Latest opportunities

The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund supports Australian creative writers and visual artists with grants to create new work.

Create Grants provide a living allowance for writers and visual artists at key stages of their career.

• Creative writers 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 can apply to create new work for their fourth exhibition.

AMOUNT OF GRANT 

• $20,000
• Up to five grants will be awarded in 2025
• Projects should start after 1 August 2025

Fore more information, go to the Copyright Agency website.

The Ian Potter Cultural Trust runs funding rounds through which individual artists can apply for grants of up to $15,000.

The Trust funds nationally and supports artists working across the spectrum of the arts, from traditional art forms through to experimental mediums.

Fore more information and criteria, visit their website.

Circus Oz is running another two-week workshop in ensemble work, speciality skills, and performance. There is no cost involved, and during these weeks you’ll have access to the Circus Oz Training Space, with training in a variety of disciplines. Spaces are limited. EOIs close 12 January 2025.

To submit your expression of interest, go to the form online here.

Performing Lines are inviting applications from Victorian based circus and physical theatre makers for a residency to be held in regional Victoria from 11-13 April 2025. 

The residency is for makers who have a new idea for a performance work that they would like to develop with support from leading Australian artists and covers travel, accommodation, catering and a stipend of $500 per artist or collaborative team.

There are 12 places available. Applications are open to:  

• Emerging, mid-career or senior artists 

• Individuals OR collaborators (maximum 2 per group) working on a single concept.

Applications close 31 January 2025.

To apply or view the application form, go to the Performing Lines website.

This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities.

Grants are available from $10,000 to $50,000. Supported activities must not last longer than two years from the proposed start date.

Applications close 4 March 2025.

For more information, visit the Creative Australia website.

This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities. Organisations that undertake arts programs, projects, or that provide services to artists, are welcome to apply.

Organisations can propose a single project, a suite of projects or an annual program of activity.

Grants are available from $20,000 to $100,000. Supported activities must last no longer than two years from the proposed start date.

Applications close 4 March 2025.

For more information, visit the Creative Australia website.

The Centre for Projection Art’s Artist in Residence program provides selected artists with resources and support to explore projection in their contemporary art practice.

A mentor is paired with the artist for the duration of the program,  they are encouraged to explore, experiment and work responsively to grow their concepts in new directions.

Applications close 10 January 2025.

More details are available at this link.

Get inspired in 2025!

Writers Victoria have announced the first of three program launches they have planned for 2025. New events and courses will be added throughout the year.

From January to mid-May, their program offers the inspiration and opportunity you’re looking for to commit to writing in 2025 and progress your writing projects. WV have new tutors ready to guide you and you’ll also spot some familiar names you may not have seen for a while.

For more information and to register, visit their website.

2025 marks the five-year anniversary of the Lethbridge Landscape Prize, and to celebrate, we are excited to increase the prize money to $30,000.

This award invites all artistic interpretations of the Australian landscape—from the conventional to the unusual, and from the monumental to the intricate. The definition of ‘landscape’ has been extended to include urbanscapes and interiors, encouraging artists to explore diverse environments. All mediums are welcome, including digital and video.

New for 2025, we are also introducing a Residency Award, which offers a 5-week residency program, including accommodation, a $2000 stipend, mentorship, and more.

Entries close 7 March 2025.

For more information and to enter, visit their website.

This nationally acclaimed biennial acquisitive award and exhibition celebrates the diversity and strength of Australian textile art. Building on Wangaratta’s long and prominent history of textile manufacturing, and craft making, the Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award furthers this unique tradition and social history by elevating and promoting the development of contemporary textile practice in Australia.

Thanks to the generous investment of partners, the Kyamba Foundation, the award has grown from $10,000 t0 $40,000 in 2023, its eighth iteration. The increase in prize money guarantees that Wangaratta remains known as the textile art capital of Australia and that the award continues as a coveted national contemporary textile award of excellence. Wangaratta Art Gallery remains grateful to the Kyamba Foundation for their support which will ensure the award’s continued success and national profile.

Entries close 7 March 2025.

For more information and to enter, visit their website.

Quadrant Gallery is pleased to announce the third annual feel good ART PRIZE and invites artists to submit a “feel-good” small artwork sizing no bigger than 20x20x20cm including frame or base. We believe small artworks, can have a big impact on elevating spaces and lives.

A non-acquisitive prize of $5,000.00
The Directors Award- A non-acquisitive art store voucher of $250.00.

Entries close 17 January 2025. A $50 entry fee applies.

