Four Year Investment for Organisations operates on four-year cycles of investment, the current cycle being 2025–28.

The application process for Four Year Investment 2029–32 requires a pre-application to determine an organisation’s eligibility to apply to the category. If an organisation meets the criteria, the pre-application will be confirmed, and an organisation will be eligible to make an application.

Pre-application

The pre-application form has eligibility criteria that must be met. If an organisation meets the following pre-application eligibility criteria, it will be confirmed as eligible to apply for Four Year Investment.

1. Creative Australia investment history
2. Annual revenue
3. Length of incorporation
4. Governance model

See the guidelines for Four Year Investment for Organisations 2029–32 for key dates and further information on the pre-application process. 

Application

Organisations confirmed as eligible to apply to Four Year Investment will be provided with access to the application form in our Application Management System. 

Industry advisors will review applications against three criteria:

1. Quality of artistic or cultural program and strategic plan
2. Organisational capacity
3. Alignment with the objectives of Creative Australia.

Applicants will submit a four-year strategic plan, artistic program, financial projections and their three most recent audits.

Creative Australia advises applicants what annual level of investment they may apply for. 

See the guidelines for Four Year Investment for Organisations 2029–32 for key dates and further information on the application process. 

Review process

Applications will be prioritised by Creative Australia representatives and reviewed by expert industry representatives called industry advisors. While applications will be prioritised for review, industry advisors will have access to all applications submitted to the category for their review.

Industry advisors are experts in their field with relevant experience and knowledge of an arts practice or sector. Industry advisors will review applications under arts practice areas relevant to their knowledge and experience.

Outcomes

Final recommendations on investment decisions are made by officials of Creative Australia. These decisions are based on the recommendations provided by industry advisors in their reviews of the applications.

The approval of applications is based on a range of factors, including the spread of organisations across arts practice areas, geography and communities. Only applications that industry advisors consider meet the assessment criteria to a high degree are recommended for investment.

A recommendation of the mix of organisations to be invested in will be approved by the Creative Australia Executive Team and will be presented to the Australia Council Board for endorsement.

See the guidelines for Four Year Investment for Organisations 2029–32 for key dates and detailed information on the assessment process.