Visual Arts

Career Development Grants for Individuals and Groups

If you are an individual artist, arts worker or group of artists, this grant can provide support to further develop your skills or improve your capacity to build an enduring career. Grants are available from $5,000 to $25,000. 

The Australia Council offers three grant rounds each year for this category.

In 2019, the grant rounds will close on:

• Tuesday 5 February for projects starting after 1 May 2019. 
• Tuesday 4 June for projects starting after 1 September 2019.
• Tuesday 1 October for projects starting after 1 January 2020.

Each round closes at midnight AEST on the closing date. Technical and administrative support will not be available after 5pm on the closing date.

Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups

Our arts projects program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences:

The Australia Council offers three grant rounds each year for this category.

In 2019, the grant rounds will close on:

• Tuesday 5 February for projects starting after 1 May 2019. 
• Tuesday 4 June for projects starting after 1 September 2019.
• Tuesday 1 October for projects starting after 1 January 2020.

Each round closes at midnight AEST on the closing date. Technical and administrative support will not be available after 5pm on the closing date.

Fellowships

The Australia Council offers one grant round each year for Fellowships. Fellowships will close on Tuesday 4 June 2019.

Each round closes at midnight AEST on the closing date.

Technical and administrative support will not be available after 5pm on the closing date.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application approximately 12 weeks after the closing date.

Australia Council Fellowships support outstanding, established artists’ creative activity for a period of up to two years.

Arts Projects – Organisations

This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences. Only organisations are eligible to apply. Grants are available from $10,000 to $100,000. In 2019, the grant rounds will close on:

• Tuesday 5 February for projects starting after 1 May 2019. 
• Tuesday 4 June for projects starting after 1 September 2019.
• Tuesday 1 October for projects starting after 1 January 2020.

Each round closes at midnight AEST on the closing date. Technical and administrative support will not be available after 5pm on the closing date.

National Arts and Disability Awards 2019-21

The Australia Council National Arts and Disability Awards 2019-21 celebrate the work and achievements of both established and emerging artists, and the significant contribution of artists with disability to the vibrancy of Australian arts. 

The Council’s research has highlighted the importance of profiling, celebrating and acknowledging the achievements of trail blazers and leading lights at all stages of career development. These prestigious national awards are one of the ways we do that.

The Australia Council is now calling for nominations for the 2019 awards. Nominations must be received by midnight (AEST) on Tuesday 1 October 2019.

The Red Ochre Award (Lifetime achievement)

The prestigious Red Ochre Award was established by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board in 1993 to pay tribute to a senior male and a senior female Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person for their outstanding lifetime achievement in the arts and their contribution to the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, both nationally and internationally.

The Red Ochre Award now includes recognition of both an outstanding senior male artist and an outstanding senior female artist. Nominations for senior artists are accepted from arts and community organisations and individuals. Senior artists may not nominate themselves and nominations may only be made for a living artist. Awards will not be given posthumously.

Closing date: 1 October 2019 (AEST 11:59PM)

Australia Council Awards 2020

The Australia Council Awards acknowledge the contribution that Australian artists have made to the arts and cultural life of the nation.

These prestigious national awards recognise outstanding and sustained contributions by Australian artists in music, literature, community arts and cultural development (CACD), emerging and experimental arts (EEA), visual arts, theatre, and dance. They are awarded by the Board of the Australia Council, informed by key industry advisors.

The Australia Council is now calling for nominations for its 2020 awards.

Closing date: 11.59 PM (AEST) Tuesday 1 October 2019

First Nations Emerging Career Development Award

The First Nations Emerging Career Development Award 2019 is a one-off opportunity. It is the result of  Australia Council’s Workplace Giving scheme 2018-19. Through the generous contributions from our staff and board, $10,000 has been raised to help further the career of an emerging First Nations artist or arts worker. 

Nominations close: 9 September 2019

Playing Australia: Regional Performing Arts Touring Fund

The Australia Council offers three grant rounds each year for Playing Australia.

In 2019, the grant rounds will close on:

• Tuesday 5 February for projects starting after 1 May 2019.
• Tuesday 4 June for projects starting after 1 September 2019.
• Tuesday 1 October for projects starting after 1 January 2020.

Each round closes at midnight on the closing date.