Enter online at this link.

The Games Production Fund provides grants of up to $100,000 to support the development of original Australian independent games, with budgets of up to $500,000 at the time of applying, to take the game to a significant milestone of its development.

The Fund is aimed at projects that already have an early-stage prototype. Applicants must contextualise the milestone they are working towards and how this funding will help them achieve it in their applications.

Applications open 17 December 2024 and close 17 February 2025.

For more information visit the Screen Australia website.

The Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize is an annual acquisitive prize that was launched in 2017 to advance art and opportunity for emerging and established women artists in Australia. It is the highest value professional artist prize for women in Australia.

There are three prize categories – the Professional Artist Prize of $35,000, the Emerging Artist Prize of $5,000 and the Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize of $5,000.

There is also a People’s Choice Award of $2,000 plus an art pack valued at $500.

Artists are asked to enter an artwork that best reflects their art practice – there is no theme.

Applications for 2025 are now open and close 5 March 2025.

For more information, visit the website

The Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) and Deakin University (DU) are pleased to present 2024-25 Local Word Poetry Prize. This is the second time this prize has been offered.

Entries open at 9.00am on Monday 1 April, 2024 and close at 5.00pm, Monday 1 July, 2024.
Please note, the submission period has been extended until 5.00pm, Monday 20 January, 2025

Entries of up to 75 lines are welcome from emerging and established writers in poetry.
Please note, only one entry permitted per person.

The winner of the prize will receive:

● A prize of $2000*
● A one-hour mentoring session with a DU writing practitioner.
● Publication on GRLC’s website and announcement in GRLC’s e-newsletter

Commended writers will receive:
● A prize of $250*
● Publication on GRLC’s website and announcement in GRLC’s e-newsletter

For more information, visit GRLC’s website.

Chamber Made is now calling for applications for our 2025 Orange House by the Sea Artist Residency program for mid-career* artists who are working at the intersections of performance, sound and music. The residency is open to artists who identify as cis or trans women, trans men, non-binary or gender-non-conforming.**

We welcome applications from artists of all backgrounds, and encourage First Nations artists, artists from diverse backgrounds and artists with disabilities to apply.

Applications close Friday 24 January 2025 at 11.59 p.m. AEDT.

What

• Three weeks accommodation
• $3,000 stipend (an additional contribution towards child care is available if required)
• Access to an industry mentor
• There is no public performance outcome associated with the residency
• You will be required to submit a report of progress / findings to Chamber Made (and as 2025 is in partnership with RMIT there may also be an informal event with RMIT to share some of your experience)

When

The residency takes place between 7 July and 27 July 2025. Please note that the artist fee is a set amount.

For more information, go to the website

The Ian Potter Cultural Trust runs funding rounds through which individual artists can apply for grants of up to $15,000.

The Trust funds nationally and supports artists working across the spectrum of the arts, from traditional art forms through to experimental mediums.

Before starting an application for an Emerging Artist Grant, please carefully review the information on this page to ensure you are eligible, your development opportunity meets the funding criteria, and you understand the application process.

Applications close 14 January 2025.

For more details, visit the Ian Potter website

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards opened for entries on Tuesday 3 December.

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards are the richest literary prize in the nation, with a tax-free prize pool of $600,000 in recognition of the outstanding literary talents of established and emerging Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians.  

Awards are presented in six categories: fiction, non-fiction, young adult literature, children’s literature, poetry and Australian history. Up to $100,000 will be awarded in each category—$80,000 for the winning entry and $5,000 each for a maximum of four shortlisted entries. All prizes are tax-free.  

Works may be entered by publishers, literary agents, authors, or, in the case of the Australian History category only, producers or broadcasters. The person submitting the entry must ensure that the author or producer’s consent is obtained before entering the work.  

Nominations close 4 February 2025.

There is no entry fee for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.  

For more details, visit the Creative Australia website

Since 1958, the Muswellbrook Art Prize has grown and evolved and is today one of the richest prizes for painting in regional Australia. Finalists for the Muswellbrook Art Prize vie for a total of $70,000 prize money across three prize categories: Painting ($50,000 acquisitive), Works on Paper ($10,000 acquisitive), and Ceramics ($10,000 acquisitive).

Key dates:

• Entries Open – 11 November 2024
• Entries Close – midnight 7 February 2025
• Finalists Announced – 21 February 2025
• Exhibition Launch Event and Announcement of Winners – 29 March 2025
• Exhibition Dates – 27 March – 24 May 2025

For more information visit the website.

