Advice for future applicants 

• Show an awareness of Creative Australia’s five principles of Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD) and demonstrate how your project follows them. The five principles are:
• The activity involves the creation of artwork by, with and for the community.
• Development is a primary objective of the initiative.
• The activity is socially inclusive.
• The activity is community centred and collaborative.
• The activity involves the engagement of highly skilled practitioners.
• Clearly describe how the project will be developed with the community.   
• Explain how the community is involved at every stage, from planning and making decisions to creating and presenting the final work.
• Make sure the authentic voices of the applicant and the community involved comes through the application.
• Demonstrate how your work is developed in genuine collaboration with the community. Show an understanding of relationship building as an ongoing, reciprocal process grounded in trust, respect, and shared decision-making.
• Show how the project’s impact continues beyond its timeline by embedding meaningful engagement, building local capacity, and maintaining partnerships that support ongoing benefits of your project outcomes.
• If you are working with a community that is not your own, it is vital that you provide evidence of genuine relationship building and mutual interest in the project, such as letters of support or other expressions of collaboration.
• Pay yourself, your artists and collaborators fairly. Demonstrate best practice by paying at, or above, industry standard rates and include superannuation. Applications with no fees and superannuation or exclusively volunteer labour will be less competitive. Don’t list wages or fees as in-kind support.
• Be clear about what stage your project is currently at; whether it is in the initial stages of development, delivery, or focused on continuation or expansion.
• If you are engaging with children provide evidence that you are following all relevant child safety protocols and regulations. Include a risk assessment and other relevant documentation in your support material.
• If your proposal involves working with First Nations artists, communities, or subject matter, you must provide evidence of genuine consultation and consent. It is essential to implement and adhere to our First Nations Protocols and demonstrate the practical application of these in your budget by including appropriate fees for Elders and/or consultants. You can find the Protocols here. 
• Make a compelling argument for the ‘Impact’ criterion and back up any claims you make by providing adequate detail and evidence. For more information please view this short video. 
• Please contact Artists Services to discuss a future application to Creative Australia. 

Peer assessors acknowledged the high quality of applications for this round and praised applications where the artists’ authentic voice was apparent.   

Advice for future applications 

• Do not assume peers know your work - outline your achievements and highlight any past contributions to the dance sector.
• Provide compelling support material that enhances your project and check all URLs work and passwords are supplied.
• Emphasise the timeliness of your proposed activities.
• Explain your choice of presenting partners. Why they are the best organisations to present your work?
• Break down budgets and use the description section to provide a detailed explanation of how you have calculated each figure.
• Where relevant include a contingency plan that sets out what you will do if you do not receive additional funding included in your budget.
• Box office projections should be realistic and based on demonstrated calculations.
• Provide relevant support letters from collaborators/partners detailing their commitment to the project, support for your practice or impact of your work.
• Explain how you will maintain the health, safety and wellbeing for your artists, participants, and audience.
• Demonstrate your commitment to addressing access and accessibility considerations in the budget and activity details.
• When engaging with a community that is not your own, you must provide compelling evidence of how you will respectively engage with that community and that they are supportive of your project.
• If you are engaging with children provide evidence that you are following all relevant child safety protocols and regulations. Include a risk assessment and other relevant documentation in your support material.
• If your proposal involves working with First Nations artists, communities, or subject matter, you must provide evidence of genuine consultation and consent. It is essential to implement and adhere to our First Nations Protocols and demonstrate the practical application of these in your budget by including appropriate fees for Elders and/or consultants. You can find the Protocols here. 
• For more information on the third criterion ‘Impact’ please view this short video. 
• Please contact Artists Services to discuss a future application to Creative Australia. 

