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.

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.

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.

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 (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.

Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising (Kepa Kurl/Esperance)

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 the Kepa Kurl/Esperance/Ravensthorpe region of Western Australia.

The Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop is ideal for artists, arts leaders, and arts board members 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, trusts & foundations and bequests. 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:

  • Artists and arts leaders who want to learn the basics of arts fundraising, bequests, philanthropy and sponsorship
  • Artists and arts leaders 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 morning tea, lunch, and all day 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 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  


James Boyd is the State Manager, Development and Partnerships WA, 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 Creative Australia, he was part of a team that brokered over $80 million 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.

Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising (Gurambilbarra/
Townsville)

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 Townsville.

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 in 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 Matthew Higgins, your State Manager,  Development and Partnerships for QLD, who will provide local perspectives, case studies and insights on how to implement what you’ve learned.

“ ‘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

For accessibility enquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.

Event Partners

North Australian Festival of Arts

This workshop has been generously supported by the North Australian Festival of Arts, enabling participation to be free for attendees.

 

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.

Get in contact with Matthew to book an appointment.

Tracy Woolacoot – Australian Cultural Fund Manager at Creative Australia

Tracy Woolacott is passionate about the relationship between the business and creative spheres and has set out to help art makers navigate the space where these two worlds meet.

Over the past decade she has worked across fashion, publishing and fundraising with a focus on digital platforms and communications. Her experience as a crowdfunding expert across two of Australia’s largest fundraising platforms, Pozible and the Australian Cultural Fund, has uniquely positioned her to help art makers tackle the complex world of online fundraising.

She holds a Bachelor of Creative Industries (Dance) and a Bachelor of Business (Management) from Queensland University of Technology.

Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising (Meanjin/Brisbane)

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 Brisbane.

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 in 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 Matthew Higgins, your State Manager,  Development and Partnerships for QLD, who will provide local perspectives, case studies and insights on how to implement what you’ve learned.

“ ‘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

For accessibility enquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.

Creative Australia is offering four Community Access Tickets to the upcoming Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop in Meanjin/Brisbane. 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 Matthew.Higgins@creative.gov.au.

 

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.

Get in contact with Matthew to book an appointment.

 

Get in contact with Matthew to book an appointment.

Download

Digital Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) Workshop Series 

About the opportunity

Download is a workshop for First Nations artists and arts workers at all career stages, who are engaging or wish to engage more with digital practice and learn more about ICIP. This is a program developed in partnership with Arts Law Centre of Australia to provide practical advice on how to manage and protect ICIP when working digitally.  

In person workshops will be held in Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. 

Workshops will cover: 

  • Intellectual Property (IP) laws, including Australian copyright laws, and strategies to protect, use, and share copyright material in digital arts practice. 
  • Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), focusing on its protection within the Australian legal framework. 
  • Protocols for working in digital arts practice, including industry standards and guidelines for collaborating with institutions, government, and businesses in Australia. 
  • Techniques for managing and safeguarding ICIP across digital platforms, especially when creating, sharing, using, or selling digital artworks. 
  • Strategies for managing and protecting rights through contracts and partnership arrangements, particularly in commissioned or funded projects, creative collaborations, and co-authorship. 
  • Insights into current policy and legal developments regarding ICIP protections in Australia. 
  • Guidance on accessing legal, consumer law, and licensing services, and understanding how organisations like Arts Law and other support or agent organisations can provide assistance.
    10.00AM – 10.30AM Welcome to Country
    10.30AM – 10.50AM House Keeping & Introductions
    10.50AM – 11.50AM Digital ICIP Workshop – Session 1
    11.50AM – 12.00PM Tea break
    12.00PM – 1.00PM Digital ICIP Workshop – Session 2
    1.00PM – 1.30PM Lunch
    1.30PM – 3.30PM Digital Doctor Sessions

    One-on-one ICIP info sessions for each artist with Arts Law lawyer. Optional in person on the day, or another date via zoom.

    Artists in the Black briefing, what they do and how you can access support

    Update on current opportunities at Creative Australia and information on First Nations and digital programs

Other details: 

  • Each attendee will be provided with a $200 stipend for participating  
  • Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided 
  • Each participant will be provided with a Resource booklet covering key information from the workshop to take with them 

Some venues to be announced.

Location Date Venue
Gimuy Cairns QLD Tuesday, 22 October 2024 NorthSite Contemporary Arts
Tarntanya Adelaide Capacity reached Carclew Youth Arts Centre
Kurdnatta Port Augusta Thursday, 10 April 2025 Venue TBA

Who can submit an EOI 

This opportunity is only open to:  

  • First Nations individuals and groups  

You cannot apply if:  

  • you are an organisation 
  • you received a grant from Creative Australia in the past and that grant has not been satisfactorily acquitted 
  • you owe money to Creative Australia.  

You can only submit one EOI. 

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

More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here.

All questions must be completed for your EOI to be eligible. 

You will be notified of the outcome of your EOI in late August 2024.

EOIs will be reviewed and assessed by Creative Australia staff to ensure individuals meet the eligibility requirements.   

Your EOI will be assessed based on how well it addresses the selection criteria below, and in line with Creative Australia’s commitment to diversity and access.   

  • Impact of the proposed workshop on your professional development.    
  • Timeliness and relevance of the workshop to your professional development.   

This program is generously supported by The Sun Foundation. 

This workshop series will be delivered by Arts Law Centre of Australia and Artists in the Black. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) refers to the rights of Indigenous peoples to protect their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and intellectual property. This encompasses a wide range of elements including but not limited to:  

  • Traditional knowledge: Practices, innovations, and wisdom developed by Indigenous communities over time.  
  • Cultural expressions: Art, music, dance, stories, symbols, and rituals that are integral to the cultural identity of Indigenous peoples.  
  • Genetic resources: Biological materials and their derivatives that hold cultural significance or traditional use.  
  • Cultural heritage: Tangible and intangible heritage, such as sacred sites, artifacts, languages, and oral traditions.  

ICIP aims to ensure that Indigenous communities have control over the use, representation, and dissemination of their cultural and intellectual property, safeguarding it from misuse or exploitation.  

No. First Nations artists and artworkers are welcome to apply. You could, for example, be working as a curator, the general manager of an arts centre, in a role focused on digital archiving, in marketing for an arts organisation or as an independent artist. Your arts practice may or may not include work in digital. This workshop would also be suitable for those who are working directly in digital arts including gaming, AR/VR, AI and those with an interest in e-commerce. 

This workshop is open to those interested in digital arts practice and individuals who might already be using digital tools, platforms or approaches to creating work. You do not need to be actively using digital approaches in your work.

Yes, you can. This might include situations where you are applying on behalf of an Elder, someone with accessibility issues, or other circumstances that prevent a person from applying themselves.

​​We use the term ‘digital’ broadly. Digital includes both online and other technologies that extend or impact on the creation, presentation and distribution of creative content.

​Importantly, we refer to digital as a way of doing things and a way of thinking: a digital mindset. We also use the term when referring to the technology that enables these actions.

​Digital is constantly evolving. The pace of change is speeding up, as are the expectations of arts audiences and consumers, so shifting from fixed and historical mindsets to a flexible, growth mindset and culture is how new opportunities will be identified and realised.​

CREATIVE FUTURES FUND

Delivery Investment

About the program

The Creative Futures Fund will support the creation and sharing of Australian stories and new ways for people to engage with them.

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.

If your project is not at this stage, you may wish to consider the Development Investment stream.

We are 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 we 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.

Investment of between $250,000 and $1,500,000 will be negotiated with successful recipients.

Applications will be accepted and assessed in two stages:

  • Stage 1: an initial Expression of Interest (EOI) where you propose the story you want to bring to life, who you plan to work with and the level of investment you are seeking
  • Stage 2: a small number of organisations will be invited to develop their EOI into a full application, which will provide detail on how the work will be realised, your partners, how people will engage with the work, the budget, milestones and risk management. Organisations invited to Stage 2 will be advised what level of investment to pitch for.

The final amount of investment and any deliverables will be negotiated directly with successful applicants. This may include the recoupment of funds where appropriate. The investment we provide may vary (higher and lower) from the amount requested at Stage 2.

Supported activity can commence from March 2025 onwards and must be completed within three years.

Further background on this fund can be found here.

The closing date for EOIs is Tuesday 6 August 2024, 3pm AEST.

Who can apply

  • Australian organisations working in the arts and culture sector who are carrying on business in Australia and have their central management and control in Australia
  • Organisations in receipt of Multi-Year Investment from Creative Australia can apply, however they must demonstrate the delivery or presentation activity is not already supported by their existing funding
  • Organisations can only submit one application to the Delivery Investment stream in this closing date.

Who can’t apply

You can’t apply to this fund if:

  • you are an individual or group
  • your organisation is based outside of Australia
  • your organisation does not work in the arts and culture sector
  • you have already applied to this closing date of Delivery Investment
  • you have an overdue report for another Creative Australia grant
  • you owe money to Creative Australia.

What can be applied for

We will support the delivery or presentation of intellectual property that is owned by Australian citizens/permanent residents and/or an Australian company. This includes a wide range of delivery activities such as:

  • final creative developments that build on previous public outcomes
  • adapting existing Australian work and intellectual property into new formats and media
  • presentation based activities such as exhibitions, performances, publishing, recording, streaming, touring
  • professional skills development and capacity building
  • specialist advice and consultancies
  • establishing new partnerships, collaborations, investors, or income streams
  • community engagement and consultation
  • market and audience development
  • evaluation
  • a reasonable contribution to staffing or operational costs in support of this activity.

Activities can take place nationally, internationally, online, or a combination of in-person and online (hybrid activities).

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

If you are working with d/Deaf people or people with disability in your application, 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 Artist Services to discuss your specific needs.

What can’t be applied for

You can’t apply for:

  • funds to develop new works that have not already has some form of public outcome, including works in progress or pilots
  • activities that create or leverage intellectual property that is majority owned by international individuals or entities
  • activities that do not have a clearly defined artistic, creative or cultural component
  • activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, creative workers, or audiences
  • activities that could be considered a part of ‘business as usual’ for your organisation, and do not demonstrate innovation
  • activities that have already taken place
  • the same activities that have already been funded by Creative Australia (for example, through your multi-year investment)
  • activities that develop, produce, promote and distribute Australian narrative (drama) and documentary screen content
  • activities that could be supported by Screen Australia and its allied state and territory equivalents
  • activities that could be supported by Games Investment steams in the same jurisdictions
  • activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to our 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, 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.

Industry advisors with diverse and relevant experience will assess the EOIs against the assessment criteria listed below and advise Creative Australia on which applicants to prioritise.

Assessment Criteria

Your EOI will be assessed against three assessment criteria. The bullet points underneath each criterion indicate what industry advisors may consider if relevant. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

  1. Quality

Industry advisors will assess the quality of the artistic and/or cultural development proposed in your EOI.

Advisors may consider:

  • the quality and vision of the concept, story or work
  • evidence of the quality and impact of the work in earlier stages of development or presentations or in its original medium or format
  • the calibre and track record of your organisation, partners, and collaborators
  • who the final work is being made for, and how those people will engage with it
  • the impact this presentation activity may have for your organisation, collaborators and people
  • where relevant, evidence that the Protocols for First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to.
  1. Viability

Industry advisors will assess your capacity to undertake ambitious and innovative projects.