The program funds First Peoples, multicultural and multifaith community organisations and groups to deliver community-led responses to racism.

It forms part of the Victorian Government’s vision for a more inclusive state under the Victorian anti-racism strategy 2024-29.

There are four key objectives:

• increase broader community understanding and awareness of racism, its impact and the importance of anti-racist behaviour and practices at the local level
• promote awareness and understanding of First Peoples’ history and culture, and the historic and ongoing impacts of colonisation
• support local communities and community organisations to build their capacity to respond to racism and support affected individuals
• improve community reporting of racist incidents and understanding of people’s rights.

Funding will be shared across two streams:

• Up to $150,000 for First Peoples-led or community-controlled organisation local anti-racism initiatives
• Up to $150,000 for multicultural and multifaith community organisation local anti-racism initiatives

Applications close 6 February 2025.

For more information, go to the website.

The ASEAN-Australia Centre (‘the Centre’) welcomes applications in line with the Centre’s objectives and strategic pillars in the following priority areas:

1. Creative industry exchange initiatives to facilitate further collaboration between creative talent in Australia and Southeast Asia.
2. Cultural initiatives focused on creating market development opportunities to drive two-way trade, tourism, and business, and create cross-cultural connections between Australian and Southeast Asian institutions and organisations.
3. Grants for Australian researchers or institutions to undertake projects focused on practical efforts to strengthen Southeast Asia literacy in Australian business, government, the education and training system, and the community. Projects with a commercialisation objective and/or with industry partner involvement will be favourably considered. Joint projects with Southeast Asian partners may also be considered.

Grants between $50K and $200K available.

Closing 10 January 2025.

For more information, go to the website.

Surf Coast Shire Council is committed to fostering an environment where people with clever and creative ideas can make a difference. We want the Surf Coast Shire to be a place to nurture, acknowledge and promote innovation, the creative arts and industries.

Our DEVELOP Artists and Creatives Fund supports creatives to explore new directions, ideas and concepts to advance their practice and/or their careers.

With these grants, Council recognises that new creative output does not occur without considerable time, research, development and effort.

Applications re-open 1 February 2025.

For more information go to their website.

& Gallery Australia is excited to announce the launch of a prestigious new art prize, designed significantly to impact the artist’s career. Sixty artists from across Australia will be showcased over a two month exhibition, enriched with a series of artist talks, forums and events.

We are thrilled to announce that Ugochukwu – Smooth Nzewi – Artist & Curator of Painting and Sculpture from MoMA – Museum of Modern Art in New York will be the judge of The Sorrento Art Prize.

Artists submissions close 31 January 2025. Early entries recommended.

For more information and for submissions, visit the website.

Entries close midnight Monday 10 February 2025
Winner receives $25,000
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The Galah Regional Photography Prize has been created to encourage excellence in contemporary photography from regional Australia. The intention of the Prize is to celebrate, support and advance the practice of regional photographers.
‍
If you are an Australian photographer living outside of the major capital cities, this prize is for you.

For more information and to enter, go to the Galah website.

Geelong Design Week kicked off last week and the program is now available.

Highlights include Back to Back Theatre’s Light Letters project in North Geelong, the South Geelong Station re-created in Lego, regenerative fashion pop-up Circle of Thread and beach cleanup x adornment workshop Designing with the Discarded.

Check out the program at the Geelong Design Week website.

The Artists’ Benevolent Fund makes funds available for visual arts practice recovery after disaster or emergency.

The Artists’ Benevolent Fund hopes to provide modest but useful one-off financial artistic practice assistance to Australian visual artists in crisis as a result of fire, flood, storm, serious illness, major accident, declared state or national emergencies, or some other unexpected catastrophic experience.

It is not intended that the Fund should be used as a means of coping with current financial needs, to pay outstanding debts or to fund a project. Rather, the aim of the fund is to support artists to pay living costs, studio costs, medical costs, or disaster recovery/repair costs, in order that artists may regain capacity to practice art.

For more information, visit the NAVA website.

The Queer Screen Completion Fund was established to provide support to Australian LGBTIQ+ filmmakers and storytellers whose work is consistent with the vision and mission of Queer Screen. It brings much-needed financial assistance to worthy LGBTIQ+ screen projects.

Queer Screen strives to support LGBTIQ+ filmmakers through grants, awards and programs. Queer filmmakers reflect the diversity of our communities and tell stories that directly reflect our lives and struggles.

