DELIVERY PARTNERS

Dance 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.  

To respond to this Delivery Partner opportunity please ensure you refer to the 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 (bottom of this page) 

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

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $250,000 per annum for a total of $1,000,000 over the four-year investment period. 

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

Please note: Only one Delivery Partner investment will be offered for this opportunity. 

Creative Australia is seeking proposals to deliver the following services in support of the national dance sector.   

This provision of services can be delivered by a single organisation or by a consortium of organisations.  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. 

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.   

Key information 

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

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $250,000 per annum for a total of $1,000,000 over the four-year investment period, 2025-28. 

Aligning with pillars 2, 3, 4 & 5 of the National Cultural Policy – A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure; Engaging the Audience.  

Deliver the following national services in support of the national dance sector:  

1. Presentation Opportunities for Existing Work 

  • develop a national network for the presentation of existing Australian dance work
  • proposals could explore a range of programming opportunities, which might include: the presentation of works within existing dance programming, panel discussions, workshops, forums – and can include diverse partners (e.g., presentation partners, festivals, tertiary institutions)  
  • presenting a variety of dance styles is encouraged (e.g., street dance, contemporary, participatory)  
  • investment could be used annually or biannually depending on the proposed programs.

 2. Audience Development  

  • develop and implement a strategic audience development and/or diversification plan
  • strategies for the development of audiences may be integrated into plans for the presentation of existing works.

 3. Ability to leverage additional investment and partnerships  

  • proposals must detail any additional investment to deliver these services from the organisations’ core budgets, local, state or federal funding agencies, private or philanthropic sources and partnerships. It should include projected income from ticket sales.

 4. Evaluation  

  • this Delivery Partner will be expected to contribute to Creative Australia’s evaluation of the initiative over the period of investment.  Additional evaluation, within the allocated investment, is also desirable. 

Who can submit a proposal 

Only organisations may submit proposals for this opportunity.  

A consortium of organisations may submit a proposal in certain circumstances, but the proposal must be funded and contracted through one member of the consortium acting as ‘lead organisation’. 

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 

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 
  • 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  2024-2028. The objectives are: 

  • First Nations creativity is central to Australian arts and culture, supported by self-determined decision-making 
  • a dynamic creative sector tells the many stories of contemporary Australia 
  • our creative workforce have sustainable careers and control of their creative assets 
  • arts and culture are valued and of value to all Australians 
  • local and global audiences can engage in meaningful Australian creative experiences. 

Delivery Partner proposals must be submitted through our application management system by the advertised closing date: Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 3pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight 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: 2022/23 and 2023/24 

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 Partners 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

All proposals are submitted through our online system. 

We have anticipated a few of the questions about the proposal process below. 

Delivery Partner investment stream is part of the Creative Australia’s multi-year investment program for 2025–28. It is a new stream of investment 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, which benefit our creative ecology, communities and audiences.  

Delivery Partners investment stream will support organisations from 1 January 2025. 

Read the frequently asked questions below  for information on selection criteria, the selection process, support material, and how to submit your proposal. 

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., 2022/23, 2023/24.

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

First Nations Writing 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.  

To respond to this Delivery Partner opportunity please ensure you refer to the 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 (bottom of this page)
  • 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 $280,000 per annum for a total of $1,120,000 over the four-year investment period.

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

Please note: Only one Delivery Partner investment will be offered for this opportunity. 

Creative Australia is seeking First Nations-led proposals to support specific services to First Nations writers and illustrators.   

This provision of services can be delivered by a single organisation or by a consortium of organisations. 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.  

Creative Australia is seeking First Nations-led proposals that respond to the below services evidencing:   

1. how they will provide the services  

2. how the budget will be applied.   

Key information 

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

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $280,000 per annum for a total of $1,120,000 over the four-year investment period, 2025-28. 

Aligning with the first and fourth pillars of the National Cultural Policy – First Nations First; and Centrality of the Artist. 