Advisors may consider:

  • the calibre and track record of your organisation, partners, and collaborators
  • your previous experience delivering other ambitious and innovative projects
  • the financial stability of your organisation
  • evidence that the initial development of your proposed work for delivery has been informed by appropriate consultation and evaluation.
  1. Alignment

Industry advisors will assess the extent to which your EOI aligns with the priorities of the fund – the telling of Australian stories, and innovation.

Advisors may consider:

  • who holds or will hold the intellectual property and rights to your story
  • the relevance of your story to contemporary Australia
  • the innovation demonstrated through your partners, the mediums or art forms you will work with, who will engage with the work and the experience they may have
  • how this work extends the usual practice of your organisation and collaborators
  • whether this work represents innovation for the Australian creative and cultural sector.

Moderation

Final decisions on which applicants to invite to submit a full application in stage two will be moderated and approved by Creative Australia staff to ensure a diverse investment portfolio across both investment streams, activities, art forms, geography, representation, audiences and risk.

Creative Australia will also determine the investment level that organisations can apply for in Stage 2, along with any specific feedback on issues to address or specific support material to provide.

EOIs must be submitted via Creative Australia’s Application Management System.

If you are registering to use the System for the first time, make sure you register well before the closing date. It can take up to two business days to process your registration.

The application form includes the following questions.

Tell us about your organisation and your key partners (maximum 2400 characters):

  • describe your organisation and key partners for your application
  • describe your track record of realising and delivering ambitious, innovative artistic and creative works.

 

Tell us about the Australian story you want to deliver and who you aim to share it with (maximum 2400 characters):

  • describe your artistic work and vision
  • describe who you have developed the story for – your audience, market, communities, participants etc
  • describe what you have done to develop this story to date for delivery and presentation, the extent to which people have engaged with it and what their response was
  • describe the main activities you will undertake to finalise and deliver the work.

 

Tell us how your work aligns with the priorities of the Fund – innovation and the telling of Australian stories (maximum 2400 characters):

  • describe the innovation in your development and this subsequent delivery, for example your partners, the mediums or artforms you will work with, who will engage with the work and how
  • explain what makes your concept an Australian story, for example who holds or will hold the intellectual property and rights.

 

  • Amount requested ($250,000 to $1,500,000), likely expenditure and other sources of income.
  • Financial information from your recent audited accounts or equivalent.

You should submit support material with your EOI. The industry advisors may review this material to help them assess your proposed activity.

We strongly recommend you curate the support material you provide to be relevant, targeted and easily accessible.

We do not accept support material submitted via post. Support 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 Artist Services.

There are four types of support material you may submit with your EOI.

  1. Information about your organisation and collaborators

This could include background information on your organisation or collaborators on a website, your most recent annual report, an interview, or article.

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

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

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

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

  • video (MP4, Windows Media)
  • audio (MP3, Windows Media)
  • images (JPEG, PowerPoint)
  • written material (Word, PDF).
  1. Creative and cultural support material

This should include relevant, recent examples of your creative or cultural work. If you are seeking investment to adapt an existing work, please include examples of this work.

Our preferred method of receiving support material is via URLs (weblinks) that link to content that is targeted and relevant to your EOI.

If you cannot supply support material via URLs, you may upload support material to your application as above.

You can include a maximum of:

  • 10 minutes of video and/or audio recording, or
  • 10 images, or
  • 10 pages of written material (for example, excerpts of writing or scripts).

If you provide material that exceeds these limits it may not be reviewed by the industry advisors.

  1. Letters of permission or confirmation

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

You can include three letters, with each letter not exceeding one A4 page. These can be combined into one document or PDF.

  1. Your audited accounts

Please upload your audited accounts from the previous year or equivalent.

If you cannot supply these documents via URLs, you may upload to your application as a Word or PDF.

The closing date for full applications is Tuesday 3 December 2024, 3pm AEDT. An initial overview of the guidelines is provided below; more detail will follow in the coming months.

Who can apply

Only organisations with a successful EOI at Stage 1 will be invited to submit a full application.

Who can’t apply

You can’t apply to Stage 2 if:

  • your EOI was unsuccessful in Stage 1
  • you have an overdue grant report
  • you owe money to Creative Australia.

What can be applied for

We will support the creation or leveraging of intellectual property that is owned by Australian citizens/permanent residents and/or an Australian company. This includes a wide range of delivery activities such as:

  • final creative developments that build on previous public outcomes
  • adapting existing Australian work and intellectual property into new formats and media
  • presentation based activities such as exhibitions, performances, publishing, recording, streaming, touring
  • professional skills development and capacity building
  • specialist advice and consultancies
  • establishing new partnerships, collaborations, investors, or income streams
  • community engagement and consultation
  • market and audience development
  • evaluation
  • a reasonable contribution to staffing or operational costs in support of this activity.

What can’t be applied for

You can’t apply for:

  • activities where all the costs are funded through this investment; you must demonstrate other sources of income will be leveraged or contributed.
  • activities that create or leverage intellectual property that is majority owned by international individuals or entities
  • activities that do not have a clearly defined artistic, creative or cultural component
  • activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, creative workers or audiences
  • activities that could be considered a part of ‘business as usual’ for your organisation, and do not demonstrate innovation
  • activities that develop, produce, promote and distribute Australian narrative (drama) and documentary screen content
  • activities that could be supported by Screen Australia and its allied state and territory equivalents
  • activities that could be supported by Games Investment steams in the same jurisdictions
  • activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to our 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, 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.

Industry advisors with diverse and relevant experience will assess your application against the assessment criteria listed below and advise Creative Australia on which applicants to prioritise.

Assessment Criteria

Your application will be assessed against three assessment criteria. The bullet points underneath each criterion indicate what industry advisors may consider if relevant. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

  1. Quality

Industry advisors will assess the quality of the artistic and/or cultural presentation activities proposed in your EOI.

Advisors may consider:

  • the quality and vision of the concept, story or work
  • the calibre and track record of your organisation, partners, and collaborators
  • who the proposed work will be made for, and how they may engage with it
  • contribution to a diverse cultural expression in the context of the wider Australian arts sector.
  1. Viability

Industry advisors will assess the viability of your application, including your capacity to successfully complete

Advisors may consider:

  • your capacity to realise this new work
  • the role of partners or collaborators
  • whether your plan and use of resources is realistic and achievable, including contingencies and risk management
  • the timeliness and relevance of the work for your organisation and collaborators
  • the diversity and scale of income and co-funding, including earned income, grants, sponsorship, philanthropy, in-kind contributions
  • how you aim to evaluate the impact of this work.
  1. Impact

Industry advisors will assess the expected impact this presentation will have on your organisation, your collaborators and those engaging with the proposed work.

Advisors may consider:

  • new partnerships and collaborations established or deepened through the activity
  • how the delivery or presentation of your work will build the capacity and skills of you and your collaborators to work in new ways with new mediums, art forms or audiences
  • the level of innovation, ambition, experimentation or risk-taking within this work, organisation and wider sector
  • how the work will reach and engage with new people in new ways, and evidence that there is demand for this
  • the potential for new revenue streams or markets for your work
  • the potential benefit and impact on careers, artistic or cultural practice in the wider sector.

Moderation

Final decisions on which applicants to invest in will be moderated and approved by Creative Australia staff to ensure a diverse investment portfolio across both investment streams, activities, art forms, geography, representation, audiences and risk.

Creative Australia will also determine the investment level that will be made, along with any special conditions and deliverables. Where appropriate, we make seek specialist advice from industry professionals.

Your full application must be submitted via Creative Australia’s Application Management System.

You will be asked to provide more detailed information than in your EOI, including but not limited to:

  • further detail on the artistic and creative vision for the delivery or presentation and/or adaptation of your Australian story
  • a detailed list of activities and a timeline
  • further details on key personnel and collaborators
  • a detailed budget, listing income and expenditure
  • further details on how royalties and other income will be distributed
  • your approach to audience development and marketing
  • your approach to risk management
  • your approach to evaluation
  • the likely impact of this presentation for your organisation, your collaborators and those engaging with the proposed work.

You should submit support material with your full application. The industry advisors may review this material to help them assess your proposed activity.

We strongly recommend you curate the support material you provide to make it relevant, targeted and easily accessible.

You will be asked to provide more detailed support material including, but not limited to:

  • evidence of the artistic and cultural quality of your proposed activities
  • bios of key members of your creative team and your collaborators
  • letters of support and confirmation from key partners.

We may request additional support material specific to your application, as recommended by the industry advisors and staff who reviewed your EOI.

If your application is successful, we will give you a draft investment agreement that specifies the amount of investment we will provide, the proposed payment schedule, milestones, deliverables, and any other conditions of investment. For commercial projects, this may include financial recoupment. We will negotiate the final version of this agreement with you.

We will pay you once you have accepted your investment agreement and any reports or deliverables you must provide us with have been approved.

You may be asked to participate in evaluation activities with Creative Australia staff and external evaluators at various times throughout your project.

Watch our information session here and below.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, they can. They will need to demonstrate why public investment is required for this development, and explain how financial dividends, if any, will be distributed.

Creative Australia may negotiate the right to recoup a portion of its investment from commercially successful projects.

Yes, they can. We accept different business units, departments, divisions or trading names (listed under the one parent entity ABN) as separate entities.

If two different departments exist for one organisation, then both departments can register separately. However, they cannot use more than one registration to edit and submit the same grant application or grant acquittal report.

Yes, they can.

No, only organisations are eligible to apply under this investment fund. You may wish to work with an organisation to develop a work, however they must be the applicant.

Priority will be given to applicants where there is a genuine collaboration and partnership with a range of artists, groups, or partners.

While we can support screen-based art, we do not solely support activities associated with short film, feature film, television or documentary or electronic games.

As per the eligibility, activities that develop, produce, promote and distribute Australian narrative (drama) and documentary screen content, that could be supported via Screen Australia, cannot apply to this investment fund.

Applicants should consider if there is funding overlap with Screen Australia and its allied state and territory equivalents and Games Investment steams. Requests for the same activities supported by other funds are ineligible.

Applicants should also note that investment support may come in different stages and for different components of their activities. Applicants should carefully consider what aspects of their projects require investment support and at what times.

Yes, you can. Please note your submission would be competing within a very competitive field of applications from arts organisations, commercial entities and those that work solely in the arts and culture sector. Applications from schools that are based on projects that mainly benefit the school and its grounds would not be competitive.

The industry advisors understand that it’s not possible to confirm every activity, partnership, source of co-funding or venue at the time that you apply at this initial Expression of Interest stage. However, if the advisors are deciding between two submissions of equal artistic merit, the application that has more activities and partnerships confirmed, may be more competitive.

If there are too many unconfirmed elements of your proposal, the advisors may question its alignment to this fund. If the artistic concept behind your project is still not sufficiently developed, you may not be ready to apply. The process of drafting your application will help you determine this.

As the applicant, it is your responsibility to demonstrate how the proposed activity differs from your usual developments. This may be via new partnerships, collaborations and artistic practices. We are seeking to support innovative proposals that expand Australians access to arts experiences.

