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

Digital Specialist-in-Residence

This program provides arts organisations with access to a specialist to help them develop their digital capacity and pilot a new digitally led project.

in(ner) vision(s). Credit: Rémi Chauvin

About the program

This program evolves and replaces the Digital Strategist-in-Residence initiative, embedding learnings from our program evaluations over the last two years to incorporate new elements and include an additional piloting phase.  

The Digital Specialist-in-Residence program provides arts organisations with access to a specialist who will help them develop their digital capacity and pilot a new digitally led project. 

Over a period of fourteen weeks, the specialist will work with your organisation to: 

  • review your current digital capability
  • identify areas for digital improvement
  • interview and engage with key internal stakeholders
  • explore new opportunities to expand digital activities
  • develop a digital project tailored to the values, people and context of your organisation
  • pilot program and evaluate learnings

The program is delivered in four phases. Your organisation will work with the specialist to complete the following:

  1. Assess: the specialist will guide you through a process to identify the organisation’s current level of digital maturity.
  2. Ideate: a process of ideation and investigation to identify digital challenges and opportunities for your organisation.
  3. Develop: Develop your flagship project, model program or prototype product.
  4. Pilot & Refine: Launch project, evaluate early learnings, present findings.

The Digital Specialist-in-Residence will connect and collaborate with key members of your team. The program will involve facilitated sessions and self-directed tasks.

There is a one week pre-program period of onboarding and program orientation, after which the specialist will be available for one day a week over fourteen weeks. There is a small seed grant for each organisation to go towards piloting their project.

Each organisation must nominate a minimum of two team members (one in a leadership position) who will work closely with the digital specialist over the fourteen weeks, and continue the work on completion of the residency.

The commitment of both time and staff members to lead on this work is essential to make the residency a success. Participating organisations will be part of a cohort of eight organisations.

This program has identified positions for a First Nations organisation.

Please read our FAQs before commencing your application.

The Digital Specialist-in-Residence program is open to Australian arts organisations.

The program invites a diverse range of organisations to apply, and the opportunity is open to applicants from any:

  • art form or area of practice
  • scale or size of organisation
  • location in Australia, however organisations in regional or remote locations are particularly encouraged to apply
  • main activity, including performing, producing, service or collecting
  • existing level of digital readiness or capability.

Your organisation will be matched with an appropriate specialist from our group of creative technologists based on your needs and opportunities.

You are eligible to apply whether or not your organisation currently receives funding from the Australia Council.

Please note this program requires a commitment of eight hours a week over the fourteen-week period.

Applicants who submitted in an earlier round are invited to apply again.

Organisations who have participated in the Digital Strategist-in-Residence program are ineligible.  

Applications will be reviewed by staff and industry advisors. Your application will be based on merit, response to the selection criteria below, and in line with Australia Council’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

Selection Criteria:

  • timeliness and relevance of the program to your organisation
  • an active and open approach to organisational change management
  • drive and motivation of team members to collaborate and experiment
  • commitment to exploring and implementing digital solutions for the arts sector.

Shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview following submission of an application.

Read about how your application will be assessed here.

The Australia Council encourages applications from people who identify as First Nations, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability and people living in regional and remote areas. 

We actively work with individuals to support access needs – including childcare, cultural practices, financial and/or learning access needs as required. We encourage applicants to contact us via phone or email to discuss this further. 

Arts leadership

Key dates

Applications closed.

Residency dates: Monday 14 August – Friday 24 November 2023.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application approximately four weeks after the closing date of 6 June 2023. 


For any questions or further information about the Digital Culture Program please email digital@creative.gov.au or call 02 9215 9036.

Related Links

Additional information

Once you submit your application, we will send you an email acknowledging receipt of your application.

After you submit your application, we first check it meets the eligibility criteria for the grant or opportunity to which you are applying.

We aim to notify you of the outcome of your application no later than 4 weeks after the published closing.

For FAQs relating to the grants model, please click here.

Please contact the Artists Services team.

Once all applications have been assessed, you will be contacted about the outcome of your application. If you have been successful, you will also be sent an agreement.

Frequently asked questions

Week 1: Pre – Program Intro:  

  • Introduction to program and program materials 

‘What is Digital’ Cohort workshop (90 minutes online, date TBC) 

Weeks 2-4: Assess 

  • The specialist will guide you through a process to identify the organisation’s current level of digital maturity. 

‘How to pitch’ Cohort workshop (90 minutes online, date TBC) 

Weeks 5-7: Ideate  

  • A process of ideation and investigation to identify digital challenges and opportunities for your organisation. This will include workshops with internal and external stakeholders.  

‘Current State of Digital’ Cohort workshop (90 minutes online, date TBC) 

Weeks 8-11: Develop 

  • Identify, test and develop your flagship project, model program or prototype product. Seed funding is released.

‘Organisations Pitch Projects’ Cohort workshop (90 minutes online, date TBC) 

  Weeks 12-15: Pilot & Refine 

  • Launch project, evaluate early learnings, present findings. Put in place tracking and evaluation frameworks 

‘Organisations Present Learnings’ Cohort workshop (90 minutes online, date TBC) 

Our digital specialists are a diverse group of creative technologists and digital consultants with a broad range of experience across digital technologies, capacities and roles. Specialists will be located across Australia and are selected based on their:

  • knowledge of the arts and creative industry
  • experience with digital transformation
  • commitment to digital inclusion, cultural competency and accessibility.

Organisations will be matched with specialists based on the individual needs and priority areas.

The digital specialist will be available for fifteen days across the fifteen-week residency.

There will be a combination of contact and non-contact hours with your organisation for between 2-4 team members. Other team members should also be invited to discrete activities and kept informed by the organisation as to the project progress and timing.

There will also be five compulsory online sessions with the cohort of participating organisations to provide an opportunity to connect and share experiences and knowledge and hear from industry experts.

This residency is designed to be delivered online with potential for hybrid delivery, involving a combination of in-person and online sessions with your specialist via negotiation.

Individuals can apply via our online application system. If you have access requirements, please get in touch so we can assist you.

Written response questions:

  • Introduce your organisation and why you do what you do.
  • How has your organisation explored digital so far?
  • What are some digital projects you would like to explore during the residence?
  • How has your organisation explored and managed digital so far?
  • What are some digital projects you would like to explore during the residence?
  • What does digital leadership in the sector look like to you?
  • What tools and processes do you have in place to facilitate collaboration between your team members?

Successful applicants will be required to submit a digital strategy as part of the acquittal at the completion of the program. 

Who can apply?

This opportunity is open to organisations.

An ‘organisation’ is a legally constituted organisation that is registered or created by law. For example, incorporated associations, companies limited by guarantee or government statutory authorities are all defined as organisations.

Your application will be assessed as per the selection criteria. The program is designed to bring together a diverse range of applicants from organisations around the country and we work to ensure a balance between geographic locations and artforms. This will be considered in the assessment process.

The program requires your organisation to identify a minimum of two digital champions (one in a leadership position) from your organisation to lead the residency. Consider who has the ability to lead your team and enact the recommendations or opportunities that may arise. It is important to get organisation buy-in, so consider representatives from different teams.

Please send an email to digital@creative.gov.au if you would like to discuss your eligibility.

Australia Council can support a number of fully subsidised (free) positions each round through this application process.