Advice for future applicants   

• Clearly define what makes your work emerging or experimental, showing how both form and content are innovative.
• Clearly outline your project’s aims and significance: what you want to do, how you’ll do it, why it’s important and why now.
• Reflect on what experimentation means for your long-term practice and the sector. Explain how this project extends your usual practice and explores new ground for you or the artform, distinguishing it from standard approaches.
• If you are working with AI or other fast-moving technologies, describe how you’re engaging with that evolving space.
• Seek and demonstrate consultation in relevant areas of expertise (e.g., technology specialists or ethicists) where relevant.
• Describe how audiences and/or collaborators participate and engage with your work, and how that engagement shapes the experience. Provide evidence (e.g., letters of support) of meaningful consultation and involvement. Consider including an audience development or community engagement strategy where relevant.
• Include a risk assessment, particularly where your project involves sensitive subject matter, community participation, or participant safety.
• If your project is site specific, explain: why here, who are your audiences and why is this relevant for this location? Address any logistical considerations such as site assessments, permits, and risk management.
• Provide clearly labelled, high-quality support material. Where possible, include artistic support material that is indicative of the current work which shows development, visualisations, or renders of your work. Focus on the most relevant examples that show your project’s quality, viability, and impact.
• Include signed support letters from all collaborators and presenting partners.
• Check all your links and make sure all content and documents are accessible without requiring a login.
• Pay all artists appropriately, including yourself, using current award rates if available and include superannuation.
• Break down lump sums and explain your expenses in the description box provided in the budget. Show how your confirmed partners are contributing to your project in income/in-kind where relevant.
• Demonstrate that you have given enough time for experimentation and research in your Activity Timeline.
• Consider accessibility for both participants and audiences as an integral part of your project planning. Include access fees in the budget, and letters of support where needed.
• If you are engaging with children provide evidence that you are following all relevant child safety protocols and regulations. Include a risk assessment and other relevant documentation in your support material.
• If your proposal involves working with First Nations artists, communities, or subject matter, you must provide evidence of genuine consultation and consent. It is essential to implement and adhere to our First Nations Protocols and demonstrate the practical application of these in your budget by including appropriate fees for Elders and/or consultants. You can find the Protocols here. 
• Make a compelling argument for the ‘Impact’ criterion and back up any claims you make by providing adequate detail and evidence. For more information please view this short video. 
• Please contact Artists Services to discuss a future application to Creative Australia. 

Advice for future applicants 

• If you use AI to write your application, make sure the writing is clear and that your unique voice and passion comes through the application.
• Clearly explain what you want to do and why you want to do it.
• In the Project Title section of your application, clearly state in less than three sentences what your project is.
• In the Project Summary section of your application, describe what you will do in your project.
• Complete the activity timeline section in the application form. It is important for assessors to understand the steps you are going to take to deliver your project.
• Provide a detailed, transparent budget. Break down large sums and show how you have calculated each item.   
• Stick to the support material limits.
• Make sure your letters of support are up to date.
• If your application addresses sensitive issues like the Stolen Generation, include a content warning at the beginning of the About your project section of your application.
• If you are applying on behalf of an individual or group, provide evidence to show the artist(s) have given you consent to apply, and show how the artist(s) will keep ownership of their cultural and intellectual property.
• If any progress occurs on your project after you submit your application (for example, co-funding updates), let us know. Contact an Artist Services Officer if you have further questions. 
• Consider how your project relates to Creative Australia’s First Nations Protocols. Where relevant, provide evidence of genuine consultation and consent. Demonstrate the practical application of the First Nations Protocols in your budget and support material. You can find the Protocols here.   
• If you are engaging with children provide evidence that you are following all relevant child safety protocols and regulations. Include a risk assessment and other relevant documentation in your support material. 
• Make a compelling argument for the ‘Impact’ criterion and back up any claims you make by providing adequate detail and evidence. For more information please view this short video.  
• Please contact Artists Services to discuss a future application to Creative Australia and other funding options. 

