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ACF Boost is a matched funding program designed to enable independent artists and small groups or arts organisations using the Australia Cultural Fund (ACF) to leverage private sector support through a matched funding ‘boost’. 

ACF Boost offers dollar-for-dollar matched funding of up to $5,000 for applicants that run a fundraising campaign on the ACF platform between 2 February and 30 April 2026.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the ACF’s registration criteria: 

• Engaged in the promotion and presentation of arts and cultural activities
• Use a grant from Creative Australia within Australia or for the benefit of Australia. 

In addition, applicants must: 

• be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident
• be aged 18 years or over
• have an ABN and be prepared to receive project funds, or have an agreement in place with an auspicing body
• be prepared to run a fundraising campaign between 2 February and 30 April 2026. 

The Music Australia Export Development Fund is a bold partnership between the Australian Government and the Australian music industry – a matched funding initiative, designed to provide financial support to a diverse range of Australian artists.   

The program has been developed to support emerging, breakthrough and established acts and is made available to Australian citizens or permanent residents who are current practising music professionals. This includes solo artists, instrumentalists, bands, ensembles, electronic artists, producers, songwriters and composers. 

The International Performance and Touring fund (Category 1) is designed to support international touring and showcase activity, with matched funding of $5,000 to $75,000.

The Music Australia Export Development Fund forms a bold partnership between the Australian Government and the Australian music industry – a matched funding initiative, designed to provide financial support to a diverse range of Australian artists at distinct phases of their international careers. 

The program has been developed to support emerging, breakthrough and established acts and is made available to Australian citizens or permanent residents who are current practicing music professionals. This includes solo artists, instrumentalists, bands, ensembles, DJ/producers and electronic artists, producers, songwriters and composers.

The International Professional and Artistic Development fund (Category 2) is designed to support international professional development activity with matched funding of $3,000 to $15,000.

The Music Australia Export Development Fund is a bold partnership between the Australian Government and the Australian music industry – a matched funding initiative, designed to provide financial support to a diverse range of Australian artists.   

The program has been developed to support emerging, breakthrough and established acts and is made available to Australian citizens or permanent residents who are current practising music professionals. This includes solo artists, instrumentalists, bands, ensembles, DJ/producers and electronic artists, producers, songwriters and composers. 

The International Market and Audience Development fund (Category 3) is designed to support activity that includes international promotional and content creation activities with matched funding of $2,000 to $10,000.

The Digital Specialist in Residence - for First Nations Organisations program provides First Nations arts and culture organisations with fourteen (14) weeks' access to a digital specialist who will assist in the development of the organisation’s Digital Capacity Strategy. 

The digital specialist will collaborate with the organisation in four phases: 

1. Assess: the specialist will guide you through a process to identify the organisation’s current digital capacity
2. Vision: a process of vision and investigation to identify digital challenges and opportunities for your organisation
3. Development: development of a digital project tailored to the value, people and context of the organisation
4. Pilot & Refine: launch project, evaluate early learnings, present findings. 

Seed Funding 

This program also provides $3,000, seed funding to assist in piloting a new digitally led project. You will work with the digital specialist on your proposed digital project idea during the course of the residency. 

This Fund provides grants from $10,000 to $50,000 to build sustainable business practices and support economic and capacity-building opportunities. The opportunity is open to First Nations individuals and micro-organisations working in any artform and creative business.

Grants can be used to support, professional and workforce development, governance training, capacity building, temporary staffing, marketing, seed funding, building digital capabilities and strategic planning.

This fund should improve business skill, capacity and financial stability to increase opportunity for growth and elevate capabilities.

The First Nations Creative Business Fund is for projects beginning after Tuesday 12 February 2025. Funded activities must last no longer than 12 months from the proposed start date.

This new initiative is part of Creative Australia’s First Nations First industry development programs that outline our commitment to First Nations arts and culture. Creative Australia undertook extensive consultation to seek feedback on priorities and needs of the sector in response to the Australian Government’s shared vision for Australia, Pillar 1, First Nations First – Revive: a place for every story and a story for every place.