Round 11 will award up to $10,000 and is accepting applications until Sunday 8 December, 2024 for non-members of Queer Screen and Sunday 15 December, 2024 for Queer Screen Members.

For more information visit the website.

Providing support to a young writer or editor (under 30 years) of an underrepresented gender.

The Kat Muscat Fellowship offers professional development up to the value of $5,000 in 2025. These funds may be used towards professional development opportunities, including, but not limited to: mentoring, residencies, interstate travel, or project fees.

A proposed budget must be submitted as part of the application process, and the final budget will be developed in consultation with Express Media.

Applications close 2 February 2025.

For more information, visit the website.

The annual Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition calls on photographers from around the world to celebrate the fauna, flora and natural formations of the Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and the New Guinea region. Submitted entries capture incredible moments in time, bearing witness to the unique beauty of the world around us.

The competition, owned and produced by the South Australian Museum, results in a stunning collection of images that provoke us to explore and understand the changing nature of our environment and appreciate the wonder that surrounds us while enriching our knowledge of this extraordinary region.

Entries in the 2025 competition are open until 5:00pm (ACDT) on Thursday 6 February 2025. Winners will be announced on Thursday 28 August 2025.

For more information visit the website

The Marten Bequest Scholarships offer talented young artists the chance to explore, study and develop their artistic gifts through travelling either interstate and/or overseas

In 2025, the scholarships will provide financial support for the disciplines of architecture, ballet, prose, sculpture and singing.

In 2026, the scholarships will provide financial support for the disciplines of acting, instrumental music, painting and poetry.

Scholarships are each worth $50,000, payable in quarterly instalments over two years.

Applications close 4 February

Visit the Creative Australia website for more details

The Kathleen Mitchell Award is presented biennially to the author, aged 30 or under, of an outstanding novel or novella to encourage advancement in their literary career. The novel or novella must have been published or accepted for publication within the 2 years prior to the Award closing date. This can be demonstrated by the providing an ISBN or letter of confirmation from the publisher as part of your entry.

The recipient will receive $15,000.

For the Kathleen Mitchell Award you may submit one entry only.

Closing 4 February 2025.

For more information, visit the Creative Australia website

The Dal Stivens Award is presented biennially to an author, aged 30 or under, for a short story or essay of the highest literary merit. Your short story or essay must have been published or accepted for publication within the 12 months prior to the Award closing date, with proof of publication supplied in your support material.

Self-published works will not be accepted.

The recipient will receive $15,000. You may submit up to two entries.

Closing 4 February 2025.

For more information, visit the Creative Australia website

The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline is a free phone counselling service for anyone working in Australian music or the creative industries, easily accessed by calling 1800 959 500.

The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline is delivered in partnership with AccessEAP, a leading profit for purpose Employee Assistance Program provider with over 30 years experience in mental health and workplace wellbeing.

It’s staffed by experienced counsellors that can help with a range of issues, from mental health and wellbeing to career concerns, financial management and conflict resolution. The Helpline offers 12 free counselling sessions per person and appointments can generally be made to suit your needs.

Our last two Changemakers events are now available for viewing on our Youtube channel.

Changemakers – Better together part 2: Collaborating in the all-abilities space – this conversation featured regionally-based contemporary artists who are working collaboratively in the all-abilities space. Our panel features artists whose work explores inclusion through collaborative projects, performance and practice development and we discuss what this means for visibility. Guests: Samara Cunningham, Emily Ardley ((It’s No) Drama); Jess Lesosky, independent choreographer, dancer and movement artist; Leisa Shelton, performance artist and creator of Artist as Carer project; Sharon Bromley (Art Gusto Geelong)

View our all-abilities collaboration conversation here.

Changemakers – Placemaking: How creatives build identity, belonging and connection – in October, we visited Apollo Bay to meet Josephine Jakobi and Andrea Lane, two of the founders of FLOAT 3909 – an inspiring group of creatives from East Gippsland who are changing the way art and creativity is perceived and engaged with by the broader community. Recognising that artists are unique storytellers and are able to highlight the value of the smaller corners of a community, its people and natural environment (and that this value is beyond monetary), FLOAT have developed an ever-evolving model that sits between art project and unique social enterprise. Come and hear how FLOAT is melding disparate pursuits like fruit bottling, an artist’s residency, alternative education and storytelling to benefit an entire community and inspire new ways of thinking about community development, economies and tourism.

View the Placemaking conversation here.