Creative Australia is seeking to support, invest in and champion innovation through the following means:

  • Creativity: This may explore innovation in the creative content to be explored and realised over the duration of the development.
  • Connection and experimentation: The applicant may, for example, address elements of entrepreneurship and new ways of working. This may include how they will engage with new partners not typical for the applicant or diversify their income streams through co-investment models (e.g. commercial investments, new partners in philanthropy to support their work).

Concepts, ideas, developments and stories are terms we use interchangeably to describe the project or idea you want to develop and refine. Story can be expressed through a range of art forms and is not restricted to narrative based projects.

We are interested in great ideas that are ambitious, unexpected and reflect contemporary Australia.

As the organisational applicant, it is your responsibility to demonstrate how this activity is not a part of your ‘business as usual’ activities and you are essentially, extending your practice and approach.

You may be engaging with collaborators and partners as they have highly refined and established skill sets or artistic approaches that are unique, important and relevant to this development. These collaborators may not need to extend their usual practice.

If you are applying as a consortium, we would expect collaborators to show innovation.

Yes, this will become more relevant if your submission is invited to Stage 2 – Full Application. This is where industry advisors are analysing and assessing your budget and expenditure activities.

If this is a part of your concept outlined in your EOI, you will need to demonstrate its relevance to the development of your work.

This will become more relevant if your submission is invited to Stage 2, to submit a full application (see below).

Other income will vary depending on the type of project you are proposing for development. It should reflect the nature of your project, who is involved and the area of practice. Please consider the more you request, the greater the expectation that our investment leverages other cash income (be it philanthropy, earned, sponsorship etc).

Yes. Organisational administrative costs, including auspicing, should be reasonable and directly related to the project delivery. They should generally not exceed 10% of the total budget, although this will depend on the nature of the delivery of the project. If those costs are higher, your application may be less competitive.

CREATIVE FUTURES FUND

Development Investment

About the program

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.

If your idea is ready for presentation, Delivery Investment may be more suitable.

We are 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. We 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. The intellectual property must be majority owned by Australian creatives, be an Australian concept, and have subject matter that is relevant to contemporary Australia.

Investment of between $50,000 and $250,000 will be negotiated with successful recipients.

Applications will be accepted and assessed in two stages:

  • Stage 1: an initial Expression of Interest (EOI) where you propose the story or work you want to develop or adapt, and the level of investment you are seeking
  • Stage 2: a small number of organisations will be invited to develop their EOI into a full application, which will detail the development process, partners, budget, milestones and risk management. Organisations invited to Stage 2 will be advised what level of investment to pitch for.

The final amount of investment and any deliverables will be negotiated directly with successful applicants. The investment may vary (higher or lower) from the amount requested at Stage 2.

Supported activity can commence from March 2025 onwards and must be completed within two years.

Further background on this fund can be found here.

The closing date for EOIs is Tuesday 6 August 2024, 3pm AEST.

Who can apply

  • Australian organisations working in the arts and culture sector who are carrying on business in Australia and have their central management and control in Australia.
  • Organisations in receipt of Multi-Year Investment from Creative Australia can apply, however they must demonstrate the development activity is not already supported by their existing funding.
  • Organisations can only submit one application to the Development Investment stream to this closing date.

Who can’t apply

You can’t apply to this fund if:

  • you are an individual or group
  • your organisation is based outside of Australia
  • your organisation does not work in the arts and culture sector
  • you have already applied to this closing date of Development Investment
  • you have an overdue report for another Creative Australia grant
  • you owe money to Creative Australia.

What can be applied for

We will support the creation or leveraging of intellectual property that is owned by Australian citizens/permanent residents and/or an Australian company. This includes a wide range of development activities such as:

  • research and development
  • creative development and experimentation
  • adapting existing Australian work and intellectual property into new formats and mediums
  • work in progress showings, prototypes, pilots and other forms of market testing and evaluation
  • professional skills development and capacity building
  • establishing new partnerships, collaborations, investors, or income streams
  • community engagement and consultation
  • market and audience development
  • a reasonable contribution to staffing or operational costs in support of this activity.

Activities can take place nationally, internationally, online, or a combination of in-person and online (hybrid activities).

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

If you are working with d/Deaf people or people with disability in your application, 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 Artist Services to discuss your specific needs.

What can’t be applied for

You can’t apply for:

  • activities that create or leverage intellectual property that is majority owned by international individuals or entities
  • activities that do not have a clearly defined artistic, creative or cultural component
  • activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, arts professionals or audiences
  • activities that could be considered a part of ‘business as usual’ for your organisation, and do not demonstrate innovation
  • activities that have already taken place
  • the same activities that have already been funded by Creative Australia (for example, through your multi-year investment)
  • activities that develop, produce, promote and distribute Australian narrative (drama) and documentary screen content
  • activities that could be supported by Screen Australia and its allied state and territory equivalents
  • activities that could be supported by Games Investment steams in the same jurisdictions
  • activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to our 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, 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.

Industry advisors with diverse and relevant experience will assess the EOIs against the assessment criteria listed below and advise Creative Australia on which applicants to prioritise.

Assessment Criteria

Your EOI will be assessed against two assessment criteria. The bullet points underneath each criterion indicate what industry advisors may consider if relevant. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

  1. Quality

Industry advisors will assess the quality of the artistic and/or cultural development proposed in your EOI.

Advisors may consider:

  • the quality and vision of the concept, story or work
  • the calibre and track record of your organisation, partners, and collaborators
  • who the proposed work will be made for, and how they may engage with it
  • the impact the development activity may have for your organisation
  • where relevant, evidence that the Protocols for First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to.
  1. Alignment

Industry advisors will assess the extent to which your EOI aligns with the priorities of the fund – the telling of Australian stories, and innovation.

Advisors may consider:

  • who holds or will hold the intellectual property and rights to your story
  • the relevance of your story to contemporary Australia
  • the innovation demonstrated through your partners, the mediums or art forms you will work with, who will engage with the work and the experience they may have
  • how this development extends the usual practice of your organisation and collaborators
  • whether this development represents innovation for the Australian creative and cultural sector.

Moderation

Final decisions on which applicants will be invited to to submit a full application in Stage 2 will be moderated and approved by Creative Australia staff to ensure a diverse investment portfolio across both investment streams, activities, art forms, geography, representation, audiences and risk.

Creative Australia will also determine the investment level that organisations can apply for in Stage 2, along with any specific feedback on issues to address or specific support material to provide.

EOIs must be submitted via Creative Australia’s Application Management System.

If you are registering to use the System for the first time, make sure you register well before the closing date. It can take up to two business days to process your registration.

The application form includes the following questions:

Tell us about your organisation and your key partners (maximum 2400 characters):

  • describe your organisation and key partners for the development
  • describe your track record of developing other artistic and creative works

 

Tell us about the Australian idea you want to develop and who you aim to share it with (maximum 2400 characters):

  • describe your concept and vision
  • describe who you are developing it for – your likely audience, market, communities, participants etc
  • describe the main activities you will undertake to develop the idea.

 

Tell us how your development aligns with the purpose of the Fund – innovation and the telling of Australian stories (maximum 2400 characters):

  • describe the innovation in your development, for example the concept, your partners, the mediums or artforms you will work with, who will engage with the work and how
  • explain what makes your idea an Australian story, for example who holds or will hold the intellectual property and rights.

 

  • Amount requested ($50,000 to $250,000), likely expenditure and other sources of income.
    • Financial information from your recent audited accounts or equivalent.

You should submit support material with your EOI. The industry advisors may review this material to help them assess your proposed activity.

We strongly recommend you curate the support material you provide to be relevant, targeted and easily accessible.

We do not accept support material submitted via post. Support 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 Artist Services.

There are three types of support material you may submit.

  1. Information about your organisation and collaborators

This could include background information on your organisation or collaborators on a website, your most recent annual report, an interview, or article.

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

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

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

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

  • video (MP4, Windows Media)
  • audio (MP3, Windows Media)
  • images (JPEG, PowerPoint)
  • written material (Word, PDF).
  1. Creative and cultural support material

This should include relevant, recent examples of your creative or cultural work. If you are seeking investment to adapt an existing work, please include examples of this work.

Our preferred method of receiving support material is via URLs (weblinks) that link to content that is targeted and relevant to your EOI.

If you cannot supply support material via URLs, you may upload support material to your application as above.

You can include a maximum of:

  • 10 minutes of video and/or audio recording, or
  • 10 images, or
  • 10 pages of written material (for example, excerpts of writing or scripts).

If you provide material that exceeds these limits it may not be reviewed by the industry advisors.

  1. Letters of permission or confirmation

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

You can include three letters, with each letter not exceeding one A4 page. These should be combined into one document or PDF.

  1. Your audited accounts

Please upload your most recent audited accounts or equivalent.

If you cannot supply these documents via URLs, you may upload to your application as a Word or PDF.

The closing date for full applications is Tuesday 3 December 2024, 3pm AEDT. An initial overview of the guidelines is provided below; more detail will follow in the coming months.

Who can apply

Only organisations with a successful EOI at Stage 1 will be invited to submit a full application.

Who can’t apply

You can’t apply to Stage 2 if:

  • your EOI was unsuccessful in Stage 1
  • you have an overdue report for another Creative Australia grant
  • You owe money to Creative Australia.

What can be applied for

We will support the creation or leveraging of intellectual property that is owned by Australian citizens/permanent residents and/or an Australian company. This includes a wide range of development activities such as:

  • research and development
  • creative development and experimentation
  • adapting existing Australian work and intellectual property into new formats and mediums
  • work in progress showings, prototypes, pilots and other forms of market testing and evaluation
  • professional skills development and capacity building
  • establishing new partnerships, collaborations, investors, or income streams
  • community engagement and consultation
  • market and audience development
  • a reasonable contribution to staffing or operational costs in support of this activity (for organisations not receiving multi-year investment from Creative Australia).

What can’t be applied for

You can’t apply for:

  • activities where all the costs are funded through this investment; you must demonstrate other sources of income will be leveraged or contributed
  • activities that create or leverage intellectual property that is majority owned by international individuals or entities
  • activities that do not have a clearly defined artistic, creative or cultural component
  • activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, creative workers or audiences
  • activities that could be considered a part of ‘business as usual’ for your organisation, and do not demonstrate innovation
  • activities that develop, produce, promote and distribute Australian narrative (drama) and documentary screen content
  • activities that could be supported by Screen Australia and its allied state and territory equivalents
  • activities that could be supported by Games Investment steams in the same jurisdictions
  • activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to our 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, 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.

Industry advisors with diverse and relevant experience will assess your application against the assessment criteria listed below and advise Creative Australia on which applicants to prioritise.

Assessment Criteria

Your application will be assessed against three assessment criteria. The bullet points underneath each criterion indicate what industry advisors may consider if relevant. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

  1. Quality

Industry advisors will assess the quality of the artistic and/or cultural development proposed in your EOI.

Advisors may consider:

  • the quality and vision of the concept, story or work
  • the calibre and track record of your organisation, partners, and collaborators
  • who the proposed work will be made for, and how they may engage with it
  • contribution to a diverse cultural expression in the context of the wider Australian arts sector.
  1. Viability

Industry advisors will assess the viability of your application, including your capacity to successfully complete the activities proposed.