The Flourish: First Nations Fashion and Textiles Fund provides grants from $10,000 to $50,000 to build sustainable businesses and support economic, cultural, and social development opportunities. The opportunity is open to First Nations individuals, groups and organisations (including Art Centres) working in the textile design and fashion sector.

Grants can be used to support innovation, production, capacity building, marketing, professional development, seed funding and/or increasing digital visibility.

The aim of the Creative Futures Fund is to invest in the creation and sharing of Australian stories through exceptional creative projects across all artforms that can clearly demonstrate ambition, audience reach and impact.  

Support through this Fund should enable projects to secure other significant partners and financial contributions from a range of sources.   

The Fund invests in projects through two streams, Development Investment and Delivery Investment. Both streams must tell Australian stories, and utilise Intellectual Property that is majority Australian owned.

Development – investments between $150,000 and $250,000 available 

Development investment supports the creation and testing of new ideas and works that utilise Australian intellectual property.  

Projects submitted for this stream must have a clear pathway towards a future public presentation for large Australian and/or international audiences. Applicants will need to articulate how they plan to secure partnerships and resource this future outcome. 

The aim of Development investment is to enable a new work to reach the point of proof of concept and thus be in a strong position to secure further investment, co-producing and / or presenting partners. 

Delivery - Investments between $250,000 and $1,500,000 available 

Delivery investment enables organisations and partners to present their creative projects to large, new and/or diverse audiences.  These projects can include new Australian works as well as projects that may use existing Australian intellectual property in new ways. 

It can include support for final stages of development of the work to reach presentation.  

This program provides a dedicated environment for eight selected participants to expand their creative ideas, collaborate with peers, and strengthen their artistic practice. Activities will include composition, voice coaching, technical skill development, and professional learning opportunities to support long-term career growth.

Program details

• Eight (8) First Nations creatives will be selected for this opportunity.
• The residency is delivered across two stages:

Stage 1: Group Residency

• Location: ANU School of Music, Canberra
• Dates: 16 – 20 February 2026
• Details: A one-week intensive with other First Nations artists, featuring workshops, recording sessions, mentoring, and masterclasses to help you build community, share knowledge, and strengthen your creative practice.

Stage 2: Individual Residency

• Location: ANU School of Music, Canberra
• Details: One week of focused studio and project time with tailored mentoring and technical support.

Please note: You must attend both stages to take part in the program.

What’s provided

Space to Create will provide:

• Travel, accommodation, daily allowances, and local transport.
• A participation fee to support your time and commitment.
• Access to the Yil Lull First Nations Recording Studio, including:
  • Studio control rooms and professional software.
  • Mastering and video editing suites and resources.
  • Technical and production support from Senior Technical Officer.
• Mentoring from respected First Nations music industry professionals.
• Industry masterclasses and creative labs across the School of Music to build skills and networks.

The Young People: First Nations Arts & Culture Project Fund is open to Australian First Nations artists or arts workers between the ages of 18 and 35 to support creative practice and career development, nationally and internationally across all art forms, excluding screen and film projects.  

This opportunity aims to build the capacity of First Nations young people’s skills development, career pathways, marketing, and audience development to maintain and elevate their practice and engagement in the arts and cultural sectors and creative industries. 
 
Grants are available from $10,000 to $20,000.  

The Young People: First Nations Arts & Culture Projects can commence from February 2026 and must be completed within 12 months of the proposed start date.  

You can apply if you are: 

• an Australian First Nations artists or arts and culture workers
• between the ages of 18 and 35 years
• living in Australia.

Please note:  

• You can only submit one application for this grant initiative
• It is preferred that you have an Australian Business Number (ABN), if you do not have an ABN, you can
• create one
• ask someone to administer to auspice the grant on your behalf
• organisation to administer the grant on your behalf.