The Showcase Victoria circus and physical theatre (CaPT) Initiative will build capacity, skills, and experience in the touring and presentation of CaPT work across the Victorian market. Through directly subsidising presenter-venues to program Victorian CaPT works from Showcase Victoria across 2024 and 2025, this project will result in a substantially increased number of performances in venues across the state, growing new audiences and building confidence amongst producers and presenters.

VAPAC and RAV work closely on the programming and delivery of Showcase Victoria each year. Collectively, the organisations venue members reach across professional and community-led contexts, with geographic coverage across the entire state.  VAPAC and RAV will collaborate on the assessment of works for inclusion in Showcase Victoria 2024 and 2025, and on the delivery of funding opportunities as part of this initiative.

November – Understanding Community Engaged Practice

Researching into the essence of community engagement is crucial for artists seeking alignment with their intended audience. In this session, we will explore the multifaceted nature of community-engaged practice, delving into two pivotal aspects:

1. Strategic Venue Investments: Discover how venues can strategically allocate resources where they can make the most significant impact within their community.
2. Artistic Design: Move beyond traditional workshop offerings as we explore innovative approaches artists can adopt to authentically connect with their audience.

Join us for a discussion featuring:

• Insights into successful initiatives and impactful strategies.
• Exemplary case studies and best practices sourced from industry networks

Through this session, gain a deeper understanding of the symbiotic relationship between artists, venues and communities, paving the way for meaningful and sustainable artistic endeavours.

Planning is underway for Craft Lab 25 and the team are keen to hear from craft artisans and practitioners who are interested in being part of next year’s event.

Craft Lab is a professional development program that offers selected participants the opportunity to receive mentoring and training, as well as the opportunity to demonstrate their work to thousands of people across two weekends 16 to18 & 24 to 25 May 2025.

Expressions of Interest are now being accepted from craft practitioners that live, work and/or study in the Ballarat region. Applications close 25 November.

Apply now for Craft Lab

Craft Lab Info Session

Find out more about the Craft Lab before applying by attending one of the Information Sessions on offer. Hear from Curator Angela D’Alton and previous exhibitors about their experience. RSVP via this link.

A full day of considering creative practice and re-calibration.

Considering Practice is a focused investigation into the core principles, values and intentions that underpin our independent arts practice.

This workshop is open to artists of all backgrounds and core skill bases, from performance to management, installation to writing – all artists seeking greater clarity in their practice and interested in considering structures and strategies to re-define their current projects toward stronger, more resilient future outcomes.

The aim of this workshop is to take time and make space for reflection through led structures of enquiry, to gain clearer insight into the potential and next stages of each individual’s practice.

Across a series of led processes we will investigate:

• Processes of problem solving and project development through the articulation of values and intentions.
• Development of key collaborative relationships – our roles within projects and those that will be sourced via others to create sustainable collaborations and networks.
• The roles we fulfill and the roles that fulfill us.
• Strategies for building resilient communities of practice.

Saturday 7^th December 2024. 10am – 5pm. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided.

Where: Platform Arts Geelong, Wadawurrung Country 60 Little Malop Street Geelong

Cost: $75 (subsidised)

Travel stipends available to cover travel over 2.5 hours round trip upon request.

For enquiries, please email sbobele@rav.net.au.

To register, book here.

Grad FOTO 2024 celebrates the creative excellence of graduating students and is open to emerging contemporary artists from selected institutions in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand whose artistic practice includes photography.

Entry is free for all applicants and entries close on Sunday 17 November 2024, 11:59 PM AEDT.

Up to 20 finalists will be shortlisted and have their work exhibited online in the GradFoto 2024 exhibition.

A judge will award one cash prize of AUD $1,000 to the overall winner. Another finalist will be awarded one cash prize of AUD $500 for the People’s Choice Award, as voted by the public throughout the GradFoto 2024 exhibition.

Grad FOTO 2024 offers:

• Inclusion in the GradFoto 2024 online exhibition for finalists
• Exposure to leading artists, curators and directors for finalists
• Cash prize of AUD $1,000 for GradFoto 2024 winner, and
• Cash prize of AUD $500 for the People’s Choice Award winner

Enter now via this link

Calling all community groups and organisations!

Are you looking to collaborate on a major event for adult audiences in 2025? We’re excited to announce that we are accepting expressions of interest for partnership events.

EOIs are open from 1 October to 30 November 2024, for events to be scheduled between March and November 2025.

If you have an exciting idea to bring to life, the Geelong Regional Libraries would love to hear from you.

Lodge your EOI at this link.