Advisors may consider:

  • your capacity to undertake this development, including your organisational stability
  • the role of partners or collaborators
  • whether your plan and use of resources is realistic and achievable, including contingencies and risk management
  • the timeliness and relevance of this development for your organisation and collaborators
  • the diversity and scale of income and co-funding, including earned income, grants, sponsorship, philanthropy, in-kind contributions
  • how you aim to reflect on, respond to and potentially evaluate this work.
  1. Impact

Industry advisors will assess the expected impact this development will have on your organisation, your collaborators and those engaging with the proposed work.

Advisors may consider:

  • new partnerships and collaborations established or deepened through the activity
  • how the development will build the capacity and skills of you and your collaborators to work in new ways with new mediums, art forms or audiences
  • the level of innovation, ambition, experimentation or risk-taking
  • how the work will reach and engage with new people in new ways, and evidence that there is demand for this
  • the potential for new revenue streams or markets for your work
  • the potential benefit and impact on careers, artistic or cultural practice in the wider sector.

Moderation

Final decisions on which applicants to invest in will be moderated and approved by Creative Australia staff to ensure a diverse investment portfolio across both investment streams, activities, art forms, geography, representation, audiences and risk.

Creative Australia will also determine the investment level that will be made, along with any special conditions and deliverables. Where appropriate, we make seek specialist advice from industry professionals.

Your full application must be submitted via Creative Australia’s Application Management System.

You will be asked to provide more detailed information than in your EOI, including but not limited to:

  • further detail on the artistic and creative vision for the development and / or adaptation of your Australian story
  • further details on the proposed public outcome for your work
  • a detailed list of activities and a timeline
  • further details on key personnel and collaborators
  • a detailed budget, listing income and expenditure
  • your approach to risk management
  • your approach to evaluation
  • the likely impact of this development for your organisation, your collaborators and those engaging with the proposed work.

You should submit support material with your full application. The industry advisors may review this material to help them assess your proposed activity.

We strongly recommend you curate the support material you provide to make it relevant, targeted and easily accessible.

You will be asked to provide more detailed support material including, but not limited to:

  • evidence of the artistic and cultural quality of your proposed activities
  • bios of key members of your creative team and your collaborators
  • your most recent audited accounts or equivalent.
  • letters of support and confirmation from key partners.

We may request additional support material specific to your application, as recommended by the industry advisors and staff who reviewed your EOI.

If your application is successful, we will give you a draft investment agreement that specifies the amount of investment we will provide, the proposed payment schedule, milestones, deliverables, and any other conditions of investment. We will negotiate the final version of this agreement with you.

We will pay you once you have accepted your investment agreement and any reports or deliverables you must provide us with have been approved.

You may be asked to participate in evaluation activities with Creative Australia staff and external evaluators at various times throughout your project.

Watch our information session here and below.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, they can. They will need to demonstrate why public investment is required for this development, and explain how financial dividends, if any, will be distributed.

Creative Australia may negotiate the right to recoup a portion of its investment from commercially successful projects.

Yes, they can. We accept different business units, departments, divisions or trading names (listed under the one parent entity ABN) as separate entities.

If two different departments exist for one organisation, then both departments can register separately. However, they cannot use more than one registration to edit and submit the same grant application or grant acquittal report.

Yes, they can.

No, only organisations are eligible to apply under this investment fund. You may wish to work with an organisation to develop a work, however they must be the applicant.

Priority will be given to applicants where there is a genuine collaboration and partnership with a range of artists, groups, or partners.

While we can support screen-based art, we do not solely support activities associated with short film, feature film, television or documentary or electronic games.

As per the eligibility, activities that develop, produce, promote and distribute Australian narrative (drama) and documentary screen content, that could be supported via Screen Australia, cannot apply to this investment fund.

Applicants should consider if there is funding overlap with Screen Australia and its allied state and territory equivalents and Games Investment steams. Requests for the same activities supported by other funds are ineligible.

Applicants should also note that investment support may come in different stages and for different components of their activities. Applicants should carefully consider what aspects of their projects require investment support and at what times.

Yes, you can. Please note your submission would be competing within a very competitive field of applications from arts organisations, commercial entities and those that work solely in the arts and culture sector. Applications from schools that are based on projects that mainly benefit the school and its grounds would not be competitive.

The industry advisors understand that it’s not possible to confirm every activity, partnership, source of co-funding or venue at the time that you apply at this initial Expression of Interest stage. However, if the advisors are deciding between two submissions of equal artistic merit, the application that has more activities and partnerships confirmed, may be more competitive.

If there are too many unconfirmed elements of your proposal, the advisors may question its alignment to this fund. If the artistic concept behind your project is still not sufficiently developed, you may not be ready to apply. The process of drafting your application will help you determine this.

As the applicant, it is your responsibility to demonstrate how the proposed activity differs from your usual developments. This may be via new partnerships, collaborations and artistic practices. We are seeking to support innovative proposals that expand Australians access to arts experiences.

Creative Australia is seeking to support, invest in and champion innovation through the following means:

  • Creativity: This may explore innovation in the creative content to be explored and realised over the duration of the development.
  • Connection and experimentation: The applicant may, for example, address elements of entrepreneurship and new ways of working. This may include how they will engage with new partners not typical for the applicant or diversify their income streams through co-investment models (e.g. commercial investments, new partners in philanthropy to support their work).

Concepts, ideas, developments and stories are terms we use interchangeably to describe the project or idea you want to develop and refine. Story can be expressed through a range of art forms and is not restricted to narrative based projects.

We are interested in great ideas that are ambitious, unexpected and reflect contemporary Australia.

As the organisational applicant, it is your responsibility to demonstrate how this activity is not a part of your ‘business as usual’ activities and you are essentially, extending your practice and approach.

You may be engaging with collaborators and partners as they have highly refined and established skill sets or artistic approaches that are unique, important and relevant to this development. These collaborators may not need to extend their usual practice.

If you are applying as a consortium, we would expect collaborators to show innovation.

Yes, this will become more relevant if your submission is invited to Stage 2 – Full Application. This is where industry advisors are analysing and assessing your budget and expenditure activities.

If this is a part of your concept outlined in your EOI, you will need to demonstrate its relevance to the development of your work.

This will become more relevant if your submission is invited to Stage 2, to submit a full application (see below).

Other income will vary depending on the type of project you are proposing for development. It should reflect the nature of your project, who is involved and the area of practice. Please consider the more you request, the greater the expectation that our investment leverages other cash income (be it philanthropy, earned, sponsorship etc).

Yes. Organisational administrative costs, including auspicing, should be reasonable and directly related to the development. They should generally not exceed 10% of the total budget, although this will depend on the nature of the development. If those costs are higher, your application may be less competitive.

Arts and Disability Initiative

This program is for d/Deaf artists or arts workers, or artists or arts workers with disability, seeking to undertake a project or activity to advance their practice, skills or career.

About this initiative

Creative Australia is offering ten grants of $30,000.

If you are a d/Deaf artist or arts worker, or an artist or arts worker with disability, these grants can provide support for significant projects to extend your arts practice, networks, skills, and ambition.

Your project should be ambitious, bold, and innovative.  It should enhance your career and work, and strengthen your networks.  It must include a clear plan with the steps you will take to achieve your goals. It must also outline the structure and support you will put in place for your development to take your career or practice to the next level.

Supported activities must last no longer than two years from the proposed start date.

This initiative has been developed in response to Creative Australia research involving artists and arts workers with disability, our Towards Equity: A research overview of diversity in Australia’s arts and cultural sector  report and a review of the Council’s arts and disability initiatives 2019-2021.


Need help with your application?

Click here to contact Artists Services:

  • with any questions about this initiative
  • to submit an application in a different format, or in a language other than English
  • to arrange a conference call, or to use an Auslan interpreter service
  • if you have any other access or support needs.

Easy English

Easy English uses text and images to share information simply for people who find it hard to read English. Download the Easy English Guide in PDF.

 

Additional resources

  • Only individuals may apply to this initiative. If you are part of a group, you may apply on behalf of the group.
  • You must identify as a d/Deaf artist or artsworker, or as an artist or arts worker with disability.
  • You must be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.
  • You may only apply once to this initiative at the 9 July 2024 closing date.

You can’t apply for a grant if:

    • you received a grant from Creative Australia in the past and that grant has not been satisfactorily acquitted
    • you owe money to Creative Australia
    • you are an organisation.

You can apply for:

  • skills development
  • mentoring
  • residencies
  • creation of new work
  • creative development
  • experimentation
  • practice-based research
  • presentation and promotion
  • collaboration

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. performances using Auslan, translation to other languages, captioning, audio description, temporary building adjustments, and materials in other formats).

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 Artists Services to discuss your needs.

You can’t apply for projects or activities that:

  • do not involve or benefit practicing artists or arts workers
  • do not have a clearly defined arts component
  • have already taken place.

Applications to this initiative will be assessed by peers from the arts sector.  Most of the assessors will identify as d/Deaf or disabled.

For more information see: How we assess applications.

All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application within 12 weeks of the closing date.

You must address three assessment criteria in this initiative.

Under each criterion are bullet points indicating what the peer assessors may consider when reviewing your application. You do not need to respond to every bullet point.

Peers will assess the quality of your proposal. They may consider:

  • the quality of the proposed activity
  • the quality of your previous work
  • public or peer responses to your work
  • the quality of your collaborators or partners
  • how your proposed activity is ambitious, bold, innovative and career-enhancing.

Peers will assess the viability of your proposal. They may consider:

  • realistic and achievable planning and resource use, with a clear plan and steps to achieve your goals
  • evidence of structure and support in place for your development
  • the relevance and timeliness of the proposed activity
  • the skills and roles of partners or collaborators, including confirmation of involvement
  • where relevant to your proposal, evidence that the Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to
  • appropriate payments to participating artists, arts workers, collaborators, participants, or cultural consultants
  • evidence of appropriate consultation with participants, audiences, or communities
  • the safety and wellbeing of people involved in the project, and public safety in relation to presentations or travel
  • how you have addressed access in the proposed activity
  • where relevant, evidence that you have addressed the environmental impact of your project.

Peers will assess the impact that your proposal will have on your practice and career. They may consider:

  • how your activity will extend your arts practice, networks, skills, and ambition
  • how your activity will extend the arts practice, networks, skills, and ambition of other artists and arts workers involved.

Instructions and a link to the online application form are available here.

The application form will ask you to provide:

  • a title for your activity
  • a summary of your activity
  • a brief bio of the artist or arts worker applying
  • a detailed description of your activity
  • a timetable or itinerary for your activity
  • an outline of how your activity will extend arts practice, networks, skills, and ambition
  • details of the expenses, income and in-kind support for your activity, including any access and support costs
  • supporting material relevant to your activity. This may include examples of your previous work, bios of additional people involved, and letters of support from participants or communities.

All Creative Australia grants information including guidelines and application forms are available in accessible formats upon request.

These formats include word documents, audio CD, Braille, Easy English, Auslan and large print. Please note that requests for translated materials will need to allow for a six-week turnaround.

We accept applications for all our programs in accessible formats.

Formats include Auslan, audio, video, printed, dictated, electronic and handwritten formats. Contact Artists Services to discuss your requirements.

