AusArt Day

The inaugural AusArt Day, held on Thursday 23 October 2025, brought together 323 participants from across the country in a collective celebration of Australian creativity.

AusArt Day provided a national platform that brought valuable focus to my practice, connecting my new work with both existing supporters and new donors who believe in what I’m creating.

Stephen Noonan

· Artist, 2025 AusArt Day Participant

A man with curly hair is peeking around the edge of a large white rectangular piece of corflute, visible from about the eyes up. He is positioned behind this white corflute. In the foreground, there is a lit red fuse, with a bright flame at the tip. The fuse curves and coils in several loops. The image has been rotated 90 degrees, giving an unusual perspective where the man looks to be positioned horizontally rather than vertically.

As a team, we had great fun participating in the fundraising campaign. It has helped our staff and Board to feel more confident to speak about our work, has mobilised our artist members, and has raised the profile of the important work we do- inviting more supporters to get involved.

Beth Neate

· CEO, Guildhouse, 2025 AusArt Day Participant

2023 Catapult recipients: Mentee Kat Korossy and Mentor Kate Kurucz in the studio

As an engineer, I believe that innovation depends on creativity. And philanthropy, at its heart, depends on collaboration. That’s why I see the arts as one of the most powerful catalysts for both. On AusArt Day, I was introduced to many examples of innovation and collaboration, reminding me that supporting creativity is not just good for the arts - it’s good for society and the communities we are part of.

Alexandra Dimos

· Founder, Nunn Dimos Foundation, 2025 AusArt Day Donor

Image credit

Che Che Lin

About AusArt Day

This initiative is designed to support artists and arts organisations to fundraise on one national day, and to increase the donor pool in support of Australian creativity whilst elevating the public value of the arts in the consciousness of everyday Australians. 

There is a significant cultural shift required to increase philanthropy to cultural charities. Creative Australia has already started this work demonstrating that giving to and through the arts is an investment in Australia’s future, with social impact cutting across portfolios, from health and wellbeing, education and child development, to social cohesion and community resilience.  

Creative Australia is committed to equip artists and arts organisations with the tools, platforms and capability to maximise income generated from private investment, as we continually strengthen our role and programs to support the sector to enhance fundraising capacity. The new AusArt Day is one of the initiatives we are exploring to support this mission.

The inaugural AusArt Day took place on Thursday, 23 October 2025. For more information about the day please see FAQs here.

To stay updated on 2026’s AusArt Day, please subscribe to the Creative Australia's newsletter here .

AusArt Day 2025

AusArt Day 2025 has raised over $2.2 million for Australian artists and arts organisations.

Thank you to all thoses who donated, supported and promoted the day! This event is more than a fundraiser — it is a national public movement that celebrates and elevates the role of the arts in Australian life.

A graphic containing different graphs. The graphic reads: 'AusArt Day. Current tallies & data. Total amount raised, $2.260,000. Estimated donor breakdown, 48% new donors. Percentage of participants reported growth in fundraising skills and confidence, 74%. Estimated reach across all media, 3,028,964. 205+ pieces of media stories.

AusArt Day 2025

--:-- --:--

General Information

What is AusArt Day?

AusArt Day is a nationwide, sector-wide fundraising initiative designed to mobilise artists and arts organisations to raise funds for their work and creative ambitions on a single, powerful day. This unified call to action aims to amplify the visibility of arts philanthropy and inspire greater generosity across the country.

This event is more than a fundraiser — it is a national public movement that celebrates and elevates the role of the arts in Australian life.

This program recognises the vital role that the arts play in our communities and champions artists and organisations dedicated to creative expression.

This program is an invitation for everyone to give back in a way that directly impacts the future of arts and creativity. It’s not just about financial contributions — it’s also about sharing and recognising the incredible work of artists, educators, performers, and creators who enrich our world every day.

Open to all Australian artists and organisations, the program follows an open-access model, encouraging participation from artists and arts organisations regardless of size or scale. Whether you're an independent artist or part of a large institution, you're invited to be part of this shared moment of national solidarity and fundraising. (See ‘How can I or my arts organisation or collective participate in AusArt Day?’ for more information on how to participate).

Read our  opinion piece  about annual giving days for more context to this new initiative and why the first AusArt Day took place on Thursday 23 October 2025.

When is AusArt Day celebrated?

