AusArt Day invites all Australians to show their support for artists and arts organisations by making a donation – big or small, to support the creativity they love.
AusArt Day 2026 key dates:
AusArt Day return announced & Micro Grant applications open: Thursday 2 April
Microgrant applications close: Tuesday 2 June
Open registrations (to all participants): Monday 3 August
Close registrations (to all participants): Friday 2 October
Gallery page is live: Friday 9 October
AusArt Day 2026: Thursday 22 October
About AusArt Day
AusArt Day is a national initiative designed to support and enable a collective action by artists and arts organisations to fundraise on one national day – increasing the visibility of arts philanthropy and encouraging greater generosity in support of the arts.
It aims to elevate the public value of the arts in the consciousness of everyday Australians and increase donor engagement in support of Australian creativity.
AusArt Day leverages our critical mass to deliver a national sector-led time-sensitive campaign, inclusive of many independent yet clearly defined cases for support, to show our collective appreciation for those who bring creativity into our lives. The day is proposed as a nationwide fundraising opportunity – a collective movement - designed to mobilise artists and arts organisations to raise funds on a single, powerful day. The continuance of a second pilot year will support the sector to fully leverage this opportunity, now a known entity, to increase fundraising capability, and to engage new audiences and donor communities in innovative and entrepreneurial ways.
For 2026, AusArt Day will take place on Thursday 22 October 2026, building on the momentum of its inaugural year.
AusArt Day 2025
Micro-grants for 2026
AusArt Day offers two grant opportunities, as follows.
To support the creation of digital content for use within your AusArt Day campaign:
- artists and collectives – $2,500
- arts organisations (of less than $5 million operating budget)– $5,000.
Opt-in dollar-for-dollar matched funding to incentivise your donor engagement during your AusArt Day campaign:
- artists and collectives – $2,500
- arts organisations (of less than $5 million operating budget) – $5,000.
Applications open: Thursday 2 April 2026 at 9am (AEDT)
Applications close: Tuesday 2 June 2026, 3pm AEST (2.30pm ACST, 1.30pm AWST)
Find out more about micro-grants by clicking here.
Ways to participate in 2026
Arts and culture have a unique power to connect us, inspire us, and transform our society. By coming together as a nation, we can elevate the importance of arts funding and show our collective appreciation for those who bring creativity into our lives. Here are some helpful ways you can participate.
Artists & Organisations
Register to fundraise and apply for a micro-grant.
Download digital assets, build your campaign, and join workshops to maximise your impact on the day. (available in August)
Subscribe to the AusArt Day newsletter to stay up to date.
Donors & Supporters
Give directly to artists or organisations you love via AusArt Day participants gallery page (available in October). Become a donor for the day.
Subscribe to the AusArt Day newsletter to stay up to date.
Community
Spread the word. Share campaigns, collaborate with artists, and help elevate arts philanthropy in Australia.
Subscribe to the AusArt Day newsletter to stay up to date.
AusArt Day Key Components
Micro-grants
Financial support to help artists and organisations create digital content and build their fundraising campaigns ahead of the day.
Find out more here.
Open-registration
AusArt Day is open to all practicing Australian artists and small-to-medium arts organisations. Registration is free, with no competitive assessment process. Registrants can access the digital assets and list your campaign on Creative Australia AusArt Day participants gallery page.
Open-registration will open in August.
Digital assets toolkit
A suite of branded campaign materials provided to every registered participant. Use these ready-made assets/templates to promote your fundraiser across social media and beyond.
Resources will be available in August.
Dedicated professional development program
Free professional development sessions designed to help participants plan, build and deliver their campaigns with confidence — open to all registrants, whether or not they receive a micro-grant.
Resources will be available from April to August.
A dedicated advertorial and editorial campaign
A dedicated advertorial and editorial campaign supporting public promotions and audience reach.
AusArt Day – 22 October
A nation-wide, sector-wide fundraising campaign, to celebrate Australian creativity and its supporters.
Participants gallery page
A dedicated page showcasing every artist and organisation taking part, helping donors discover and connect with campaigns from across the country.
See 2025 AusArt Day participants gallery page here.
2026 AusArt Day participants gallery page will be available in October.
The first-ever AusArt Day, held Thursday 23 October 2025, brought together 323 participants from across the country in a collective celebration of Australian creativity — raising over $2.42 million supported by 4,768 individual donors.
Thank you to every artist, organisation, donor, and champion who made the inaugural AusArt Day possible.