You should submit support material with your application. The peer assessors may review this support material to help them gain a better sense of your project.

What you should provide

We do not accept application-related support material submitted via post unless you have contacted us in advance to discuss your access needs. 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.

There are three types of support material you may submit:

1. Artistic support material

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

2. Biographies and CVs

You can include a brief bio or curriculum vitae (CV) for key artists, personnel or other collaborators involved in your project.

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

3. Letters of support

Individuals, groups, or organisations 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.

If relevant to your activity, 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.

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 proposal. 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 (for example, excerpts of literary writing).

Please note: Our peer assessors 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, Windows Media)
  • audio (MP3 and Windows Media)
  • images (JPEG and PowerPoint)
  • written material (Word and PDF).

Details of the grant recipients will be published on the Creative Australia website. These details will include the name of each recipient, their resident state or territory, the amount awarded, the panel which assessed the application (Arts & Disability panel) and the name of the round (the Arts and Disability Initiative).

Please contact Artists Services if you do not wish to have your name published.

Frequently Asked Questions

The initiative is designed to support a wide variety of arts project or career development activities, including the creation of new work, career development, mentoring, residencies, research and development presentation and promotion.

Supported activities must last no longer than two years from the proposed start date.

Creative Australia expects that all artists and arts workers employed or engaged on Creative Australia-funded activities will be remunerated for their work. Peers assessing applications for the Arts and Disability Initiative will consider remuneration when they look at the viability of your activity. You should make provision in your budget for appropriate payment of artists and arts workers. For more information, refer to our policy on the payment of artists.

Artists and arts workers with disability face barriers in formal arts education and training. They have very diverse professional and career development pathways which need to be tailored to individual requirements and circumstances. Show how your project will have a positive effect on your practice and career, externing your arts practice, networks, skills and ambition of you and your collaborators. You can consider mentoring as an option (see below), or any of the following activities:

  • formal or informal training
  • feedback, critical reflection or peer review from your collaborators
  • work placements, internships or learning and development activities with an industry or organisational partner
  • structured learning and development activities with your collaborators, including peer-to-peer learning
  • workshops or time spent with Elders, senior artists or community leaders
  • documentation of your learning and development.

Mentoring is any supportive relationship that encourages the sharing of knowledge, skills and experience. Mentoring can be structured or informal and can include peer-to-peer mentoring.  Peer-to-peer mentoring assumes an even playing field and exchange of knowledge in the relationship, where everyone involved contributes and learns from different perspectives and experience. For the purposes of this initiative, mentoring is interpreted very broadly and is informed by the needs and priorities of the applicant. Our Guide to Mentoring is a useful reference.

Our staff are available to assist you in understanding the purpose of the grant, application requirements, and submitting your application. Staff can assist over email, phone, Teams, Zoom, and, where possible, in person.

We do not review draft applications. However, we can discuss any specific questions or issues you have about your application.

If you need help writing your application, we encourage you to contact one of the arts and disability peak bodies. A list of those peak bodies, along with further accessibility resources, is here.

Yes. We encourage you to submit your application using our online system. You can submit your application in any way that is accessible to you. Other formats include Auslan, audio, video, printed, dictated, electronic and handwritten format.

Contact the Artists Services team to discuss your needs well in advance of the closing date.

Applications to the Arts and Disability Initiative will be assessed by artists and arts worker across art forms and across states and territories. Most of the assessors will identify as d/Deaf or disabled.

No. You will be asked whether or not you identify as d/Deaf or a person with disability.

The information you choose to share about yourself in your application is entirely up to you. When outlining your project and your professional development activity, some applicants may choose to share information about their lived experience and how this informs their practice, access requirements, or needs and plans for professional development. There is no obligation to disclose anything other than information you feel comfortable sharing to enable the panel to assess your application.

If you are successful in receiving this funding, you will have the option of not publishing your name as a recipient of the Arts and Disability Initiative. Please advise Artists Services if you do not want to be publicly identified.

The initiative is not designed to provide indirect funding to organisations. Applications are only open to individuals and groups. Contact Artists Services if you are unsure.

Yes, but note that the initiative is not designed to provide indirect funding to organisations. Your proposal must demonstrate that the artist or arts worker with disability will have creative control of the project. Contact Artists Services to discuss your application if you are unsure.

If you are unable to complete the application form, a support worker or other person helping you with the application can sign on your behalf.

Meet the 2023 recipients

Cara-Ann Simpson is an artist, curator, cultural heritage expert and consultant, with a background as an executive director, property manager, conservation manager, and educator. She is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on sensory engagement, digital technologies, space and the participant. Cara-Ann is engaged with cultural heritage, landscape, sensoria and how people interact with their environment.

In 2017, Cara-Ann became extremely ill, spending close to a year in hospital with an extreme brain infection, eventually being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and Neurosarcoidosis. She spent a number of months in rehabilitation learning how to walk again and become stronger. During this period picking flowers and going for short walks outside became a lifeline to regaining optimism for the future and finding her way back to creating art. She currently lives with her partner Michael, and their two dogs – Sebastian and Eddie – on the lands of the Jarowair people of the Wakka Wakka nation on a farm in Queensland.

My multi-disciplinary art practice explores Critical Disability Aesthetics. As a woman with dwarfism, I work collaboratively to experiment with the representation of my embodied difference. The focus of my art to date, has been upon features and dynamics of interactions and relations within physical and social environments that define the dwarf person as an Other. By experimenting with the power of the gaze and changing point of view, I emphasise the politics of visible difference. Employing the mediums of performance, video, VR, photography, and sculpture, my oeuvre has evolved to culminate in cross art-form works. I explore the capacities of each medium to communicate a different and dynamic perspective of lived experience.

My approach to Critical Disability Aesthetics experiments with shifting point of view to engage with and immerse participants and audiences into my world. I constantly challenge traditional stereotypes about those who look different, and to date, the subject of my work in this endeavour is my lived experience. As my art practice evolves, I aim to move beyond the perspective of the individual. My current works explore the experiences of those who share my body type from the four corners of the world, different gender identities, ages, strata of society and those at intersections of disadvantage. Experimenting further with cross art-forms – visual and auditory – I aim to produce work that invites audiences to engage with these different perspectives and points of view to gain new insight and understanding of what it is like to be “a different kind of different”.

As an artist and academic my experimental approach to Critical Disability Aesthetics has been exhibited in both National and State galleries and festivals, published in chapters, discussed in interviews, presented at conferences and workshops.

I am a lecturer at Western Sydney University in Humanitarian and Development Studies, and my first PhD was in Psychology on the subject of Dehumanization. Currently studying for my second PhD in Visual Arts at Art & Design UNSW, my research focuses upon developing a Critical Disability Aesthetic through the representation of the female dwarf.

My practice is primarily focused on projects that involve story-telling at their core and reveal unique perspectives. First beginning in the screen industry, I am quite organically moving into theatre and performance-making. In 2020 Back to Back Theatre invited me to work as an associate producer for five months in the lead up to their first feature film Shadow. The film was created in collaboration with an ensemble of actors with perceived intellectual disabilities. Intertwined with the making of the film was an ambitious internship program, which I helped set up and run. The program supported 30 artists identifying as having a disability to work as paid interns across all departments. Back to Back have since employed me as a Guest Artist and Research Consultant, and have asked me to represent the company and film in Athens, New York City and Norway.

This project will develop a new work, INFLUENCE, exploring the effects of social media and publicity on our daily life and interactions with others. I will develop the new work alongside my professional skills in three phases:
1: Month-long Professional Development Residency with Back to Back Theatre;
2: Artistic Research Residency with Mammalian Diving Reflex;
3: Final writing phase, with mentorship by Rhian Hinkley.

Emma Holland is a 35-year-old comedian, writer and aspiring screenwriter living with cerebral palsy. She made her comedy debut in 2020 and from there has seen her career go from strength to strength taking out joint first place in the National Final of the Raw Comedy Competition at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2022. Later that year she was invited to take part in a writers’ room for Wil Anderson’s ABC panel show Question Everything (produced by CJZ). She had an incredible 2023 so far being invited to give a TEDX talk (2022) as part of their TEDX Byron Bay Women programme where she shared her experience of owning her sexuality as a woman living with disability.

This funding will support a live show & creative screenwriting development, promotion and accessibility project.

Dr Bon Mott is a transdisciplinary artist, curator, and educator based in Naarm (Melbourne). Their artistic practice revolves around site-specific process-driven sculpture installations incorporating performance art, drawing inspiration from Indigenous and Western European science of lightning.

The project supports R&D into the science of lightning to create and document process-driven installations and activations. This is a one-year transdisciplinary research-based project with an outcome of mixed-media ceiling installations and activations. Through the intersection of art and personal experience, the project focus is the science of lightning informed by my nonbinary identity and neurological disability. The project involves research and development in the studio, on the ancient lands of Australia and building upon existing relationships of trust and collaboration with artists and arts workers, fostering a fast response and creating a diverse network of collaborators through mentorship from First Nations creatives and lightning and cosmic ray scientists in and Turtle Island (USA) to expand my networks while creating innovative artworks that explore themes of identity, science, and social change.

A killer music director, MC, composer, sound designer, DJ, music dramaturg and performance maker, Kim ‘Busty Beatz’ Bowers has been making fearless art to activate, pollinate and liberate for over 30 years. Of Xhosa heritage and living on Yuggera country, she creates sonic experiences intersecting disciplines, politics and soundlines with a focus on giving voice to stories which are unseen and unheard.

This project supports Bowers to research and develop ‘Confessions of the Brutally Blessed – A Survival Handbook’ giving voice to the untold story of Legacy, Medicine, and Revolution. By developing a series of electrifying performances, theatrical captures and sonic collaborations, this new work is a journey of love, loss, death and joy as Busty Beatz confronts her past, present, and future after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer, undertaking chemotherapy and a left breast mastectomy. With themes of body sovereignty, historical pathologising of Black Female Body throughout medical history and finding joy, ‘Confessions of the Brutally Blessed’ is an honest and unflinching exploration of what it means to be an artist living in the space known as the in-between.

Luke is a director, movement, and multi-disciplinary artist. Luke is also an artist living with Down Syndrome and he is not happy about it. He longs to be seen and critiqued as an artist – not as an artist living with a disability. In III he is putting his art to the test through anonymity, abstraction and distance.

III is a trilogy of cross art form investigations directed by Luke John Campbell. In the winter of 2025 The CHAIN [2021], The BRIDGE [2022] and the BOND [2023-24] will be presented in a fully immersive experience at Plimsoll Gallery at the University of Tasmania School of the Arts Hobart Campus. Through the use of performance, installation, motion capture, audio and video manipulations, III confronts reality, space, time and the ties between place and people. The work explores the conceptual space between who we think we see and our expectations of them; Where we think we are and where we belong. Viewers are invited to question what and who they are seeing and consider whether they judge a book by its cover.

Destefano is a Deaf multi-disciplinary artist living and working in Victoria. She works with performance art, dance performance, sculpture, textile, poetry and Auslan poetry, drawing and painting. She recently completed a Masters of Contemporary Art at VCA at Melbourne Uni. She moved towards multi-disciplinary practices in 2019, delving into her Deaf history and experiences to realise there was a lot of unresolved issues with the Deaf community around oppression, audism, and displacement and her personal experiences as a Deaf person.

