Australia Council updates sector on current and future funding opportunities

AAR-FundingThe Australia Council for the Arts has announced details of its current and future investment opportunities for individuals and organisations.

In a statement released this week, the Australia Council said: “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,” said the Australia Council.

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

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 these opportunities 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. Further information and dates for strategic international funding opportunities will be announced in late 2020 alongside a new suite of Sector Recovery initiatives.

Resilience Fund update:
While the 2020 Resilience Fund has now closed, due to extremely high numbers of applications the assessment and notification will continue into the coming months. Visit the 2020 Resilience Fund page for revised notification timelines.

For more information about Australia Council programs, visit: www.australiacouncil.gov.au for details.