Deliver First Nations led services to First Nations writers and illustrators and support a strong, connected and vibrant First Nations literature sector: 

  • convene a biennial National First Nations writers and illustrators gathering ensuring attendance, accommodation, flights and catering is fully subsidised for attendees
  • in alternate years deliver supplementary activities for First Nations writers and illustrators that provide opportunities for networking, connection, capacity building and craft development  
  • profile the work of First Nations writers and illustrators nationally and internationally. e.g. International Network of First Nations Writers (Canada, NZ, UK)  
  • build and maintain partnerships and provide guidance, advice and leadership within the literature sector.    

In addition to the mandatory deliverables listed above, other possible services and activities that may be considered for inclusion in your proposal, where appropriate, are: 

  • connections between storytellers and writers  
  • provide services to publishers and writers festivals including advice and referrals for guest speakers, sensitivity readers and contributors  
  • collaboration with Australian Publishers Association, Australian Society of Authors and other key literary organisations where relevant.  

Who can submit a proposal 

Only organisations may submit proposals for this opportunity.  

A consortium of organisations may submit a proposal in certain circumstances, but the proposal must be funded and contracted through one member of the consortium acting as ‘lead organisation’. 

Proposals for this opportunity must come from First Nations-led organisations. For an organisation to be eligible for this opportunity, the majority of their governing body and senior management must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. 

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 

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 
  • 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  2024-2028. The objectives are: 

  • First Nations creativity is central to Australian arts and culture, supported by self-determined decision-making 
  • A dynamic creative sector tells the many stories of contemporary Australia 
  • Our creative workforce have sustainable careers and control of their creative assets 
  • Arts and culture are valued and of value to all Australians 
  • Local and global audiences can engage in meaningful Australian creative experiences. 

Delivery Partner proposals must be submitted through our application management system by the advertised closing date: Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 3pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight 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: 2022/23 and 2023/24.

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 Partners 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

All proposals are submitted through our online system. 

We have anticipated a few of the questions about the proposal process below. 

Delivery Partner investment stream is part of the Creative Australia’s multi-year investment program for 2025–28. It is a new stream of investment 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, which benefit our creative ecology, communities and audiences.  

Delivery Partners investment stream will support organisations from 1 January 2025. 

Read the frequently asked questions below  for information on selection criteria, the selection process, support material, and how to submit your proposal. 

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., 2022/23, 2023/24.

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

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.

VACS Major Commissioning Projects (Individuals and Groups)

This program funds new visual arts and craft commissions to be created for presentation nationally and internationally.

Installation view, ‘Jacobus Capone: Orisons’, UNSW Galleries, Sydney, 2022. Photography: Jacquie Manning. Courtesy of Moore Contemporary.

About the program

These grants deliver investment to individuals and groups as part of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy. Each year a designated number of grants are available to each state or territory reflecting the population spread of the country of which the Strategy is based.

Grants of $100,000 are available. The new commission proposed must be presented to audiences by 30 June 2026.

In the 4 June 2024 closing date, grants will be awarded to applicants residing in all Australian states and territories.

Please note that successful recipients of Major Commissioning Projects grants in this round are not eligible to apply for this grant again until 2028. They are also not eligible to apply to the Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups grant category until the September closing date in 2026.

Please read through the following grant guidelines.

If you need advice about applying, contact an Artists Services Officer.

Who can apply

You can only submit one application to each closing date for Major Commissioning Projects.

You must be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident residing in Australia, and a practicing artist.

You or your group must have a confirmed invitation to present a new commission at an institution before 30 June 2026. The institution can be Australian or international, and must pay you a cash artist fee. Institutions are defined as a galleries or organisations with a publicly accessible space for the presentation of visual arts and crafts.

Who can’t apply

You can’t apply for this grant if:

  • you have already applied to this closing date of Major Commissioning Projects
  • you have received a Major Commissioning Projects grant in the last four funding rounds
  • you have already received funding from Creative Australia for the proposed project
  • you have an overdue grant report
  • you owe money to Creative Australia
  • you are an organisation
  • you live overseas
  • your presenting institution has not offered you a cash artist fee, as evidenced in your budget and the support letter from the presenting institution.
What can be applied for

Investment to support the creation of new work or a new body of works.