This project involves developing a large scale works on paper through a printmaking residency informing her perspectives. Her project will focus on informing her personal perspectives and experiences using drawing, painting and printmaking practice, including textile elements on a large-scale watercolour paper around 3-4 m long and 1 m high. She will be exploring and unpacking her identity and issues with housing using houses and buildings as stories on paper. She will be in residency using the printmaking facilities at Baldessin Press in St Andrews, Melbourne to develop further her printmaking skills under the mentor support of Silvi Glattauer and to create the new work at Baldessin in July 2024.

Coddington is a disabled artist practicing opera in Sydney. As a part of her performance practice, she recently finished a Bachelor’s Degree on full scholarship and with first class honours at the Sydney Conservatorium. She has also recently completed a Diploma of Language Studies at the University of Sydney. She has several performances lined up, including Mrs Grose in Britten’s ‘The Turn of the Screw’, and Donna Elvira in Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’. She is also undertaking private study with teachers from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the interim between her bachelor’s and master’s degree.

She is planning to undertake a Masters of Arts (Vocal Performance) commencing in September this year at the Royal Academy of Music, London, with a partial scholarship. She will be working with some of the most esteemed pedagogues and professionals from the international opera community in order to continue to further foster her development as a young opera singer. She will be working closely with international mezzo-soprano Catherine Wyn-Rogers as her teacher, as well as a number of other professionals including Yvonne Kenny AM for the study of Mozart and Handel arias and Kate Paterson as the head of vocal studies. The program will run for two years, and will lead her to further opera study or work.

Major’s artistic journey spans over a decade and includes significant international recognition in contemporary dance. He’s had the privilege of working with renowned dance creators including Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Russell Maliphant, Hans van den Broeck, Damien Jalet, and Hofesh Shechter. His drive is to create and present surprisingly real dance works to diverse audiences, with a “local focus, global outlook” ethos. He runs a project-based dance company – the only disability and First Nations-led arts organisation in the country, from his home base in regional SA.

This project is a 12-month mentorship with acclaimed artistic director and choreographer, Russell Maliphant OBE. It involves a comprehensive development of artistic skills, leadership capabilities, and capacity building for international arts leaders. Activities include structured professional development sessions, individual project creation, and guidance in operating a 21st-century dance company. The mentorship includes a blend of physical and virtual interaction, with periods spent in the UK and Australia. The outcome is a new choreographed work, international repertoire of a global standard performed by Australian artists with a disability with performance outcomes, and refined operational strategies for his dance company, contributing to the global dance arts landscape.

DELIVERY PARTNERS

Climate Action Services

About the Program  

As part of Creative Australia’s multi-year investment program, we have introduced a new stream of investment – Delivery Partners – to support the provision of services to the arts and creative industries. 

Creative Australia’s Delivery Partners are entities which provide services for artists, creative workers, organisations and enterprises, and which benefit our creative ecology, communities and audiences. 

Delivery Partners have separate, service-based investment agreements with Creative Australia.  

This ensures that clear expectations with Delivery Partners are set regarding the main services they will offer, enabling us to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of investment in these services.  

A video recording of these guidelines and service delivery statements with Auslan interpretation and live captioning is available here.

Webinar

On Tuesday 11 June 2024, we held an open Q&A Session for this opportunity. You can view the recording here and below.

To respond to this Delivery Partner opportunity please ensure you refer to service delivery statement below. 

We strongly encourage you to contact us to discuss your proposal in the context of your circumstances. 

We also offer the following additional resources to these guidelines: 

  • frequently asked questions 
  • our  guide to preparing a business plan 

Delivery Partner proposals are reviewed and decided upon through a single stage process. 

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $200,000 per annum for a total of $800,000 over the four-year investment period.

Your Business Plan must cover the full four-year investment period of 2025-2028.  

Creative Australia invites organisations to submit a proposal to deliver national services that support a sustainable, climate responsive actions for the Australian arts sector and Australian communities.  

This provision of services can be delivered by a single organisation or by a consortium of organisations. Creative Australia is seeking proposals that respond to the below services evidencing: 

1.  how they will provide the services 

2. how the budget will be applied.  

If a consortium applies, we will require only one proposal be submitted from a nominated lead agency and that agency would agree to contract expertise to manage, collate or provide key elements (standards, website) and to service the devolvement of funds and manage data, acquittals and liaise with Creative Australia.  

Key information

Organisations responding to the open proposal request for the following services will need to address the approved Service Delivery Statement in their Business Plan. You can find the template here.

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $200,000 per annum for a total of $800,000 over the four-year investment period, 2025-28.

Aligning with pillars 2, 3 & 4 of the National Cultural Policy – A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure.

Deliver the following national services to support a more sustainable, climate responsive Australian arts sector:

1. Industry resources

Develop, distribute, and support the maintenance of national resources and information that support climate action for the Australian artists, arts workers, and arts/cultural organisations.

Examples include:

  • Provide carbon accounting and carbon reduction information.
  • a services database
  • policies and principles templates
  • supporting resources

2. Connections between practitioners

Regularly coordinate and convene relevant stakeholders for sharing and collaboration, including but not limited to peak bodies, organisations and practitioners across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia.

3. Advocacy

Promote the work of climate leadership and action led by organisations and individuals across the sector.

Provide holistic advocacy for the Australian arts sector (examples include response to government policy processes, responses to public consultation processes)

4. Leadership

The capacity to provide sector leadership to respond to high priority issues that may emerge and change across time.

Provide advice to artists to support their professional practice (examples include grant advice, general support for artists).

Keep alert and responsive to trends and industry disruption and development.

Who can submit a proposal 

Only organisations may apply to this category. A consortium of organisations may apply in certain circumstances, but the proposal must be funded and contracted through one member of the consortium. 

Creative 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 that are not legally constituted are not eligible to apply. 
  • Organisations that are registered as Trusts are not eligible to apply. 

Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status. 

Who can’t submit a proposal 

You can’t submit a proposal if: 

  • you have an overdue grant report 
  • you owe money to Creative Australia 
  • your organisation is not registered in Australia 
  • you are an individual or group 

What you can submit a proposal for 

  • activities that respond to the scope of the Delivery Partner service statement for the opportunity for which we are seeking proposals  

What you can’t submit a proposal for 

You can’t submit a proposal for the following activities: 

  • activities outside of the scope of the Delivery Partner service statement.  
  • activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, arts professionals, audiences or communities 
  • activities that have already taken place 
  • activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to the Australia Council First Nations Cultural & Intellectual Property Protocols. 

Your application must comply with the following Protocols. We may contact you to request further information during the review process, or if approved, as a condition of our investment. 

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

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

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework 

All approved proposals must comply with Australian law relating to employing or engaging people who work or volunteer with children, including working with children checks and mandatory reporting. Delivery Partners 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. 

Proposals are reviewed by expert industry representatives called Industry Advisors. 

Industry Advisors are experts in their field with relevant experience and knowledge of an arts practice or sector. Industry Advisors will make recommendations for Creative Australia to consider when making the final decisions on which proposals to approve.  

  • Proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations for us to consider when making the final investment decisions for organisations.  
  • The Industry Advisors will review proposals under arts practice areas relevant to their knowledge and experience. 
  • 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. 

First Criterion 

Quality 

We will review the quality of your organisation’s services, program and business plan. We may consider your organisation’s track record and vision to support: 

  • the potential quality of the services to be delivered as demonstrated in your response to the Delivery Partner Service Statement 
  • the appropriateness of the submitted business plan as it relates to delivery of the services outlined in the Delivery Partner Service Statement 
  • the diversity of stakeholders that may be involved in the delivery of services 
  • the diversity of stakeholders that may be beneficiaries of the services to be provided 

Second Criterion 

Viability 

We will review your organisation’s track record of delivery, and capacity to deliver its vision. We may consider: 

  • value for money as evidenced in your proposed business plan and budget to deliver the services outlined in the Delivery Partner Service Statement 
  • 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 
  • 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. 

You may wish to refer to our guide on Essential Governance Practices. 

Third Criterion 

Alignment 

We will review how your organisation’s vision and business plan align with one or more of the strategic objectives in the current Creative Australia  Corporate Plan  2022-2026. The objectives are: 

  • Australians are transformed by arts and creativity: We will enable more opportunities for Australians to be captivated by, and inspired through, experiencing arts and culture. 
  • Our arts reflect us: We will support equity of opportunity and access in our creative expression, workforce, leaders and audiences. 
  • First Nations arts and culture are cherished: We will build on our long term commitment to First Nations arts and culture, recognising the importance of First Nations peoples’ self-determination, cultural authority and leadership to our collective prosperity. 
  • Arts and creativity are thriving: We will support the best circumstances for a thriving arts sector. 
  • Arts and creativity are valued: We will increase awareness of the value of public investment in arts and creativity. 

Delivery Partner proposals must be submitted through our application management system by the advertised closing date: Tuesday 6 August at 3pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) 

To receive access the proposal form in our application management system please contact a member of our Multi-Year Investment Team: myi@creative.gov.au 

In the proposal form, you will be asked to provide the following information: 

  • the annual and total amount of investment as directed by Creative Australia for the Delivery Partner opportunity. 
  • a brief summary of your organisation or consortium of organisations, including an outline of your core activity and the role you play in the arts sector (approx. 500 words) 
  • a list of key staff in your organisation, with information on their demographic attributes roles and tenure 
  • the members of your Board or governing committee (to whom the head of your organisation reports), with information on their demographic attributes, length of service and the structure and composition of the Board 
  • whether you report your financial information on a calendar or financial year basis 
  • a summary of your audited financial information for each of the previous two years, including assets, liabilities, total income and total expenditure* 
  • projected high level income and expenditure for each year of the funding period offered through the Delivery Partner opportunity. 

*Organisations who report on a calendar year basis: 2022 and 2023. Organisations who report on a financial year basis: 2021/22 and 2022/23 

You will be asked to provide the following support material: 

1. Delivery Partner support material  

  • Please provide up to 3 URLs (weblinks) that best demonstrate your organisation’s activity as it relates this Delivery Partner proposal. These URLS may include video, audio, images, audio and written material.  

2. Audited accounts or equivalent  

Please upload your latest two years of your audited accounts or equivalent. 

  • Audited Accounts 2022 (or equivalent) 
  • Audited Accounts 2023 (or equivalent) 

 3. Business Plan 

  • A business plan that details how you will realise the deliverables related to this Delivery Partner proposal. Please click this link for guidance on a Business Plan. This can be uploaded as a written document (Word, PDF). The plan should be no more than 20 pages. You can find a Business Plan template here. 

Reporting requirements for approved Delivery Partners 

Organisations that are approved as Delivery Partner for Creative Australia should be aware of the reporting requirements associated with this investment. These requirements are not negotiable and will be part of the conditions of the funding agreement, so be sure to include the resources required to do so in your future budget projections. 

Payments to organisations in receipt of a Delivery Partner Investment are dependent on the provision to Creative Australia of financial reporting three times a year, as well as annual reports against Key Performance Indicators and on statistical information relating to the delivery of services. 

