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Digital culture

Our digital culture programs and resources aim to digitally enable artists and cultural organisations.

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Box of Birds’ ‘Space Play’ interactive light exhibition.

Digital culture programs develop practice, share knowledge and invest in innovation.  

The programs are designed to address a diversity of industry needs and support the opportunities that ‘digital’ presents. 

We are working with a range of partners to develop and deliver programs to ensure they are informed, integrated and responsive. 

Digital resources

Think Digital

A self-assessment tool designed to help Australian arts organisations assess their digital capabilities, form a digital strategy or identify key priorities, and thrive in the growing digital landscape.

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Digital case studies

A selection of case studies that explore how cultural practitioners use digital platforms and approaches to make innovative new work and build connections with audiences.

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Digital Culture Strategy (2021-24)

The Digital Culture Strategy set out our vision for a digitally enabled and thriving arts and cultural industry. It provided an overarching framework to guide our approach and priorities for digital development.

Our objective was to increase digital engagement with arts and creativity, leading to greater community connection and wellbeing. To achieve this, we also aim to build capability and resilience across the arts and cultural industries.

The key aims of this program were:

  • First Nations arts and cultural experiences are amplified through digital mediums.
  • Audiences can easily discover and access Australian arts and culture online.
  • Australian creative practitioners embrace digital and emerging technologies to develop their practice.
  • Digital environments support sustainable creative careers and business models.
  • Australian creative practitioners are digitally confident and proficient.
  • Digital environments are accessible, inclusive and safe for all practitioners and audiences.

This strategy was informed by in-depth research including focused consultation with the sector, leading practitioners and technologists.

Past Programs

Digital Specialist-in-Residence Program

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

The program was delivered in four phases, across fourteen weeks, and saw organisations work with their specialist to:

  • Assess – identify the organisation’s current level of digital maturity.
  • Ideate – identify digital challenges and opportunities.
  • Develop – a flagship project, model program or prototype product.
  • Pilot and refine – launch a project, evaluate early learnings and present findings.

Twenty-three arts and cultural organisations participated in the program, across 3 rounds in 2023 and 2024.

Digital Strategist-in-Residence Program

This program preceded the Digital Specialist-in-Residence program.

It provided arts organisations with access to a digital strategist over 3 months, who provided coaching to develop digital capacity, build entrepreneurial mindsets and develop a bespoke digital strategy

Fifty-four arts and cultural organisations participated in this program, across 6 rounds and a pilot program between 2021 and 2023.

Digital Fellowship Program

A six-month program for emerging digital artists that prioritised collaborative learning, as well as individual practice development, through a series of curated online cohort sessions, an in-person workshop and one-on-one mentoring. Investment of $10,000 was also offered to enable participants to realise new ideas and develop their digital practice.

The Digital Fellowship Program was developed and delivered in partnership with Creative New Zealand to support artists to co-develop their digital practice and set directions for the future of the arts in our region.

The program was delivered three times across 2021, 2022 and 2023 and a total of 16 Australian artists participated – joining 16 peers from New Zealand.

ProtoX Arts: Digital Accelerator Program

A 12-week mentoring program for artists, groups and organisations to develop new digital business ideas. It was delivered by INCUBATE, the University of Sydney’s Startup Program and brought together a national cohort of twelve digitally centred businesses.

Through one-on-one mentoring, industry connections and weekly goal setting, ProtoX Arts provided the subject matter expertise to empower members of the arts community to pursue their digitally centred ideas into businesses.

CEO Digital Mentoring Program

Delivered by ACMI in conjunction with Creative Australia and with support from the Ian Potter Foundation, this program provided an opportunity for senior arts executives to be mentored by leading digital strategists.

The program objective was to improve the internal ability for cultural institutions and organisations to make better long term technology choices, understand a rapidly and continually changing digital environment, be better able to select and work with technology providers, as well as collaborate with and develop artists and creative practitioners who are also working through this period of exponential change

Digital Transformation for the Creative Industries

Developed and delivered in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), this six-week online course provided learners with insight into key digital concepts, modes of digital practice, emergent technologies and also introduced ideas around digital strategy and business model innovation.

Curated by arts and cultural practitioners, Digital Transformation for the Creative Industries was specifically designed for artists and creative practitioners, arts administrators, managers, and directors working, whether independently or from organisations large or small, who wanted to better understand digital practice and strategy.

Creative Australia funded over 500 artists and arts workers to participate in this course in 2021 and 2022.  It was developed to address a core priority in the strategy around building digital literacy.

Digital Skills Program

This opportunity enabled creative practitioners to develop relevant digital skills, expertise and strategies to explore new creative work and build sustainable careers.

The 2023 program included panel discussions on AI and Web3 and a workshop for digital producers.

The program also supported small, funded delegations at:

  • Melbourne International Games Week
  • Future of Arts, Culture & Technology Symposium (FACT)
  • REMIX Perth
  • REMIX Sydney
  • Festival of Interactive Narrative and Storytelling in Dunedin (New Zealand).

These opportunities allowed artists and arts workers engaged in digital practice to network more broadly and engage in workshops and critical dialogues with peers working across the creative industries.