Please note: If you wish to apply to this program and have already received Creative Australia funding for part of the proposed activity, your funding request must not support activity which has already taken place, or received prior investment.

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

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

Please  contact Artists Services  to discuss your specific needs.

What can’t be applied for

You can’t apply for: 

  • projects or activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists 
  • projects or activities that do not have a clearly defined arts component 
  • projects or activities that have already taken place 
  • activities that engage with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to Creative Australia’s First Nations Cultural & Intellectual Property Protocols. 
  • funding to cover the artist fee or production fee that the institution pays the artist/s as part of their invitation to commission a new work or body of work for exhibition.  

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.

Your application will be peer assessed against three assessment criteria. Read about how your application will be assessed here.

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

Quality

Peers will assess the quality of the artistic and cultural activities at the centre of your proposal. They may consider:

  • vision, ideas, and artistic rationale
  • benefit and impact on career, artistic and cultural practice
  • level of innovation, ambition, experimentation or risk-taking
  • rigour and clear articulation of creative, engagement or development processes
  • significance of the work within the relevant area of practice and/or community
  • contribution to diverse cultural expression
  • timeliness and relevance of work
  • quality of previous work
  • responses to previous work from artistic or cultural peers, or the public.

Viability

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

  • capacity to deliver the proposed activities or services
  • relevance and timeliness of the proposed activity
  • skills and ability of artists, arts professionals, collaborators, or partners involved, and their relevance to the activity
  • realistic and achievable planning and resource use, including contingency plans for activities involving public presentations, national or international travel
  • appropriate payments to participating artists, arts professionals, collaborators, participants, or cultural consultants
  • the safety and wellbeing of people involved in the project
  • the role of partners or collaborators, including confirmation of involvement
  • the diversity and scale of income and co-funding, including earned income, grants, sponsorship, and in-kind contributions
  • where relevant to the project, evidence that the protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts has been adhered to
  • evidence of appropriate consultation with participants, audiences, or communities

Impact

Peers will assess the impact that your proposal will have for the collaborators creating the work, and audiences engaging with the work. They may consider how the proposed activity will:

  • enable Australian artists to create new works
  • enable risk taking, experimentation and freedom of expression in the creation and realisation of new works
  • develop or extend the applicant’s creative practice
  • support a safe environment and wellbeing for people working in the arts
  • enable national or international opportunities for Australian artists and arts professionals
  • engage international audiences and communities with Australian work
  • develop strong partnerships and collaborations.

The types of questions we ask in the application form include:

  • a title for your project
  • a summary of your project
  • a brief bio of the artist or group applying
  • an outline of your project and what you want to do
  • a timetable or itinerary for your activities
  • a description of the outcome your project delivers
  • a projected budget which details the expenses, income, and in-kind support for the project
  • supporting material as relevant to your project, including examples of your work, bios of additional artists, and letters of support or permission from participants, communities, First Nations Elders or organisations.

Required support material:

  1. Presenting partner confirmation

Your application must include a letter of support from your presenting partner, evidencing their invitation to create a new work for presentation and their financial commitments to the project. Including, but not limited to, the cash artist fee and production fee they are providing.

Additional support material:

You are encouraged to submit additional support material with your application as outlined below.  Peer assessors may review this support material to help them gain a better sense of your project.

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

There are four types of additional support material you may submit:

  1. Artistic support material

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

Types of 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, QuickTime, and Windows Media)
  • audio (MP3 and Windows Media)
  • images (JPEG and PowerPoint)
  • written material (Word and PDF).
  1. 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.

  1. Letters of support

Please note: As mentioned above, your application must include a letter of support from your presenting partner, evidencing their invitation to create a new work for presentation, the artist fee they will pay you and their investment in production.

In addition to the letter of support from your presenting partner, you can include up to four letters of support, with each letter not exceeding one A4 page.

