your application, please contact:

Tahjee Moar
Project Manager
First Nations Arts and Culture
Phone: +61 2 9215 9095
Email: Tahjee.Moar@creative.gov.au

 

If you need help with your nomination, please call or email us.

Related Links