Advice for future applicants   

• Explain why this project, why now, why you are the right person for the project, how you will make it happen, and what the impact of the funding will be.
• Address how your project sits within your genre, readership, audience and sector, demonstrating relevance and awareness of the broader literary ecosystem.
• Make a compelling argument for the ‘Impact’ criterion and back up any claims you make by providing adequate detail and evidence. Consider the impact of your project from multiple perspectives, including career development, innovation, audience engagement, and sector contribution. Consider how your project addresses a need or gap in the sector. For more information, please view this short video. 
• If your project involves working with First Nations artists, communities, or subject matter, provide evidence of genuine consultation and consent. Your budget must include appropriate fees for Elders and cultural consultants, and your support material should include letters of support from any First Nations partners involved in the project. Acknowledging your project’s connection to place, local communities and histories can enhance your application. You can find the Protocols here. 
• If your project involves working with children, you must provide evidence that you are following all relevant child safety protocols and regulations. Include a risk assessment and other relevant documentation in your support material.
• If your project concerns sensitive issues or you are working with vulnerable individuals or communities, speak to the safety and wellbeing of those involved, including interviewees, contributors, and yourself.
• Do not assume peers will know who you are or your earlier work. Include your cv/bio in the support material and outline your earlier experience and track record in the Tell us who you are section.
• If publication is a stated outcome of your project, provide details and evidence of publisher interest. For self-publishing, explain your rationale and distribution plan.
• When proposing a podcast or journalism project, highlight the artistic value and impact of your project. Clearly define your audience, show the benefit of your project and include an audience engagement plan.
• Provide a detailed, realistic timeline broken into phases such as research, writing and editing. Completing the activity details for your project assures the peers of your project’s viability and your ability to complete the work in time.
• If travelling for your project, explain the importance and impact of these locations, how they are relevant to your project and the activities that will take place at each location.
• Please contact Artists Services to discuss a future application to Creative Australia. 

Budget 

• Pay all artists, including yourself, fairly. Where possible, use relevant industry rates of pay or equivalent industry standards. Ensure your wages reflect the amount of time listed in your activities.
• Break down lump sums in the budget and describe how you have calculated your expenses in the description box. Show how your confirmed partners are contributing to your project in income/in-kind.
• If you are using ASA, MEAA or IPED rates, be careful about the rate you choose and be clear about how you are applying it. For example, Freelance Writing rates are not applicable for extended periods of long-form writing.  

Support Material   

• Include strong writing samples that highlight the style and voice of the project. Consider including samples from the work-in-progress alongside excerpts from published work.
• Letters of support and confirmation should be recent and relevant to your current project. It is essential that key partners have provided a letter. Provide evidence of consultation and consent from experts or consultants where appropriate. 

Advice for future applicants 

• Use plain language and clearly explain your planning & delivery processes.
• Clarify what your project or activity is in the first sentence of the ‘Project Summary” or ‘Project description’ sections. This really helps the assessor become engaged quicker.
• Ensure the Activity Details section is thorough. Provide an overview of what you plan to do step by step.
• Make a compelling argument for the ‘Impact’ criterion and back up any claims you make by providing adequate detail and evidence. The ‘Impact’ criterion may refer to the impact on yourself and your practice, but also the impact on participants, audiences or other project partners that you hope to share or create the work with. For more information please view this short video.   
• Where the impact is primarily with yourself and/or other artists involved, describe this clearly in terms of practice development, career trajectory, ambition, innovation or experimentation.
• Talk about the timeliness of your project. Why is this project important now?
• Address the ongoing life of the work: what might come next for the project, your practice, partner organisations, and audiences? What are the next steps and how does this project enable it?
• Try not to load your application with too many activities or stages. A smaller stage of a project with tangible outcomes might be a more viable proposition.
• Reliance on AI can also compromise your ability to express your passion and urgency, and the timeliness of your proposed activity. Assessors find that applications that rely on AI do not allow for the artist’s unique voice and style to come through.
• Where relevant, include a marketing or audience strategy plan. If this is not your strength, invest in the services of an arts marketing professional to help you develop one.
• Demonstrate how your project fits within the Multi-art form panel.
• Don’t assume the assessors are familiar with you or your work. If you are partnering with artists organisations, introduce them and explain their role in the project, and provide relevant support material.
• Provide context about the landscape you operate in - your sector, community, or location - and position your work within that environment.
• Explain why your presenting partners, commissioning organisations, or locations are appropriate and how the partnership strengthens your project.
• If your proposal involves working with First Nations artists, communities, or subject matter, you must provide evidence of genuine consultation and consent. It is essential to implement and adhere to our First Nations Protocols and demonstrate the practical application of these in your budget by including appropriate fees for Elders and/or consultants. You can find the Protocols here. 
• If your project centres Australian site-specific histories, geographies or ecologies, it is assumed you would be including or engaging with First Nations perspectives in your research.   
• If you are engaging with children provide evidence that you are following all relevant child safety protocols and regulations. Include a risk assessment and other relevant documentation in your support material.
• If you are collaborating with a specific community, outline & evidence your community engagement plan or strategy. Provide letters of support from community partners or representatives.
• If you hope to work with vulnerable communities or explore difficult social and cultural issues, ensure you have a plan for managing risk and the well-being of your participants or audience. Consider consulting with relevant project partners who have specialised risk assessment knowledge in these areas.
• Please contact Artists Services to discuss a future application to Creative Australia. 