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 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.

Frequently asked questions

You can submit one application to each closing date for Major Commissioning Projects. 

You will receive your grant payment within two weeks of accepting your funding agreement. Please note we pay our grants in the financial year which they are approved. We will not adjust payment timelines to the particular circumstances of individuals. 

The deadline for applications is at 3:00pm AEST on the closing date. We strongly recommend submitting before this. Administrative and technical support is only available during office hours (Monday-Friday) 9am to 5 pm AEST. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Please refer to the Languages Other Than English page. 

We do not accept applications submitted via post. Any material received by post will not be assessed and will be returned to the sender. If you think you will have difficulty submitting your application online, please contact Artists Services. 

We do not amend, correct, update or change any part of your application once it has been submitted. However, if you receive additional confirmations for activities or artists after the closing date you may alert us to these, and we may bring them to the attention of peer assessors at the assessment meeting. These updates could include confirmation that a proposed activity will take place, a partnership has been secured, or funding from another source has been received. 

You can update us about such confirmations by contacting us. Briefly describe the nature of the confirmation and cite your application reference number.  You do not need to send us copies of confirmation emails from third parties – if we need to see evidence of the confirmation we will request it. 

If you wish to update your application once it has been submitted, but the closing date has not yet passed, you can submit a new, updated application and request to withdraw the original one by emailing 
operationsservicedesk@creative.gov.au. 

Grant applications can be found and are submitted through our online system. If you are using the system for the first time you will need to register your details before filling out a grant application form. 

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application approximately 12 weeks after the closing date. 

We define a ‘group’ as two or more individuals who do not form a legally constituted organisation. This can include co-collaborators and collectives.   

If you are successful in receiving a Major Commissioning Projects grant in 2024 you will not be eligible to apply for: 

  • VACS Major Commissioning Projects until 2028
  • Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups until the September closing date in 2026. 

The Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy invests in individuals and groups that are Australian citizens or permanent residents only. 

We provide funding to practising artists. While you may not regularly earn income from your practice, you must be identified and recognised by your peers as a practising artist.  

No. If you have an overdue grant acquittal you will not be eligible to apply for any further grants. 

No. Only Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents may apply to the Creative Australia for funding. Foreign nationals who are permitted to live and work in Australia by holding visas such as a Special Category visa or a Bridging visa are not eligible to apply. 

No. You must reside in Australia to apply.

Yes. Early career artists are eligible to apply for funding through this category and a number of other opportunities listed on our website. 

Yes. If you have previously applied or received investment from the Creative Australia for aspects or activities within the proposed project you are eligible to apply. You can’t be funded twice for activities that have already taken place.  

In 2024 the program will award 15 grants in total.

Yes. Projects must start after 1 September 2024 and end by 30 June 2026.

Only individuals and groups that have a confirmed invitation to present a new commission at an institution before 30 June 2026 may apply. The institution can be Australian or international. Institutions are defined as a galleries or organisations with a publicly accessible space for the presentation of visual arts and crafts. 

Creative Australia 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 and using Microsoft Teams. We cannot review application drafts. 

Additional support can be discussed where needed. Where the additional support required is beyond the scope of what our staff can provide, we may recommend speaking to an appropriate organisation for further assistance. 

If you are applying as an unincorporated entity, unincorporated association, or partnership you do not need to have an administrator for your grant. However, you must be able to provide an ABN and bank account that are in the group’s name. If you cannot do this, you must nominate an administrator. For more information about this, please contact Artists Services. 

All individual or organisation grant applicants based in Australia must have an active Australian Business Number (ABN). Individual applicants without an ABN may have their grant administered by an individual or organisation with an ABN. Organisations operating outside of Australia do not need an ABN to apply. Individuals based outside of Australia may not need an ABN to apply, depending on their circumstances (please check with your accountant or tax advisor). 

The name of the applicant must match the name of the ABN and the name of the bank account we pay the grant into. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you cannot provide an ABN and bank account that are in the same name as the applicant, you will need to nominate an administrator for your grant. 