Digital programs alumni

Find out more about the previous participants of our Digital Cultures Programs.

Digital specialist (strategist) participants

Digital Specialists 2024 – Round Nine

Digital Specialist-in-Residence organisations 2024 – Round Nine

Digital Specialists 2024 – Round Eight

Digital Specialist-in-Residence organisations 2024 – Round Eight

Digital Specialist-in-Residence organisations 2023 pilot

Digital Strategists 2023

Digital Strategist-in-Residence 2023 participants – round six

Digital Strategist-in-Residence 2023 participants – round five

Digital Strategist-in-Residence 2022 participants – round four

Digital Strategist-in-Residence 2022 participants – round three

Digital Strategist-in-Residence 2022 participants – round two

Digital Strategist-in-Residence 2021 participants – round one

Digital Strategist-in-Residence 2021 pilot program participants

Digital Fellowship Program participants

Digital Fellowship Program participants 2024

Elsie Andrewes, NZ
Hana Aoake, NZ
Jayden Purcell, NZ
Kate ten Buuren, AUS
Kasey Gambling, AUS
Max Brading, AUS
Mere Taito, NZ
Moorina Bonini, AUS
Natasha Ratuva, NZ
W. Sze Tsang, AUS

Digital Fellowship Program participants 2023

  • Ahilapalapa Rands, NZ
  • Gabrielle Widders, VIC
  • Joshua Faleatua, NZ
  • Kathryn Gledhill-Tucker, WA
  • Pelenakeke Brown, NZ
  • Raelke Grimmer, NT
  • Sandy Wakefield, NZ
  • Sophia Dumaresq, ACT
  • Tanu Gago, NZ
  • Vidya Rajan, VIC

Digital Fellowship Program participants 2022

  • April Phillips, NSW
  • Emele Ugavule, WA
  • James Albert, SA
  • Jamie Berry, NZ
  • Katrina Ioisa, NZ
  • Maxwell Wollerman-Turner, NZ
  • Michel Mulipola, NZ
  • Mi-kaisha Masella, NSW
  • Rosanna Raymond, NZ
  • Roshelle Fong, VIC
  • Sione Faletau, NZ
  • Victoria Chiu, VIC

Createch: Digital Enterprise Program Participants

ProtoX Arts Digital Accelerator Program Participants

  • Alyse Newman, VIC
  • Creative Bytes, VIC
  • David Harris, QLD
  • Fiona Hooton, ACT
  • Fiona Peel, ACT
  • Glen Walton, VIC
  • GRID Series Pty Ltd (ARIEL), VIC
  • Jessica Priebe, NSW
  • Nick Atkins, NSW
  • Robert Buratti, WA
  • Sammaneh Pourshafighi, VIC
  • Samuel Mcgilp, VIC

CEO Digital Mentoring Program Participants 2022

  • Anne Dunn, Sydney Theatre Company
  • Bobby Cerini, Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre
  • Caroline Spence, Sydney Dance Company
  • Carmel Young, Desart
  • Christine McEwan, Opera Queensland
  • Eric Holowacz, Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre (Katherine Regional Cultural Precinct)
  • Gill Perkins, Bell Shakespeare
  • Jamie Lewis, Next Wave
  • Katie Russell, Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA)
  • Kath M Mainland, Adelaide Festival Corporation
  • Max Delany, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
  • Nick Hays, Australian Dance Theatre
  • Nikki Zerella, Arts Access Victoria
  • Penny Whitehead, Geelong Gallery
  • Vincent Ciccarello, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

Partnerships and Collaborators 2021 – 24

  • artsACT
  • Arts NT
  • Arts South Australia
  • Arts Tasmania
  • Create NSW
  • Creative Victoria
  • Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, WA
  • Creative New Zealand
  • ACMI
  • INCUBATE Startup Program at The University of Sydney
  • Interactive Games and Entertainment Association
  • Little Owl
  • Kopi Su
  • Melbourne International Games Week
  • NBN Co
  • paddl
  • REMIX Summit
  • University of Technology Sydney
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Training and professional development

We offer targeted training and professional development programs to build the skills and capabilities of artists and arts organisations.

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 2022 Future Leaders program participants at Bundanon Art Museum and Bridge.
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Leadership

Creative Australia’s leadership programs are dedicated to transforming the cultural and creative industry’s knowledge, skills and capabilities by investing in leaders across all career stages.

Learn more
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We acknowledge the many Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and honour their Elders past and present.

We respect their deep enduring connection to their lands, waterways and surrounding clan groups since time immemorial. We cherish the richness of First Nations Peoples’ artistic and cultural expressions.

We are privileged to gather on this Country and through this website to share knowledge, culture and art now, and with future generations.

First Nations Peoples should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have died.

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We acknowledge the many Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and honour their Elders past and present.

We respect their deep enduring connection to their lands, waterways, and surrounding clan groups since time immemorial. We cherish the richness of First Nations peoples’ artistic and cultural expressions. We are privileged to gather on this Country and to share knowledge, culture and art, now and with future generations.

Art by Jordan Lovegrove