You must provide your organisation’s annual financial statements audited in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards by an Approved Auditor, and discloses separately the Delivery Partner funding as both income or unexpended grants. An Approved Auditor means a person who is: (a) registered as a company auditor under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), or a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, or of CPA Australia or the National Institute of Accountants; and (b) not a principal, member, shareholder, officer or employee of the Organisation or of a related body corporate as defined in Section 50 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). 

Data and outcomes reporting provides Creative Australia with valuable information to monitor the performance and activity of each organisation and ensures accountability for the investment of public funds. It also informs research and communication by Creative Australia, allowing us to demonstrate the impact of our funded organisations. 

Frequently asked questions

Information on the proposal process and key dates is specific to each Delivery Partner opportunity and is available on our website.

Information on the proposal process and key dates is specific to each Delivery Partner opportunity and is available on our website.

Yes, all proposals will need a Business Plan submitted. A template for this Business Plan is available within the proposal form in FLUXX and here.

In the proposal form we have requested information on the demographic characteristics and tenure of key staff and Board members. This assists in our review of applications to understand the diversity and experience of key staff and Board members. This is in alignment with our corporate objective that Australian arts organisations reflect the communities which they serve.

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy. 

You need a director identification number (director ID) if you’re a director of a company, registered Australian body, registered foreign company or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation. Refer to the ABRS websitefor detailed information on why this is required. 

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy. 

In the proposal form we have included a section regarding a remuneration fee matrix.  information. This matrix is to assist us to clearly see remuneration (excluding superannuation) of people working directly on the Delivery Partnership activity. 

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy.

For the purposes of this matrix, please gross-up any part-time remuneration to the full-time equivalent amount. The Casual Hourly rate should be inclusive of loading.  

Types of organisations we can support include incorporated associations, companies limited by guarantee or government statutory authorities. Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status.

Proposals can also be accepted from consortiums if the lead organisation is an incorporated association, company limited by guarantee or government statutory authority.

No, only organisations that are registered under Australian law can apply. Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website.

Yes, if you can demonstrate that: 

  • the investment will support activities that address the service needs specified 
  • there is a compelling financial rationale for subsidising these activities 
  • none of Creative Australia’s investment will be distributed to shareholders or directors. 

Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website. 

Yes, multi-year investment organisations are eligible to apply and must demonstrate that: 

  • the investment will support activities that address the service needs specified 
  • these services are distinct from your funded core activity 
  • As a multi-year investment organisation, you may be not eligible to apply for the Arts Projects for Organisations category. Eligibility will be determined based on the level of annual investment you receive.  
  • Other proposals you submit to Creative Australia will need to demonstrate the activities are outside the scope of your Delivery Partner Investment proposal or agreement. 
  • Eligibility for other investment opportunities will be published in the guidelines for each program. 

Yes. You will need to demonstrate that your organisation generates diverse income streams; however, those income streams can come from any source.

Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website.

Trustee companies and Trusts are not eligible to apply.

We will accept your eligibility to submit an application based on your intention to change the company structure prior to receiving our investment.

If you have an overdue acquittal or outstanding reporting with us, you are ineligible to submit a proposal.

Yes, if your organisation is registered under, or by, Australian law. If you do not have a board or governing committee, you will need to explain what mechanisms you do have in place to oversee the effective management and sustainability of your organisation.

Information on the funding level is specific to each Delivery Partner opportunity and can be found in the relevant service delivery statement available on our website.

Organisations that have proposals approved may be offered an investment amount lower than what was requested.

Delivery Partners proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations to Creative Australia. If approved, the Delivery Partner will enter into a negotiated investment agreement with Creative Australia. This agreement will include key performance indicators that measure the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.

Proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations for Creative Australia to consider when making the final investment decisions for organisations. The Industry Advisors will review proposals relevant to their knowledge and experience.

The full list of Industry Advisors will be published on our website following notification.

Further detail on Industry Advice is available in the guidelines on Creative Australia website.

Industry Advisors will be people with relevant experience and knowledge.

We are using the Industry Advisor method of review so that we can take account of the recommendations of experts in the industry while also taking a strategic overview of the entire national landscape. Industry Advisors will make recommendations after reviewing proposals within an arts practice area. Creative Australia will then consider their recommendations within the context of a national investment portfolio.

Industry Advice involves a significant process of review, commentary, and deliberation by external experts. However, it also involves Creative Australia staff allowing for greater strategic oversight and capacity to shape the investment portfolio to meet the needs of the entire sector.

To ensure that our investment in the national landscape is effective, we need to take into consideration a range of investments including state and territory investments, the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework (NPAPF), Visual Arts, Craft and Design Framework (VACDF) and Four-Year Investment for Organisations (FYIO).

Importantly, this model of review and decision-making remains at arm’s length from government.

The proposal requires you to supply: 

  • projected high level income and expenditure for each financial year of the investment period, i.e., 2025/26, 2026/27, 2027/28, 2028/29. 
  • The latest two years of your audited accounts (or equivalent), i.e., 2021/22, 2022/23  

The proposal requires you to supply: 

  • projected high level income and expenditure for the next four years, i.e., 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028 
  • The latest two years of your audited accounts (or equivalent), i.e., 2022, 2023  

Yes. However, to be competitive, you will need to demonstrate your organisational capacity and viability. Factors that will strengthen your organisation’s capacity and viability include confirmed future funding and the track record of your key staff and board.

Yes, please be sure to include the relevant support material and data with your proposal, so Industry Advisors can assess your proposal.

You can use the certified accounts that you do produce to complete the financial data in the proposal, and you can attach these accounts as support material.

If you are approved for Delivery Partner Investment you will be required to provide us with accounts verified by an external certified accountant as part of your regular reporting, so be sure to include the resources required to do so your future budget projections.

No late support material may be submitted.

The only support material we will accept after the closing date is audited accounts for the most recent financial year.

If you need to submit these accounts after the closing date, please send them to myi@creative.gov.au. Be sure to include your proposal reference number in the email.

Please note: late support material is not distributed to Industry Advisors with your proposal. We make a note of it on file and bring it to the attention of Industry Advisors at our discretion.

Although letters of support are not specifically requested, you may supply them if you wish. You can include up to five letters of support, with each letter not exceeding one A4 page. We encourage you to use one of the three URLs allocated for further Support Material to supply letters of support, but if you prefer you can upload a PDF document in the ‘uploaded support material’ section of the online form instead.

You will not be penalised for providing additional support material beyond the recommended limit of 3 URLs, but we do advise against overwhelming the assessors with material. Make the selection that best demonstrates the quality of your organisation’s artistic output.

Your Business Plan should address how your organisation plans to deliver the services and cover all of the investment period outlined in the relevant service delivery statement.

Please upload your Business Plan with your support material. A template for this Business Plan is available here and within the proposal form.

DELIVERY PARTNERS

Disability Arts Services

About the Program  

As part of Creative Australia’s multi-year investment program, we have introduced a new stream of investment – Delivery Partners – to support the provision of services to the arts and creative industries. 

Creative Australia’s Delivery Partners are entities which provide services for artists, creative workers, organisations and enterprises, and which benefit our creative ecology, communities and audiences. 

Delivery Partners have separate, service-based investment agreements with Creative Australia.  

This ensures that clear expectations with Delivery Partners are set regarding the main services they will offer, enabling us to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of investment in these services.  

A video recording of these guidelines and service delivery statements with Auslan interpretation and live captioning is available here.

Webinar

On Tuesday 11 June 2024, we held an open Q&A Session for this opportunity. You can view the recording here and below.

To respond to this Delivery Partner opportunity please ensure you refer to service delivery statement below. A PDF version of this statement can be found here. 

We strongly encourage you to contact us to discuss your proposal in the context of your circumstances. 

We also offer the following additional resources to these guidelines: 

  • frequently asked questions 
  • our guide to preparing a business plan 

Delivery Partner proposals are reviewed and decided upon through a single stage process. 

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $200,000 per annum for a total of $800,000 over the four-year investment period. 

Your Business Plan must cover the full four-year investment period of 2025-2028. 

Creative Australia invites organisations to submit a proposal to support specific arts and disability arts services, drawing on those identified in the research on arts and disability needs and opportunities commissioned by Creative Australia in 2023. 

This provision of services can be delivered by a single organisation or by a consortium of organisations. Creative Australia is seeking proposals that respond to the below services evidencing: 

  1. how they will provide the services
  2. how the budget will be applied. 

If a consortium applies, we will require only one proposal be submitted from a nominated lead agency and that agency would agree to contract expertise to manage, collate or provide key elements (standards, website) and to service the devolvement of funds and manage data, acquittals and liaise with Creative Australia.  

Key information

Organisations responding to the open proposal request for the following services will need to address the approved Service Delivery Statement in their Business Plan.

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $200,000 per annum for a total of $800,000 over the four-year investment period.

Aligning with pillars 2, 3 & 4 of the National Cultural Policy – A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure.

Deliver the following national services that support specific arts and disability arts services:

1. Industry resources

Develop, distribute, and support the maintenance of national resources and information that supports the work of d/Deaf and disabled artists, arts workers and arts/cultural organisations.

Examples include:

  • Language/Terminology Guides, templates such as Access Rider template
  • an artist database > (akin to that of Disability Arts International)
  • policies and principles templates
  • supporting resources

2. Connections between practitioners

Regularly coordinate and convene relevant stakeholders for sharing and collaboration, including but not limited to state/territory arts disability peak bodies, organisations, and practitioners across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia.

3. Advocacy

Promote the work of d/Deaf and disabled artists, disability-led organisations and inclusive arts/cultural organisations.

Provide holistic advocacy for the Australian arts and disability sector (examples include response to government policy processes, responses to public consultation processes)

4. Leadership

The capacity to provide sector leadership to respond to high priority issues that may emerge and change across time.

Provide advice to artists with disability to support their professional practice (examples include grant advice, general support for artists).

Keep alert and responsive to trends and industry disruption and development (examples include digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence).

Who can submit a proposal 

Only organisations may apply to this category. A consortium of organisations may apply in certain circumstances, but the proposal must be funded and contracted through one member of the consortium. 

Creative 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 that are not legally constituted are not eligible to apply. 
  • Organisations that are registered as Trusts are not eligible to apply. 

Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status. 

Who can’t submit a proposal 

You can’t submit a proposal if: 

  • you have an overdue grant report 
  • you owe money to Creative Australia 
  • your organisation is not registered in Australia 
  • you are an individual or group 

What you can submit a proposal for 

  • activities that respond to the scope of the Delivery Partner service statement for the opportunity for which we are seeking proposals  

What you can’t submit a proposal for 

You can’t submit a proposal for the following activities: 

  • activities outside of the scope of the Delivery Partner service statement.  
  • activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, arts professionals, audiences or communities 
  • activities that have already taken place 
  • activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to the Australia Council First Nations Cultural & Intellectual Property Protocols. 

Your application must comply with the following Protocols. We may contact you to request further information during the review process, or if approved, as a condition of our investment. 

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

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

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework 

All approved proposals must comply with Australian law relating to employing or engaging people who work or volunteer with children, including working with children checks and mandatory reporting. Delivery Partners 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. 

Proposals are reviewed by expert industry representatives called Industry Advisors. 

