Search Grants & Funding

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 – $250,000

Development investment supports the creative development and testing of ambitious works of scale that will tell distinctly Australian stories.  

Projects in this stream must have a clear pathway towards a future public presentation for Australian audiences. They may also seek to reach international audiences. Applicants should show how they will develop the partnerships, resources and investment needed to support that future outcome.  

The aim of Development investment is to help works reach proof-of-concept stage and enable them to secure further investment, co-producing partners and presenting partners.  

Delivery: investments between $250,000 – $1,500,000

Delivery investment supports the presentation of new works, or the significant re-development and presentation of existing works to reach a new level of ambition and impact.  

Projects in this stream must be ready to deliver public outcomes, with the creative, production and presentation aspects of the work all well developed. 

Projects in this stream should use the checklists below to determine whether your project is a good fit for the Creative Futures Fund, and which stream is most appropriate. 

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 supports emerging, breakthrough and established acts and is available for Australian citizens or permanent residents who are practising contemporary music artists. This includes solo artists, instrumentalists, bands, ensembles, electronic artists, producers, songwriters and composers. 

The International Professional and Artistic Development fund (Category 2) supports 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 supports emerging, breakthrough and established acts and is available for Australian citizens or permanent residents who are practising contemporary music artists. This includes solo artists, instrumentalists, bands, ensembles, electronic artists, producers, songwriters and composers. 

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

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 supports emerging, breakthrough and established acts and is available for Australian citizens or permanent residents who are practising contemporary music artists. This includes solo artists, instrumentalists, bands, ensembles, 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. 

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.

Eligibility

You can only submit one application from your organisation’s account to each closing date for Arts Projects for Organisations.

Only organisations may apply to this category.

Organisations that provide a service to the arts may apply.

International organisations can apply for projects that benefit practicing Australian artists, their work or Australian audiences.

Applications for funding to the First Nations panel must come from First Nations led organisations, with more than half (51%) or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait membership of its governance board.

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.

You can only submit one application to each closing date for Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups.

Only individuals and groups may apply to this category. You 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 Australian First Nations individuals or groups only.

Only Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people or groups led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can submit applications to the First Nations panel.  

If you apply as a group to the First Nations panel, all members of the group must be First Nations people.  

If you are applying to the First Nations Panel on behalf of a First Nations person or group, the application should, where possible, be made in their name. As this panel only supports First Nations people or groups, if you are considering applying on behalf of a First Nations person or people you must contact Artists Services to discuss the application before applying. 

Funding is for a range of activities, for example:

• professional skills development, including mentoring and residencies
• the creation of new work
• practice based research
• creative development
• experimentation
• collaborations and exchanges
• touring
• festivals
• productions
• exhibitions
• performances
• publishing
• recording
• promotion and marketing
• market development activity
• activities that creatively engage communities.

Activities can take place nationally, internationally, online, or in a combination of in-person and online.

The First Nations Arts and d/Deaf and/or Disabilities Project Fund supports projects and professional development opportunities across all art forms, nationally and internationally.  

It is 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
• Australian First Nations organisations. 

Eligibility

Individuals/Groups must: 

• Identify as First Nations 
• Identify as d/Deaf and/or with disability
• Be 18+ years
• Be based in Australia. 

Organisations must: 

• Identify as Australian First Nations organisations:
  • at least 51% First Nations on the board 
  • be known as a First Nations organisation that provides programs for First Nations communities.
• Demonstrate a history of working with and supporting Australian artists and/or arts workers who identify as:
  • First Nations who are d/Deaf and/or with disability
  • be based in Australia. 

Applications must have: 

• eligible funding amount requested ($5,000 - $10,000)
• eligible project’s start date is on or after 1 February 2027, and the end date must be completed within 2 years of your starting date. 

Four Year Investment for Organisations provides multi-year investment for arts and cultural organisations. This enables organisations to plan with longer-term certainty and increase their capacity to leverage other investment, support and collaborations.

The application process for Four Year Investment requires a pre-application to determine an organisation’s eligibility to apply to the category. If your organisation meets the criteria, your pre-application will be confirmed, and you will be eligible to make an application.