See the 2025 AusArt Day participants here.
What is AusArt Day?
AusArt Day is a nationwide, sector-wide fundraising initiative designed to mobilise artists and arts organisations to raise funds for their work and creative ambitions on a single, powerful day. This unified call to action aims to amplify the visibility of arts philanthropy and inspire greater generosity across the country.
This event is more than a fundraiser — it is a national public movement that celebrates and elevates the role of the arts in Australian life.
This program recognises the vital role that the arts play in our communities and champions artists and organisations dedicated to creative expression.
This program is an invitation for everyone to give back in a way that directly impacts the future of arts and creativity. It’s not just about financial
contributions — it’s also about sharing and recognising the incredible work of artists, educators, performers, and creators who enrich our world every day.
Open to all Australian artists and organisations, the program follows an open-access model, encouraging participation from artists and arts organisations regardless of size or scale. Whether you're an independent artist or part of a large institution, you're invited to be part of this shared moment of national solidarity and fundraising. (See ‘How can I or my arts organisation or collective participate in AusArt Day?’ for more information on how to participate). Read our opinion piece about annual giving days for more context to this new initiative and why the first AusArt Day took place on Thursday 23 October 2025.
When is AusArt Day celebrated?
The first AusArt Day was held on Thursday 23 October 2025, though successful giving day campaigns typically include a quiet fundraising phase that lasts six weeks or more, helping to build momentum and lay the groundwork for a strong public campaign.
For 2026, AusArt Day will take place on Thursday 22 October 2026. Stay updated and subscribe to Creative Australia's newsletter for updates.
How can I or my arts organisation or collective participate in AusArt Day?
Participants can:
- Apply for a micro-grant to create digital AusArt Day fundraising content.
- Launch/ host a digital AusArt Day fundraising campaign (you are welcome to fundraise on any digital infrastructure you choose – the Australian Cultural Fund is a fee free online fundraising platform).
- Register to be included on the official AusArt Day participation page
- Access the Creative Australia digital branded assets to promote an AusArt Day campaign
- Participate in the free fundraising professional development workshops, peer-led discussions and coaching and advice services on offer at Creative Australia.
- Encourage public engagement by promoting the day, and/or sharing online the fundraising stories of an artist or arts organisations you support.
- Donate to the arts on this day.
Can I participate again as a participant from AusArt Day 2025?
Yes, all participants from AusArt Day 2025 are encouraged to participate in 2026 to utilise the resources and this unified day to fundraise for your own programs and projects.
What are the benefits of being involved?
Once registrations are finalised, all AusArt Day participants will be sent an AusArt Day campaign toolkit resource to assist with your fundraising campaign.
Creative Australia provides professional development opportunities to support participants, including workshops, peer-led discussions, and coaching. Additional on-demand workshops and resources are available via and participants can contact their local State Manager for further support.
An advertorial and editorial campaign are implemented to support momentum for the AusArt Day, including:
- digital content and video promotions (August–October for 2025’s round)
- media marketing to raise awareness
- support for participating artists and arts organisations in amplifying their fundraising efforts
Creative Australia works with external PR agencies for the publicity of the giving day. Participants should prepare to be contacted by them to discuss potential media opportunities.
How can I support AusArt Day?
Supporters can:
- Donate to participating artists and organisations on Thursday 22 October 2026
- Promote the day by sharing the work of registered participants online or in person
Can I give offline or in other ways besides online donations?
Yes. Pledges can be made during the quiet fundraising phase (prior to the public campaign). Contact the participating artist or organisation to discuss offline giving.
Where does my donation go? How will I see the impact of my donation?
Each artist or organisation runs their own campaign. Visit their page to learn what project they’re fundraising for, and whether / how they report impact to supporters.
How is AusArt Day promoted? How can I help promote it?
All are welcome to participate in AusArt Day. Engagement can include the following:
Advocacy:
- access the Creative Australia digital branded assets to promote the AusArt Day's campaign
- encourage public engagement by sharing the fundraising story of artists or organisations you support at events, by word of mouth and online
Donate:
- donate to the arts on this day (see ‘How do I donate to a campaign’)
- collaborate with your favourite artists or arts organisations to play a significant role in their fundraising campaign – suggestions could include becoming a matched donor – for a ‘power hour’ or the entire day, be a launching donor, or be a landing donor
Promote:
- Download these digital assets to promote AusArt Day.
- Subscribe to Creative Australia's newsletter to keep up to date and receive promotional assets to spread the word.
