For many artists and arts workers, commercial income alone is not enough to support their practice, and grants can help to fill this gap. For others, grants can offer a helping hand, a foot in the door, or financial support for projects that might otherwise remain unrealised.
Grants play a critical role in sustaining Australia’s arts industry. Investment from federal, state and philanthropic funding bodies supports the creation of new work, facilitates artistic experimentation, and enables artistic career progression. Funding bodies support Australia’s flourishing arts and cultural sector by helping maintain a skilled workforce that supports diversity, mitigating geographic isolation, and ensuring equity for both emerging and established creatives.
This collection of upcoming arts grants spans most – if not all – disciplines. Whether you’re an artist, writer, musician or multi-disciplinary creative, you’re sure to find something in this list to awaken your muse, direct your focus and get you excited for 2026.
Best arts grants and funding – quick links
The Ian Potter Cultural Trust Emerging Artist Grants – closes 20 January
- Value: Up to $15,000
- Important dates: Closes 5pm AEDT 20 January; with notifications early April
- Eligibility: Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years old by the project start date; be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia; make a reasonable personal financial contribution to their project; classify as an emerging or early-career artist and demonstrate exceptional talent, initiative, and passion for their work
The Ian Potter Cultural Trust supports applicants who can demonstrate initiative, exceptional talent and the ability to realise their ambitions, and the trust primarily funds projects undertaken overseas. This grant supports international residencies, mentorships, masterclasses, private lessons, internships, conferences, workshops and professional development programs that combine multiple opportunities as a single project. Applications will be assessed based on the applicant’s talent and demonstrated commitment to their practice, as well as the project’s relevance, viability, developmental benefit and alignment with the trust’s funding principles. Learn more.
Creative Australia Arts Business: First Nations Development Fund – closes 3 February
- Value: $10,000 to $50,000
- Important dates: Closes 3pm AEDT 3 February; with notifications from late April and projects commencing from June
- Eligibility: Individuals and groups must be First Nations artists, who are sole traders residing in Australia with Australian citizenship or permanent residency; organisations must be First Nations-led small businesses or micro-organisations (with no more than 5 full time staff) based in Australia
The purpose of this Creative Australia grant is to support First Nations individuals, groups and micro-organisations in building sustainable arts and culture business practices through improving skills, capacity and financial stability. Funding can be used for professional and workforce development, governance training, capacity building, marketing, seed funding, strategic planning and building digital capabilities. This initiative is part of Creative Australia’s First Nations First industry development programs, which aim to build on a 50-year legacy of First Nations leadership and investment at Creative Australia. Learn more.
Creative Australia First Nations Project Fund, Storytelling and Recording – closes 9 February
- Value: $10,000 to $50,000 per project
- Important dates: Closes 9 February 2026
- Eligibility: Applicants must be First Nations media organisations or individuals producing arts or cultural content, or working in First Nations storytelling, language recording, or cultural documentation; or First Nations organisations and individuals focused on collaboration, technical training, cultural projects or educational resources
This Creative Australia program supports First Nations media organisations and individuals in creating and sharing culturally significant arts and cultural content. This includes community-based radio and television broadcasting, cultural recordings, community storytelling and technical media training. The initiative amplifies First Nations voices, fosters cultural preservation and broadens audience participation through enhanced media production. Projects must adhere to First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property protocols. Learn more.
Creative Australia Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups – closes 3 March
- Value: $10,000 to $50,000
- Important dates: Closes 3pm AEDT 3 March 2026
- Eligibility: Only individuals and groups may apply; applicants must be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident, and a practicing artist or arts professional (applications for funding to the First Nations panel must come from First Nations individuals or groups only)
This Creative Australia grant offers funding for a range of activities and projects, both national and international, across all arts practices. It funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, accepting applications in First Nations arts and culture; community arts and cultural development; emerging and experimental arts; multi-arts; music; dance; theatre; visual arts; and literature. Eligible activities include the creation of new work; touring; festivals; exhibitions; productions; performances; exhibitions; publishing; recording; promotion; marketing; professional skills development; collaborations; market development; community engagement; and practice based research. Projects must involve or benefit Australian practicing artists or arts professionals, and have a clearly defined arts component. Supported activities must not last longer than two years from the proposed start date. Learn more.
Creative Australia Arts Projects for Organisations – closes 3 March
- Value: $20,000 and $100,000
- Important dates: Closes 3pm AEDT 3 March 2026
- Eligibility: Only organisations may apply, for projects that benefit practicing Australian artists, their work or Australian audiences
This Creative Australia grant supports a range of activities and projects, both national and international, across all arts practices, that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public. Organisations can propose a single project, a suite of projects or an annual program of activity. Supported activities must last no longer than two years from the proposed start date. Learn more.
Creative Australia Contemporary Music Touring Program – closes 3 March
- Value: Up to $50,000
- Important dates: Closes 3pm AEDT 3 March 2026
- Eligibility: Individuals, groups, or organisations can apply to tour live music performances within Australia; touring musicians must be performing original Australian contemporary music and funding can be provided to performers, managers, agents and music networks on behalf of professionals working in the Australian music industry
This Creative Australia program supports national tours by musicians performing original Australian contemporary music. The Contemporary Music Touring Program supports national touring activity undertaken by Australian musicians performing original Australian contemporary music. The tour must comprise performances in at least three venues or locations outside of the performer’s hometown. Tours that include regional and remote destinations, or which assist performers residing in regional and remote areas to tour, are a priority for funding. Learn more.
