Entries open for Arts Activities Funding Program (Australia)

Activities can be across a range of art forms including dance, digital, literature, music, new media, screen, theatre, visual arts, and arts-based festivals. Applications are encouraged from all members of the Canberra community.

Objectives

• Arts Activities funding supports the delivery of activities that meet the three strategies in Canberra: Australia’s Arts Capital – a statement of ambition for the Arts 2021–2026 for Canberra to be recognised as Australia’s arts capital:
  • Create amazing art and culture – everywhere, at any time and for everyone
  • Develop arts, cultural and creative industry, practice, and facilities – supporting creation and culture at all levels, via any path
  • Promote their arts and culture – to attract artists, arts workers, visitors, and investment.

Funding Information

• Arts Activities Funding is available through two categories:
  • Requests from $500 up to $5,000
  • Requests over $5,000 and up to $50,000

Funding Criteria

• Arts Activities funding applications must meet one of the following three strategies:
  • Create amazing art and culture – everywhere, at any time and for everyone. This strategy supports:
    • activities that create new and greater opportunities for creative participation, so that arts, cultural and creative life is visible, accessible, inclusive and reflects Canberra’s diversity; and
    • partnerships and collaborations between artists and creatives and with other sectors to get better outcomes for arts, culture and creative practice.
  • Develop arts, cultural and creative industry, practice, and facilities – supporting creation and culture at all levels, via any path. This strategy supports:
    • artists and creatives to develop and enhance their practice to underpin cultural, social and economic outcomes for Canberra artists, arts workers and the broader community;
    • activities for artists and creatives to develop their skills and practice, at any stage in their career, to build local talent and keep them in the ACT; and
    • activities that encourage innovation, experimentation and cross-sector collaboration that will enhance Canberra’s cultural and creative vibrancy and economic sustainability.
  • Promote their arts and culture – to attract artists and creators, arts workers, visitors and investment. This strategy supports:
    • artists and creatives to reach new audiences and markets;
    • activities that will enable artists and creatives to connect nationally and internationally including through residencies and cultural exchange; and
    • work to be showcased to local, national and international audiences.

Eligible Artforms

• Disciplines may include (but are not limited to):
  • visual arts and crafts;
  • performing arts including circus, comedy, dance, music, theatre;
  • literature including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, illustrated narrative, graphic novels;
  • interdisciplinary including multi-media, arts-based podcasts, digital arts, animation and projection art; and
  • screen, film, video, television and digital games.

Eligible Activities

• Activities may include, but are not limited to:
  • creation of new artworks;
  • production or public presentation of new artworks;
  • artistic or professional skills development;
  • residency or mentoring opportunities;
  • community arts and cultural development;
  • initiatives to enable increased accessibility and inclusivity in the arts; and
  • marketing and promotion of arts activities.

Ineligible Activities

• You cannot apply for activities that are:
  • associated with a course or study at an educational or training institution;
  • part of any assessment at an educational or training institution, including a degree, certificate or PhD course;
  • programs or activities for or by any government agency including the ACT Government;
  • awards, prizes or competitions, or fundraising for any cause or charity;
  • undertaken by a school, involving school children during school hours and/or activities that are a part of the school curriculum, or a part of a before or after school-based care programs;
  • retrospective activities where funding is sought for an activity that has already occurred;
  • any building works, including minor repairs, maintenance, relocation or refurbishment activities;
  • purchase of any office furniture or office equipment;
  • purchase of computer hardware or software for general administration, promotional or communication purposes.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants who reside in Canberra:
  • Individual Canberra residents holding Australian citizenship, permanent resident status, New Zealand Special Category visa or on a temporary Australian visa which expires no less than two years from the date of application.
  • Groups based in Canberra (including unincorporated bodies, partnerships and individuals informally collaborating on an activity). The majority of the members of a group must reside in Canberra.
  • Organisations registered under law (e.g. incorporated association, company limited by guarantee) and registered in Canberra.
• Groups or unincorporated organisations: Groups or unincorporated organisations must nominate one person to take legal and financial responsibility for any funding or be auspiced by an incorporated organisation.
• Applicants not residing in Canberra: For applicants who do not reside in Canberra, an exception can be made where the applicant’s practice is clearly based in Canberra. Applicants must specifically and strongly demonstrate that their practice is primarily based in Canberra and that you consistently promote yourself as a Canberra artist in all your promotional material, website, and CV. Generally, this exception is only available to people living in the immediate Canberra region.

For more information, visit ACT Government.