Budget 

• Pay all artists, including yourself fairly. Demonstrate best practice by paying at, or above, industry standard rates and include superannuation. Applications with no artist fees and superannuation or exclusively volunteer lab
• Keep in-kind support estimates realistic and justified.
• Explain how the project's outcomes demonstrate impact or value relative to the requested funding. The budget should be aligned with the scale of the project.

Support material  

• Make sure your support material is well thought out and relevant to the project. Where possible provide support material that is indicative of the proposed project. If this is not possible, include examples of previous work that may be comparable in scope.
• Label your support documents or links clearly. Where possible, roll multiple files or documents into single links or attachments. For example, consolidate multiple letters of support into one PDF file.
• If you are including links to long videos – direct which section/s assessors should view.
• Make sure links are working and accessible (not password-protected or requiring a login). Have someone else test these links before submitting.
• Demonstrate that the partner or commissioning organisation is robustly supporting the project. This should be outlined in letters of confirmation, detailing any financial or in-kind contributions. 

Advice for future applicants 

• Answer each application question directly and clearly, using plain language. Keep your responses focused and avoid unnecessary detail.
• Show clear and detailed project planning, supported by realistic budgets and relevant support material.
• Demonstrate artistic authenticity, originality, and a strong understanding of their audience or market.
• Clearing outline “Why this project, and why now?”. This helps assessors understand the project’s importance and strategic timing.
• Clearly describe the creative or artistic ideas behind your work, not just the logistics or promotion.
• Complete every section of the form, including timelines, partners, budgets, and support material. This helps assessors understand your full process.
• Make a compelling argument for the ‘Impact’ criterion. This should include why the project matters artistically and culturally, and why it’s important for your career. Back up any claims you make by providing adequate detail and evidence. For more information please view this short video. 
• When talking about your project’s environmental or social impact, outline the strategies you will take to achieve this.
• Where relevant, explain how the project builds on your past practice or previous releases.
• Justify all claims with evidence in your support material. Provide proof of confirmation and letters of support from any collaborators, partners or presenters mentioned in the proposal. Label you’re your support material clearly.
• Lead with your strongest, highest-quality work in your support material, and include a range of music samples that shows your artistic breadth.
• Use accessible links for all materials and avoid sites that require logins or subscriptions to view and listen.
• If your proposal includes marketing or PR, outline the planned activities, expected results, and justify the cost.
• Provide a marketing or audience development plan showing how you’ll reach new listeners or communities.
• Include every income source in your budget: other grants, co-funding, in-kind support, and especially include your estimated earned income or sales.
• Pay all artists and musicians fairly, including yourself. Demonstrate best practice by paying at, or above, industry standard rates and include superannuation. Applications with no artist fees and superannuation or exclusively volunteer labour will be less competitive. Don’t list wages or fees as in-kind support.
• Break down large or unusual expense items, showing how you arrived at each cost.
• Include contingencies for time-sensitive or travel-related costs.
• If you are engaging with children provide evidence that you are following all relevant child safety protocols and regulations. Include a risk assessment and other relevant documentation in your support material.
• If your proposal involves working with First Nations artists, communities, or subject matter, you must provide evidence of genuine consultation and consent. It is essential to implement and adhere to our First Nations Protocols and demonstrate the practical application of these in your budget by including appropriate fees for Elders and/or consultants. You can find the Protocols here. 
• Please contact Artists Services to discuss a future application to Creative Australia. 