Contemporary Music Touring Program

The Contemporary Music Touring Program supports national touring activity undertaken by Australian musicians performing original contemporary music. It provides support of up to $15,000 for tours in Australia that include performances in regional and remote areas.  Up to an additional $15,000 can be requested for remote and very remote touring. In 2019, the grant rounds will close on:

• Tuesday 5 February for projects starting after 1 May 2019.
• Tuesday 1 October for projects starting after 1 January 2020.
  

Each round closes at midnight on the closing date. Technical and administrative support will not be available after 5pm on the closing date.

Four Year Funding for Organisations

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now closed.

The Four Year Funding program provides multi-year funding for arts organisations. This funding will enable organisations delivering an artistic program or services for the arts to plan with longer term certainty, and increase their capacity to leverage other support and collaborations.

Organisations must demonstrate a high degree of artistic achievement, or a high quality of services for the arts, along with a compelling four year vision for the period 2021 - 2024. To be competitive, organisations also need to show they are well governed, effectively managed, and generate diverse income streams.

The Australia Council for the Arts notified Four Year Funding for Organisations EOI applicants via email on Monday 12 August 2019. 

Contemporary Touring Initiative

Applications for this program will close at midnight on Tuesday 5 February 2019, for projects starting after 1 May 2019.

Technical and administrative support will not be available after 5pm on the closing date. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application approximately 12 weeks after the closing date.

International Arts Strategy Outcomes Fund

The International Arts Strategy Outcomes Fund supports opportunities that directly arise from strategic initiatives delivered by the Australia Council in the target international regions under the International Arts Strategy: Europe, North America, North Asia, South and South East Asia. The fund prioritises outcomes that directly involve and benefit Australian artists, for example tours, presentations, exhibitions and translations of Australian work.

TPAM – Performing Arts Meeting in Yokohama

TPAM is one of the most established and influential performing arts platforms in Asia; a space where people from various places in the world who are professionally involved in performing arts get together for exchange through diverse performance and meeting programs that take place under the TPAM umbrella. The focus for the 2020 platform will be on dance in Asia.

Applications close: 3 September 2019

India Literature Exploratory

The Australia Council now invites applications from Australian literature and publishing sector professionals to attend key literature and networking platforms in India in January 2020.  

The Australia Council will lead a gathering of four Australian literature and publishing sector professionals; including publishers, commissioning editors, literary magazine editors, curators of writers’ centres and literature festivals, programmers of words and ideas programs and for the first time writers on a week long research, engagement and networking program in India. 

Applications close: 3 September 2019 

Dhaka Art Summit

Now in its fifth edition, the Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) is a hub for art and architecture in South Asia, held at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Rejecting the traditional biennale format to create a more generative space for art and exchange, DAS’s interdisciplinary programme endeavours to catalyse a rich context for research and artistic production in the future by empowering artists and the public through its exhibition, education, and public programmes.

The Australia Council will lead a cluster of creative collectives and individuals to DAS 2020 from 7 – 15 February 2020.

Applications close: 3 September 2019 

International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Showcase

Applications are now open for support to attend the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Showcase in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 21-25 January 2020. 

The Australia Council’s International Development Manager – North America will work with a delegation of Australians in Philadelphia to build connections with international performing arts professionals, organisations and artists working in children’s theatre/youth arts, and support their capacity to develop partnerships in North America. 

Applications close: 3 September 2019

Visiting International Publishers (VIPs) Program

Applications are now open for participation in the 2020 Visiting International Publishers (VIPs) program, held in conjunction with the Sydney Writers’ Festival from 27 April – 3 May.

The VIPs program strengthens relationships between Australian publishers and agents and their international counterparts, showcases Australia’s literary talent, and promotes the sale of rights to Australian titles in international markets.

Applications close: 31 October 2019

Arts and Disability Mentoring Initiative 2019-21

Applications for the 2019 round are now closed.

The Australia Council for the Arts is offering six grants of $30,000 in each Arts and Disability Mentoring Initiative round. 

If you are an individual artist or arts worker with disability, these grants can provide support to extend your arts practice, networks, skills and ambition.

Applications to this initiative do not count as one of your three permissible applications to the Australia Council Grants Program in a calendar year.