For more information about this, please contact Artists Services. 

No. You can’t apply for funding to cover the artist fee or production fee that the institution pays the artist/s as part of their invitation to commission a new work or body of work for exhibition.   

Grants paid by the Creative Australia may be considered part of your income in a financial year and may be subject to tax. You must determine your own taxation liabilities. We suggest you consult your financial adviser or contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 66. 

If you are GST-registered when you receive an Creative Australia grant, the Creative Australia will pay the grant amount plus GST. The budget provided in your application should be exclusive of GST. 

We encourage our applicants to seek funding from other sources to cover the complete costs of their projects. While it does depend on the size of your grant request, we would expect that applicants with large requests would also secure funding from elsewhere to cover all costs associated with a large-scale project. 

It is important that your Letter of Support from your exhibiting partner outlines their financial investment in the project and that the gallery/institution understands that if you are successful in receiving a Major Commissioning Projects Grant that it will not cover any of their costs. 

Yes. In-kind support refers to resources, goods and services (for example, use of a venue, materials, and people’s time) provided by yourself or others either free of charge, or below market value. Detailing in-kind costs in the budget is important as it gives peers a full understanding of the viability of your project and levels of support you are receiving. In-kind costs are also an expense so, when you save your application, any in-kind income you included will auto-populate to the expenses side of the budget. 

Grants can be considered income by Centrelink. The amount is generally assessed as a lump sum and could affect your Centrelink payment for the financial year. Artists who are running a business (even on a small scale) may have their grant treated differently. It is possible to have your grant paid to an administering body if you wish. 

Applicants should contact Centrelink on 13 28 50 for advice. Additionally, Centrelink’s Financial Information Service (FIS) is an education and information service available to everyone in the community and may be of benefit to applicants who also receive assistance through the social security system. To contact FIS phone 13 23 00. 

Four Year Investment for Organisations (Stage 2)

Enabling organisations to plan with longer-term certainty and increase capacity to leverage other support.

Please note: Stage 2 applications will only be accepted from organisations that were offered an invitation after approval of their EOI at the first stage. We notified EOI applicants via email on Monday 29 May 2023. The email was sent to the primary contact listed on each application. Please check your junk email folder or contact the Multi-Year Investment team to discuss.


 

Context for 2025-28

Since the last cycle of four year investment was implemented, organisations in the arts and cultural sector were impacted by events that have significantly disrupted their operations and sustainability. The livelihood and well-being of artists, creatives and those working in the sector to support them were also impacted. The effects of this were experienced in different ways across the country.

The Australia Council acknowledges that the ramifications of these events are ongoing.

We anticipate that artists and creatives, management, and boards of organisations will develop artistic visions and plans that while forward looking, will take into account the very different operating environment likely to be experienced over the next few years.

We welcome and strongly encourage you to contact us to discuss your application in the context of your particular circumstances.

We also offer the following additional resources to these guidelines:

  • frequently asked questions
  • general feedback to declined EOI applicants
  • links to services that offer free, confidential support (found below)
  • our guide to refreshing your strategic plan.

Guidelines

Four Year Investment provides multi-year investment for arts and cultural organisations. This will enable organisations to plan with longer-term certainty and increase their capacity to leverage other support and collaborations.

Organisations must demonstrate a high degree of artistic achievement, along with a compelling four year vision for the period 2025-2028. To be competitive, organisations will also need to show they are well governed, effectively managed, and generate diverse income streams.

It is the intention of this category to invest in organisations that are part of the small to medium arts and cultural sector. Large, well-resourced organisations or institutions seeking investment in multi-year arts programs may not be considered a priority for investment in this category.

Four Year Investment for Organisations is a two-stage process. Stage one was an expression of interest (EOI). If an organisation was successful in its first stage expression of interest, it has been invited to make a full Stage 2 application for assessment.

Investment for organisations approved after Stage 2 assessment will support activities from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2028.