Advice for future applicants: 

• Outline why this project, why is now the right time for this work, and what is the proposed impact of the activity?
• Make sure your application is clear and specific. Provide all relevant information about the project rationale, timeline, or budget.
• It is important that your voice and passion comes through the application.
• Clearly identify who the key artists are and explain why they have been chosen.
• Be specific about your audience and reach. Who is the work for and how do you plan to reach your audience? Describe the impact the project seeks to provide for the audience, sector or community.
• If relevant, articulate how this proposal builds on opportunities for artists to extend earlier developments, presentations, and projects. Discuss the possible future of the project and its expanding or shifting impact and reach.
• For projects at the development stage, explain what you need to reach the next stage of development or presentation. Speak to your method and flesh out your ideas of experimentation. Show how Creative Australia investment will aid you in reaching the next stage.
• For creative development projects, describe the vision for the work and what you’re working towards. In what context might the work be presented? Is it being conceived to tour? Is there already early interest in the work? Or how will this development phase unpack some of these questions.
• If your project involves community engagement and participation, explain your community engagement processes, and provide evidence of community consultation and support. Community and/or partner support letters are crucial in this regard.
• When addressing sensitive topics, ensure you address the safety and wellbeing of the artists and audience involved. Where relevant, set out your plans and precautions and include fees for any consultants in the budget.
• For touring projects, simply saying that you’ll take a work overseas isn’t enough. It is important to detail your plans for your work, where you can see it going, what you’d like to achieve, and the connections you’ll draw on.
• Complete the ‘Activity details’ table in the application form, even if there is only one activity. Mark the activity as confirmed if it is likely to happen or there is in principle support, pending funding.
• Assessors find that applications that rely on AI do not allow for the artist’s unique voice and style to come through. Reliance on AI can also compromise your ability to express your passion and urgency, and the timeliness of your activity.
• If the main benefit of the project is to an organisation, consider whether it should be submitted under the Arts Projects for Organisations category.
• Peer assessors welcomed alternative touring models, especially those with strong community engagement.
• Don’t assume assessors know your work or reputation. Provide context about your practice, partners, and presenters. Remember to include artist bios.
• If you are engaging with children provide evidence that you are following all relevant child safety protocols and regulations. Include a risk assessment and other relevant documentation in your support material.
• If your proposal involves working with First Nations artists, communities, or subject matter, you must provide evidence of genuine consultation and consent. It is essential to implement and adhere to our First Nations Protocols and demonstrate the practical application of these in your budget by including appropriate fees for Elders and/or consultants. You can find the Protocols here. 
• Make a compelling argument for the ‘Impact’ criterion and back up any claims you make by providing adequate detail and evidence. Discuss the specific impact of your project. Consider your own practice, your collaborators or partners, participants or audiences, communities, or the broader sector. For more information please view this short video. 
• Please contact Artists Services to discuss a future application to Creative Australia.   

Budget 

• Use the description field in the budget section to break down large costs and provide any relevant information. For salaries, fees, and wages, include your calculations and use industry and artform specific payment standards. Avoid listing unpaid wages or fees as in-kind support.
• If you’re paying an honorarium instead of wages or fees, check this is the appropriate payment structure for the activity and include an explanation for this in the budget notes section.
• Ensure budget contributions listed in-kind are reasonable, realistic and relevant to project delivery.
• For complex budgets (i.e. touring, multi-phase projects, complex international activity), consider attaching a separate budget document to help clarify the breakdown.
• Where other funding is unconfirmed, include a contingency plan which sets out what you will do if you do not receive that funding.
• If Creative Australia funding makes up a large part of your income, explain why other sources aren’t available or suitable.
• If you’re remounting an earlier work, you can include royalties in your budget.
• Include access costs in your application and budget for them appropriately. 
     