Your organisation must demonstrate a high degree of artistic achievement, along with a compelling four year vision for the 2029–32 period. To be competitive, your organisation will also need to show that it is well governed, effectively managed, and generates diverse income streams.

It is the intention of this category to invest in organisations that are part of the small to medium arts and cultural sector. Large, well-resourced organisations or institutions seeking investment in multi-year arts programs may not be a priority for investment in this category.

Investment for approved organisations will support programs of activity from 1 January 2029 to 31 December 2032.

The minimum eligible grant request for this category is $100,000 per year, over the four year investment period ($400,000 in total). The maximum eligible grant request is $550,000 per year over the four year investment period ($2,200,000 in total). Creative Australia will advise what level of investment your organisation may apply for.

Playing Australia Project Investment supports organisations to undertake performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia.

The program supports costs associated with touring to regional and remote areas of Australia. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested. Touring activity must be confirmed prior to seeking investment through this category.

Who can apply

Legally constituted organisations only may apply.

What you can apply for

You may apply for any costs necessary for the completion of a successful regional tour with a confirmed itinerary.

Creative Australia acknowledges that flexibility is required when touring and supports a variety of touring models. Applicants may seek investment for alternative touring models that:

• propose activity such as residency models with live performance outcomes or concept touring
• present a tour that includes significant and targeted community engagement
• present an annual touring program for single or multiple works
• propose a digital tour.

You can apply for support towards:

• a tour that has a confirmed itinerary
• payment of fees and salaries for artists and touring party
• costs associated with remounting or rehearsing a work
• production costs associated with touring the work or delivering the activity
• touring costs including freight, transport, accommodation and travel allowances
• tour co-ordination
• costs associated with reducing the environmental impact of your tour
• costs associated with supporting the wellbeing of the touring company.

2026 Closing Dates

• Tuesday 3 March 2026
• Tuesday 2 June 2026
• Tuesday 13 October 2026

Playing Australia Project Investment supports organisations to undertake performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia.

The program supports costs associated with touring to regional and remote areas of Australia. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested. Touring activity must be confirmed prior to seeking investment through this category.

Who can apply

Legally constituted organisations only may apply.

What you can apply for

You may apply for any costs necessary for the completion of a successful regional tour with a confirmed itinerary.

Creative Australia acknowledges that flexibility is required when touring and supports a variety of touring models. Applicants may seek investment for alternative touring models that:

• propose activity such as residency models with live performance outcomes or concept touring
• present a tour that includes significant and targeted community engagement
• present an annual touring program for single or multiple works
• propose a digital tour.

You can apply for support towards:

• a tour that has a confirmed itinerary
• payment of fees and salaries for artists and touring party
• costs associated with remounting or rehearsing a work
• production costs associated with touring the work or delivering the activity
• touring costs including freight, transport, accommodation and travel allowances
• tour co-ordination
• costs associated with reducing the environmental impact of your tour
• costs associated with supporting the wellbeing of the touring company.

2026 Closing Dates

• Tuesday 3 March 2026
• Tuesday 2 June 2026
• Tuesday 13 October 2026

The Contemporary Music Touring Program (CMTP) supports national touring activity undertaken by Australian musicians performing original Australian contemporary music.

The tour must comprise of 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.

Grants are available from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the number of tour venues or locations in regional or remote areas.

Who can apply

You may submit a maximum of two applications to each round of CMTP.

You may apply as an individual, on behalf of a group, or as an organisation, to tour live music performances within Australia.

Touring musicians must be performing original Australian contemporary music. Funding can be provided to performers, managers, agents, and music networks on behalf of professionals working in the Australian music industry. Applications must contain one tour only.

The Contemporary Music Touring Program (CMTP) supports national touring activity undertaken by Australian musicians performing original Australian contemporary music.

The tour must comprise of 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.

Grants are available from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the number of tour venues or locations in regional or remote areas.

Who can apply

You may submit a maximum of two applications to each round of CMTP.

You may apply as an individual, on behalf of a group, or as an organisation, to tour live music performances within Australia.

Touring musicians must be performing original Australian contemporary music. Funding can be provided to performers, managers, agents, and music networks on behalf of professionals working in the Australian music industry. Applications must contain one tour only.