The first AusArt Day was held on Thursday 23 October 2025, though successful giving day campaigns typically include a quiet fundraising phase that lasts six weeks or more, helping to build momentum and lay the groundwork for a strong public campaign.

For 2026’s AusArt Day, please stay tuned and subscribe to Creative Australia's newsletter for updates.

Who is participating in AusArt Day?

Over 300 Australian artists and arts organisations participated in the 2025 AusArt Day. See the 2025 participants here.

For Artists & Arts Organisations

How can I or my arts organisation or collective participate in AusArt Day?

Registrations are now closed. Stay updated for 2026 AusArt Day by subscribing to the Creative Australia's newsletter newsletter.

You can still support AusArt Day by promoting the day and sharing the work of the registered participants.

What are the benefits of being involved?

Once registrations are finalised, all AusArt Day participants will be sent an AusArt Day campaign toolkit resource to assist with your fundraising campaign.   

Creative Australia has facilitated three professional development opportunities dedicated to supporting participants of AusArt Day — view these workshops on demand in  Additional Resources. Please also reach out to your local State Manager Development and Partnerships if you would like to engage in further professional development opportunities via this link:  Coaching and advice sessions.

Additionally, we recommend referring to our other philanthropic and fundraising resources found  here.  

An advertorial and editorial campaign are implemented to support momentum for the AusArt Day, including:  

digital content and video promotions (August–October for 2025’s round)
media marketing to raise awareness
support for participating artists and arts organisations in amplifying their fundraising efforts

Creative Australia works with external PR agencies for the publicity of the giving day. Participants should prepare to be contacted by them to discuss potential media opportunities.

For Supporters

How can I support AusArt Day?

Donations are now closed. Stay updated for 2026 AusArt Day by subscribing to the Creative Australia's newsletter newsletter.

You can still support AusArt Day by promoting the day and sharing the work of the registered participants.

Can I give offline or in other ways besides online donations?

Yes. Pledges can be made during the quiet fundraising phase (prior to the public campaign). Contact the participating artist or organisation to discuss offline giving.

Where does my donation go? How will I see the impact of my donation?

Each artist or organisation runs their own campaign. Visit their page to learn what project they’re fundraising for, and whether / how they report impact to supporters.

Promotion & Engagement

How is AusArt Day promoted? How can I help promote it?

All are welcome to participate in AusArt Day. Engagement can include the following:  

Advocacy:   

access the Creative Australia digital branded assets to promote the AusArt Day's campaign
encourage public engagement by sharing the fundraising story of artists or organisations you support at events, by word of mouth and online

Donate:   

donate to the arts on this day (see ‘How do I donate to a campaign’)
collaborate with your favourite artists or arts organisations to play a significant role in their fundraising campaign – suggestions could include becoming a matched donor – for a ‘power hour’ or the entire day, be a launching donor, or be a landing donor

Promote:

Download  these digital assets to promote AusArt Day.
Subscribe to Creative Australia's newsletter to keep up to date and receive promotional assets to spread the word.

Additional Resources

The 10 “D’s” of Giving Days (for Artists)

This Giving Day webinar is designed exclusively for artists preparing to participate in AusArt Day. The session introduces a practical, artist-friendly framework built around the “10 D’s” of successful Giving Day fundraising. Participants will learn how to plan an effective campaign, craft a compelling Case for Support, and activate their networks to build momentum in the lead-up to their launch.

The webinar focuses on simple, actionable steps to help artists maximise visibility, deepen audience engagement, and drive donations on the day.

The 10 “D’s” of Giving Days (for Arts Organisations)

This Giving Day webinar is designed specifically for staff from arts organisations preparing to participate in the AusArt Day The session introduces a practical, organisation-focused framework built around the “10 D’s” of successful Giving Day fundraising. Participants will learn how to plan an effective campaign, shape a strong Case for Support, and activate organisational networks to build momentum in the lead-up to their launch.

The webinar provides simple, actionable steps to help organisations boost visibility, strengthen donor engagement, and maximise fundraising outcomes on the day.

Digital Fundraising with Marlin Communications

Presented by Marlin Communications, this Giving Day webinar is designed for artists and arts organisations interested in participating in AusArt Day. It’s a great opportunity to meet the Marlin team and learn how to get the most out of your digital fundraising campaign. The session will include the sharing of the free digital branded assets promoting the inaugural sector-wide giving day, and offers a practical guide to how to build a strong digital strategy using these assets, alongside your own, to engage supporters meaningfully and memorably.