Support Material 

• Be intentional with your support material. Providing high quality creative material can prove a strong track record and a clear understanding of your practice. If your pitch is for a work in development, you can split this material between examples of your best work along with the current work in progress.
• Make sure all links in your application work and that you have provided the correct password. Peers are unable to view support material requiring a login.
• Provide evidence of partnerships and collaborations. Letters of support should confirm budget contributions and commitment to the proposed project.
• Letters of support should clearly outline what is being provided in-kind. Make sure this matches what’s in your budget. 

Advice for future applicants 

• Set the scene early on in your application. Make sure your project summary is a concise overview of your project.
• Consider your reader and use plain English. Be clear and succinct and avoid jargon and academic language. Make it easy for the assessors to understand your written responses.
• Avoid using AI tools to write your application. Assessors found that applications that relied on these tools did not allow for the artist’s unique voice and style to come through. It can also compromise your ability to express your passion and the timeliness and impact of your proposed activity.
• Help assessors understand what your project will look and feel like. Include clear descriptions of how your creative rationale will be worked out, include any examples you have.
• Plan realistic timelines and include a contingency. Ensure you complete the activity timeline section in the application form. It is important for assessors to understand the steps you are going to take to deliver your project and its viability. This should cover implementing First Nations ICIP protocols and community engagement (where relevant).
• Address all potential risks, including cultural safety, psychological safety, and occupational health and safety. Show how you will look after the wellbeing of all artists, participants, audiences, and communities involved in the project.
• If your project involves community engagement and participation, explain your community engagement processes, and provide evidence of community consultation and support. Community and/or partner support letters are crucial in this regard.
• Make a compelling argument for the ‘Impact’ criterion and back up any claims you make by providing adequate detail and evidence. For more information please view this short video.  
• Consider the impact of your project in the longer term. Is it going to push, expand or innovate your practice or career? If your project has different phases or activities, explain how they connect and work together to create impact.
• If your proposal involves working with First Nations artists, communities, or subject matter, you must provide evidence of genuine consultation and consent. It is essential to implement and adhere to our First Nations Protocols and demonstrate the practical application of these in your budget by including appropriate fees for Elders and/or consultants. You can find the Protocols here.  
• If your project involves engaging with environments, placemaking or flora and fauna, consider how you should be applying the First Nations Cultural Protocols.
• If you are engaging with children provide evidence that you are following all relevant child safety protocols and regulations. Include a risk assessment and other relevant documentation in your support material. 
• If you are seeking funding for a publication, include information about how it will be circulated. It is also important to tell us who the publication is for in terms of the audience. The same principle applies for video and moving image works.
• If your project involves an international research trip, make a strong argument for why this is necessary.
• Applicants applying for film, television or documentary should seek funding from Screen Australia or the relevant screen or film funding agency in their state or territory.  If you believe your project sits within a visual arts context, explain your reasoning.
• Consider asking other people to read your application before submitting it, preferably individuals who are not directly involved in your project.
• Please contact Artists Services to discuss a future application to Creative Australia.  

Budget 

• Break down budget items and tell us specifically what Creative Australia funding will cover. Ask for the amount you need to deliver your project successfully.
• If a figure in your budget is based on a quote, make sure to provide that information in the description fields provided.
• Pay all artists and consultants, including yourself, appropriately. Demonstrate best practice by paying at, or above, industry standard rates and include superannuation. Applications with no artist fees and superannuation or exclusively involve volunteer labour, will be less competitive. Don’t list wages or fees as in-kind support. If individuals are paid at different rates, explain why in the budget notes.
• Clearly explain the role of any organisations you are partnering with and outline the support and financial contribution they are bringing to the project.
• Financial and in-kind contributions should be reflected in support letters from your partners. In-kind support means goods or services provided free or at a discount. This could include travel, equipment, or other non-cash support.  

Support material 

• Carefully curate your artistic support material to ensure that assessors have the best and most relevant examples of your work. When supplying images of your work, include them all in one PowerPoint or pdf file.  
• Where relevant, include examples of work from any collaborators and participating artists in your artistic support material.
• Do not supply excess support material. Take careful note of the maximums stated in the published guidelines.
• Ensure your support letters are relevant and up to date.