The minimum eligible grant request for this program is $100,000 per year, over the four year investment period ($400,000 in total). The maximum eligible grant request is $520,000 per year over the four year investment period ($2,080,000 in total).

The revised cap of $520,000 per year acknowledges partial indexation that has been applied across the 2021-2024 investment cycle.

The application process for Four Year Investment for Organisations involves two stages.

Stage 1: Expressions of interest (EOI) have closed.

Stage 2: Full applications for organisations successful at Stage 1 only

  • applications open from May 2023
  • applications close 3pm AEST on Tuesday 1 August 2023
  • applicants notified by December 2023

Who can submit an application

Stage 2 applications will only be accepted from organisations that were offered an invitation after approval of their EOI at the first stage.

We accept applications from invited organisations that develop, create and/or present artistic programs.

The Australia Council 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.

It is the intention of this category to invest in organisations that are part of the small to medium arts and cultural sector. Large, well-resourced organisations or institutions seeking investment in multi-year arts programs may not be considered a priority for investment in this category.

Who can’t submit an application:

You can’t submit an application if:

  • you were not invited to apply
  • you have an overdue grant report
  • you have overdue Multi-Year Investment reporting
  • you owe money to the Australia Council
  • your organisation is not registered in Australia
  • you are an individual or group
  • your organisation is registered as a Trust.

What you can’t submit an application for

You can’t submit an application for the following activities:

  • activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, arts professionals, audiences or communities
  • activities that do not have a clearly defined arts or cultural component
  • 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 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.

Your stage 2 application will be assessed by the arts practice panel you selected. If you submitted EOIs to more than one panel, we will specify which panel your EOI has been successful to in your EOI notification email. The arts practice areas are:

  • Community Arts and Cultural Development
  • Dance
  • Emerging and Experimental Arts
  • First Nations arts and culture *
  • Literature
  • Multi-art form
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Visual Arts.

*Only First Nations organisations with 51% or more First Nations representation in governance and key creatives at the time of submission, can choose to have their EOI reviewed under the First Nations arts practice area. However, First Nations organisations may alternatively choose to have their EOI reviewed under a different arts practice area.

Heads of Practice:

  • Community Arts and Cultural Development & Emerging and Experimental Arts – Zohar Spatz
  • Dance and Multi-art form – Sarah Greentree
  • First Nations arts & culture – Patricia Adjei
  • Literature – Wenona Byrne
  • Music – Kirsty Rivers
  • Theatre – Annette Madden
  • Visual Arts – Mikala Tai

Applications 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 the Australia Council to consider when making the final decisions on which organisations to invite to make full applications and invest in for 2025-2028.

  • Applications 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 applications under arts practice areas relevant to their knowledge and experience.
  • Industry Advisors will participate in both EOI and Stage 2 reviews.
  • The full list of Industry Advisors will be published on our website following notification of the outcomes of Stage 2.

Further detail on Industry Advice is can be found here.

  • To leverage our sector expertise and position as a national agency, a recalibration was needed of the Four Year Investment program to ensure effective, efficient, and impactful investment.
  • To ensure that our investment in the national landscape is distinct and strategic, we need to take into consideration a range of investments including state and territory investments, the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework (NPAPF) and Visual Arts and Craft Strategy (VACS).
  • We are moving to an Industry Advisor method of assessment 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 applications within an arts practice area. We will then consider their recommendations within the context of a national investment portfolio across all art forms.
  • Industry Advisors will be artists, arts/creative industries workers, arts administrators/managers or other people with relevant experience and knowledge of an arts practice or sector.
  • The Industry Advice method of assessment still involves a significant process of review, commentary, and deliberation by external experts. However, it also involves our staff, allowing for greater strategic oversight and greater capacity to shape the investment portfolio to meet the strategic needs of the entire sector.
  • Importantly, this model of assessment and decision-making remains at arm’s-length from government.

Stage 2 applications for Four Year Investment can be submitted through our application management system from June 2023.