Creative Australia Playing Australia Project Investment – closes 3 March
- Value: Determined on a case-by-case basis
- Important dates: Closes 3pm AEDT 3 March 2026
- Eligibility: Only legally constituted organisations may apply for works that are produced by an Australian company, or by an artist or collective of artists who are Australian citizens or permanent residents status in Australia; and an eligible work could also include a percentage of international performers as part of an Australian co-production (the content of the work, the writer, composer or choreographer are not required to be Australian)
This Creative Australia program supports all forms of professionally produced live performance. These include, but are not limited to theatre, dance, circus, music, musical theatre and opera performance. Playing Australia tours must include regional or remote locations. Learn more.
Copyright Agency Create Grants – closes 9 March
- Value: $20,000
- Important dates: Closes 1pm AEDT 9 March; with notifications mid-June and projects to commence after 3 August
- Eligibility: Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents and have either published one full-length creative work or had three solo exhibitions in Australia
The Copyright Agency‘s Create Grants provide a living allowance for writers and visual artists at key stages of their career. Creative writers who have published one full-length creative work in Australia can apply to write their second book in the following literary genres: fiction, poetry, children’s literature, young adult literature, picture book illustration, graphic novels, playwriting, literary non-fiction and writing for performance (plays only). Visual artists who have had three solo exhibitions in Australia can apply to create new work. Learn more.
Creative Australia First Nations d/Deaf and/or Disabilities Project Fund – closes 3 April
- Value: $5,000 to $10,000
- Important dates: Open 26 February to 3 April
- Eligibility: Open to Australian First Nations d/Deaf artists and arts workers; Australian First Nations artists and arts workers with disability; Australian First Nations d/Deaf artists and arts workers groups; Australian First Nations artists and arts workers with disability groups; and Australian First Nations organisations
These Creative Australia grants support projects and professional development opportunities across all artforms, nationally and internationally. This initiative is part of Creative Australia’s First Nations First industry development programs in response to extensive community consultation on priorities and needs of the sector. Learn more.
Regional Arts Fund Project Grants – closes 13-17 March
- Value: Up to $30,000
- Important dates: Opens 1-3 February (depending on state) and closes 13-17 March (depending on state)
- Eligibility: Applicants must be an Australian individual, incorporated organisation or local government organisation in a regional or remote location (with ABN); however unincorporated groups can also apply if auspiced by an organisation that meets the above criteria, and those under 18 can apply if auspiced by an adult with ABN (organisations and individuals in metropolitan locations are not eligible to apply unless partnering with a regional organisation or community to deliver a project, in which case the regional organisation or community should submit the application)
Regionally based artists, arts workers and organisations can apply to the Regional Arts Fund for professional development and creative arts projects. Project Grants will fund high-quality arts projects benefitting regional or remote artists, arts workers, audiences and communities. The focus of the project could include any area of creative practice, multiple artforms or cross disciplinary practice. Regional Arts Fund grant funds may be used toward the cost of producing the activity, including (but not limited to) artist fees, travel costs, materials, venue hire, equipment hire, insurance, project administrative costs and disability access costs. Learn more.
Regional Arts Fund Quick Response Grants – rolling deadlines
- Value: Up to $3000 for individuals and $5000 for organisations
- Important dates: Funding rounds open monthly from February to November
- Eligibility: Applicants must be an Australian individual, incorporated organisation or local government organisation in a regional or remote location (with ABN); however unincorporated groups can also apply if auspiced by an organisation that meets the above criteria, and those under 18 can apply if auspiced by an adult with ABN (organisations and individuals in metropolitan locations are not eligible to apply unless partnering with a regional organisation or community to deliver a project, in which case the regional organisation or community should submit the application)
The Regional Arts Fund Quick Response Grants support professional development opportunities and community capacity building for artists and arts workers in regional and remote Australia. Monthly rounds open between February and November to support activities that occur between two and 12 weeks from the closing date of the round. Regional Arts Fund grant funds may be used toward the cost of producing the activity, including (but not limited to) artist fees, travel costs, materials, venue hire, equipment hire, insurance, project administrative costs and disability access costs. Learn more.
Australian Government Festivals Australia – closing date TBC
- Value: Unspecified
- Important dates: Round 22 opens in February, for projects starting from 1 July 2026
- Eligibility: Festival projects must take place in an eligible regional or remote location
The Australian Government provides approximately $1.4 million each financial year through this program. Festivals Australia supports community participation in and access to the arts, and aims to support partnerships and collaboration across the sector. Regional artists, arts workers and organisations can apply for arts and cultural projects that encourage community participation and audience engagement from people living in regional and remote communities in a festival or significant one-off community celebration. Projects can include (but are not limited to) a parade, performance, workshop, installation or exhibition. The aim is to give people the chance to participate in or attend an arts experience at a festival, or a significant one-off community celebration. Festivals Australia will only fund a single project (not a range of unrelated activities) delivered at a festival or significant one-off community celebration in an eligible regional or remote location. Learn more.
