The Australia Council is announcing details of its investment opportunities for individuals and organisations
Although the arts and cultural industries, along with all Australians and communities around the world, have experienced incomparable disruption from the impacts of COVID-19, we have never lost sight of the enormous public value of the arts for all Australians.
It is important that we resume our programs and strive to enable creativity to continue to connect us in recovery and in the future; it will be essential for Australia's recovery. Our creative sector will be indispensable in helping to rebuild communities and our economy to assist navigating Australia's path out of the crisis. We are working at speed to re-open as many suspended programs as possible to contribute to this recovery and roll out new responsive initiatives.
In response to COVID-19 the Australia Council suspended its regular funding opportunities to deliver the Resilience Fund. The Cherish Fund was also launched to address the immediate disruption experienced by the First Nations arts and cultural sector.
The following opportunities will be available for individuals and organisations:
- Arts Projects for Individuals & Groups Arts Projects for Organisations
- Australia Council Fellowships & Awards National Arts & Disability Awards Arts Projects for Individuals & Groups
- Arts Projects for Organisations
- Australia Council Fellowships & Awards
- National Arts & Disability Awards
Applications for these opportunities will open on Friday 10 July and close on Tuesday 1 September. Program guidelines and criteria will be available on Council's website.
Projects that have been previously eligible via the Career Development for Individuals & Groups category will now be eligible for support under the Arts Projects for Individuals & Groups category.
The following opportunities will be available for First Nations individuals, groups and organisations:
- Cherish II
Applications for this opportunity will open Monday 3 August and close on Tuesday 6 October. Program guidelines and criteria will be available on Council's website.
- Dreaming Award for an emerging artist
- Red Ochre Awards for outstanding lifetime achievement
- Workplace Giving Emerging First Nations Career Development Award
Applications for this opportunity will open Tuesday 1 September and close on Tuesday 1 December. Program guidelines and criteria will be available on Council's website.
The following touring and mobility opportunities will be offered:
- Playing Australia
- Contemporary Music Touring Program
Applications for these opportunities will open no later than 15 August and close in October. Program guidelines and criteria will be available on Council's website.
The following opportunity for literary translation will be offered:
- Literature Structural Investment Fund - Translation Fund
Applications for this opportunity will open on 10 July and close on Tuesday 24 November. Program guidelines and criteria will be available on Council's website.
Due to current restrictions on international travel, the Rights & Travel Funds of this strategic initiative for literature have been suspended but may be re-opened if and as restrictions ease.
The following strategic international opportunities will not be immediately available:
- International Arts Strategy Outcomes Fund
- International Residencies Program
- Support to attend international markets and platforms
Artists and organisations seeking funding for international engagement are encouraged to apply to the Grants Program through the project categories in September 2020 and subsequent rounds in 2021.