Industry Advisors are experts in their field with relevant experience and knowledge of an arts practice or sector. Industry Advisors will make recommendations for Creative Australia to consider when making the final decisions on which proposals to approve.  

  • Proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations for us to consider when making the final investment decisions for organisations.  
  • The Industry Advisors will review proposals under arts practice areas relevant to their knowledge and experience. 
  • 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. 

First Criterion 

Quality 

We will review the quality of your organisation’s services, program and business plan. We may consider your organisation’s track record and vision to support: 

  • the potential quality of the services to be delivered as demonstrated in your response to the Delivery Partner Service Statement 
  • the appropriateness of the submitted business plan as it relates to delivery of the services outlined in the Delivery Partner Service Statement 
  • the diversity of stakeholders that may be involved in the delivery of services 
  • the diversity of stakeholders that may be beneficiaries of the services to be provided 

Second Criterion 

Viability 

We will review your organisation’s track record of delivery, and capacity to deliver its vision. We may consider: 

  • value for money as evidenced in your proposed business plan and budget to deliver the services outlined in the Delivery Partner Service Statement 
  • 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 
  • 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. 

You may wish to refer to our guide on Essential Governance Practices. 

Third Criterion 

Alignment 

We will review how your organisation’s vision and business plan align with one or more of the strategic objectives in the current Creative Australia Corporate Plan 2022-2026. The objectives are: 

  • Australians are transformed by arts and creativity – We will enable more opportunities for Australians to be captivated by, and inspired through, experiencing arts and culture. 
  • Our arts reflect us – We will support equity of opportunity and access in our creative expression, workforce, leaders and audiences. 
  • First Nations arts and culture are cherished – We will build on our long term commitment to First Nations arts and culture, recognising the importance of First Nations peoples’ self-determination, cultural authority and leadership to our collective prosperity. 
  • Arts and creativity are thriving – We will support the best circumstances for a thriving arts sector. 
  • Arts and creativity are valued – We will increase awareness of the value of public investment in arts and creativity. 

Delivery Partner proposals must be submitted through our application management system by the advertised closing date: Tuesday 6 August at 3pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) 

To receive access the proposal form in our application management system please contact a member of our Multi-Year Investment Team: myi@creative.gov.au 

In the proposal form, you will be asked to provide the following information: 

  • the annual and total amount of investment as directed by Creative Australia for the Delivery Partner opportunity. 
  • a brief summary of your organisation or consortium of organisations, including an outline of your core activity and the role you play in the arts sector (approx. 500 words) 
  • a list of key staff in your organisation, with information on their demographic attributes roles and tenure 
  • the members of your Board or governing committee (to whom the head of your organisation reports), with information on their demographic attributes, length of service and the structure and composition of the Board 
  • whether you report your financial information on a calendar or financial year basis 
  • a summary of your audited financial information for each of the previous two years, including assets, liabilities, total income and total expenditure* 
  • projected high level income and expenditure for each year of the funding period offered through the Delivery Partner opportunity 

*Organisations who report on a calendar year basis: 2022, 2023. Organisations who report on a financial year basis: 2021122, 2022/23

You will be asked to provide the following support material: 

1. Delivery Partner support material  

  • Please provide up to 3 URLs (weblinks) that best demonstrate your organisation’s activity as it relates this Delivery Partner proposal. These URLS may include video, audio, images, audio and written material.  

2. Audited accounts or equivalent  

Please upload your latest two years of your audited accounts or equivalent. 

  • Audited Accounts 2022 (or equivalent) 
  • Audited Accounts 2023 (or equivalent) 

 3. Business Plan 

  • A business plan that details how you will realise the deliverables related to this Delivery Partner proposal. Please click this link for guidance on a Business Plan. This can be uploaded as a written document (Word, PDF). The plan should be no more than 20 pages. You can find a Business Plan template here. 

Reporting requirements for approved Delivery Partners 

Organisations that are approved as Delivery Partner for Creative Australia should be aware of the reporting requirements associated with this investment. These requirements are not negotiable and will be part of the conditions of the funding agreement, so be sure to include the resources required to do so in your future budget projections. 

Payments to organisations in receipt of a Delivery Partner Investment are dependent on the provision to Creative Australia of financial reporting three times a year, as well as annual reports against Key Performance Indicators and on statistical information relating to the delivery of services. 

You must provide your organisation’s annual financial statements audited in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards by an Approved Auditor, and discloses separately the Delivery Partner funding as both income or unexpended grants. An Approved Auditor means a person who is: (a) registered as a company auditor under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), or a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, or of CPA Australia or the National Institute of Accountants; and (b) not a principal, member, shareholder, officer or employee of the Organisation or of a related body corporate as defined in Section 50 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). 

Data and outcomes reporting provides Creative Australia with valuable information to monitor the performance and activity of each organisation and ensures accountability for the investment of public funds. It also informs research and communication by Creative Australia, allowing us to demonstrate the impact of our funded organisations. 

Frequently asked questions

Information on the proposal process and key dates is specific to each Delivery Partner opportunity and is available on our website.

Information on the proposal process and key dates is specific to each Delivery Partner opportunity and is available on our website.

Yes, all proposals will need a Business Plan submitted. A template for this Business Plan is available within the proposal form in FLUXX and here.

In the proposal form we have requested information on the demographic characteristics and tenure of key staff and Board members. This assists in our review of applications to understand the diversity and experience of key staff and Board members. This is in alignment with our corporate objective that Australian arts organisations reflect the communities which they serve.

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy. 

You need a director identification number (director ID) if you’re a director of a company, registered Australian body, registered foreign company or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation. Refer to the ABRS websitefor detailed information on why this is required. 

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy. 

In the proposal form we have included a section regarding a remuneration fee matrix.  information. This matrix is to assist us to clearly see remuneration (excluding superannuation) of people working directly on the Delivery Partnership activity. 

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy.

For the purposes of this matrix, please gross-up any part-time remuneration to the full-time equivalent amount. The Casual Hourly rate should be inclusive of loading.  

Types of organisations we can support include incorporated associations, companies limited by guarantee or government statutory authorities. Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status.

Proposals can also be accepted from consortiums if the lead organisation is an incorporated association, company limited by guarantee or government statutory authority.

No, only organisations that are registered under Australian law can apply. Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website.

Yes, if you can demonstrate that: 

  • the investment will support activities that address the service needs specified 
  • there is a compelling financial rationale for subsidising these activities 
  • none of Creative Australia’s investment will be distributed to shareholders or directors. 

Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website. 

Yes, multi-year investment organisations are eligible to apply and must demonstrate that: 

  • the investment will support activities that address the service needs specified 
  • these services are distinct from your funded core activity 
  • As a multi-year investment organisation, you may be not eligible to apply for the Arts Projects for Organisations category. Eligibility will be determined based on the level of annual investment you receive.  
  • Other proposals you submit to Creative Australia will need to demonstrate the activities are outside the scope of your Delivery Partner Investment proposal or agreement. 
  • Eligibility for other investment opportunities will be published in the guidelines for each program. 

Yes. You will need to demonstrate that your organisation generates diverse income streams; however, those income streams can come from any source.

Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website.

Trustee companies and Trusts are not eligible to apply.

We will accept your eligibility to submit an application based on your intention to change the company structure prior to receiving our investment.

If you have an overdue acquittal or outstanding reporting with us, you are ineligible to submit a proposal.

Yes, if your organisation is registered under, or by, Australian law. If you do not have a board or governing committee, you will need to explain what mechanisms you do have in place to oversee the effective management and sustainability of your organisation.

Information on the funding level is specific to each Delivery Partner opportunity and can be found in the relevant service delivery statement available on our website.

Organisations that have proposals approved may be offered an investment amount lower than what was requested.

Delivery Partners proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations to Creative Australia. If approved, the Delivery Partner will enter into a negotiated investment agreement with Creative Australia. This agreement will include key performance indicators that measure the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.

Proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations for Creative Australia to consider when making the final investment decisions for organisations. The Industry Advisors will review proposals relevant to their knowledge and experience.

The full list of Industry Advisors will be published on our website following notification.

Further detail on Industry Advice is available in the guidelines on Creative Australia website.

Industry Advisors will be people with relevant experience and knowledge.

We are using the Industry Advisor method of review so that we can take account of the recommendations of experts in the industry while also taking a strategic overview of the entire national landscape. Industry Advisors will make recommendations after reviewing proposals within an arts practice area. Creative Australia will then consider their recommendations within the context of a national investment portfolio.

Industry Advice involves a significant process of review, commentary, and deliberation by external experts. However, it also involves Creative Australia staff allowing for greater strategic oversight and capacity to shape the investment portfolio to meet the needs of the entire sector.

To ensure that our investment in the national landscape is effective, we need to take into consideration a range of investments including state and territory investments, the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework (NPAPF), Visual Arts, Craft and Design Framework (VACDF) and Four-Year Investment for Organisations (FYIO).

Importantly, this model of review and decision-making remains at arm’s length from government.

The proposal requires you to supply: 

  • projected high level income and expenditure for each financial year of the investment period, i.e., 2025/26, 2026/27, 2027/28, 2028/29. 
  • The latest two years of your audited accounts (or equivalent), i.e., 2021/22, 2022/23  

The proposal requires you to supply: 

  • projected high level income and expenditure for the next four years, i.e., 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028 
  • The latest two years of your audited accounts (or equivalent), i.e., 2022, 2023  

Yes. However, to be competitive, you will need to demonstrate your organisational capacity and viability. Factors that will strengthen your organisation’s capacity and viability include confirmed future funding and the track record of your key staff and board.

Yes, please be sure to include the relevant support material and data with your proposal, so Industry Advisors can assess your proposal.

You can use the certified accounts that you do produce to complete the financial data in the proposal, and you can attach these accounts as support material.

If you are approved for Delivery Partner Investment you will be required to provide us with accounts verified by an external certified accountant as part of your regular reporting, so be sure to include the resources required to do so your future budget projections.

No late support material may be submitted.

The only support material we will accept after the closing date is audited accounts for the most recent financial year.

If you need to submit these accounts after the closing date, please send them to myi@creative.gov.au. Be sure to include your proposal reference number in the email.

Please note: late support material is not distributed to Industry Advisors with your proposal. We make a note of it on file and bring it to the attention of Industry Advisors at our discretion.

Although letters of support are not specifically requested, you may supply them if you wish. You can include up to five letters of support, with each letter not exceeding one A4 page. We encourage you to use one of the three URLs allocated for further Support Material to supply letters of support, but if you prefer you can upload a PDF document in the ‘uploaded support material’ section of the online form instead.

You will not be penalised for providing additional support material beyond the recommended limit of 3 URLs, but we do advise against overwhelming the assessors with material. Make the selection that best demonstrates the quality of your organisation’s artistic output.

Your Business Plan should address how your organisation plans to deliver the services and cover all of the investment period outlined in the relevant service delivery statement.

Please upload your Business Plan with your support material. A template for this Business Plan is available here and within the proposal form.

Knowledge Series: LinkedIn for Fundraisers with Michelle Stein

Our master course in arts fundraising. Presented by leading Australian and international experts, these webinars cover essential fundraising topics contextualised and relevant to the Australian cultural landscape.