You will be asked to provide the following information:

• the arts practice area under which you wish your application to be reviewed

• a brief summary of your organisation, including an outline of your core activity and the role you play in the arts sector (approx. 750 words)

• your organisation’s four year vision for the period 2025-2028 (approx. 500 words)

• a brief summary of your organisation’s key activities over the last five years (approx. 500 words)

• a description of how your organisation is addressing the different operating environment likely to be experienced in 2025-2028 after the disruption of the last 2 years (approx. 500 words)

• a list of key staff in your organisation, with information on their roles and tenure

• the members of your Board or governing committee (to whom the head of your organisation reports), with information on their 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 three years, including assets, liabilities, total income and total expenditure

• investment you have received from sources other than the Australia Council in the past three years

• projected high level income and expenditure for the next three years*

o income should include government income (recurrent, project, other), contributed income (philanthropy, sponsorship), earned income (program, non-program related)

o expenditure should include program costs (direct and non-direct), capital expenditure and salaries

*Organisations who report on a calendar year basis: 2023-2025. Organisations who report on a financial year basis: 2022/23-2024/25

• the annual amount of investment you request from the Australia Council Four Year Investment program from 2025-2028. You will have received guidance on this in your invitation letter.

You will be asked to provide the following support material:

1. Artistic Support Material

  • Please provide up to 3 URLs (weblinks) that best demonstrate your organisation’s artistic output. These URLS may include video, audio, images, audio and written material.

2. Audited accounts or equivalent

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

  • Audited Accounts 2020 (or equivalent)
  • Audited Accounts 2021 (or equivalent)
  • Audited Accounts 2022 (or equivalent)

3. Strategic Plan 2025-28

  • a strategic plan that covers the majority of the Four Year Funding contract period from 2025 to 2028, attached as written material.

4. Program of Activity

  • a detailed program of activities for 2024, attached as written material.
  • an outline program of activity for 2025, attached as written material.

5. Support letters

  • You may provide up to 5 support letters for your application to evidence your organisation’s engagement with communities or key partners – these may be included as one of your 3 URLs, as part of your strategic plan, or uploaded as support material.

We will review your application against three assessment criteria listed below.

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

1. Quality of artistic or cultural program and strategic plan

We will review your organisation’s artistic program and strategic plan. We may consider your organisation’s track record and vision support:

  • the development of great art, artists and arts workers
  • engaging arts experiences
  • expanding access to arts experiences
  • activity that connects communities
  • creative work that reflects contemporary Australia
  • a dynamic sector that is diverse and inclusive
  • the progression of your artistic ambition over the four year cycle
  • enabling risk taking and experimentation in the realisation of works
  • a vibrant society and culture.

2. Organisational capacity

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

  • 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.

3. Alignment with the Strategic Objectives of the Australia Council

We will review how your organisation’s vision aligns with one or more of the strategic objectives in the current Australia Council 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.

Based on the recommendations of Industry Advisors who will review applications in panels for each arts practice area, we will rank the applications from highest to lowest, based on how well each application meets the assessment criteria.

We will consider the arts practice context and analysis of the organisational and financial data provided in each application. Please note: if we have provided investment to your organisation previously, our review will also consider how well you have delivered the activity supported.

We may also consider the spread of organisations across arts practice genres, geography, and communities in prioritising how we rank organisations.

We will only invest in organisations where Industry Advisors have recommended that an application submitted meets the assessment criteria to a high degree.

A recommendation of the mix of organisations to be invested in will be presented to the Board of the Australia Council.

You will be notified of the outcome of your application in December 2023.

Reporting requirements for successful organisations

Organisations applying for Four Year Investment should be aware of the reporting requirements should an application be approved. These are not negotiable and 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.

Organisations receiving Four Year Investment must provide the Australia Council with financial reporting three times a year, as well as annual reports on KPIs and statistical data to receive payments.

You must provide your organisation’s annual financial statements audited in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards by an Approved Auditor, and discloses separately the Four Year Investment 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).

The data and outcomes reporting provides Council 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 Council, allowing us to demonstrate the impact of our funded organisations.

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