Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund announces funding of $439,840 to 27 Australian organisations for projects in 2024. The grants support projects to benefit creative writers, publishers and visual artists.
In addition to this funding, the Cultural Fund will support nine national Australian writers’ festivals held in 2024. The grants will fund panel sessions and interviews with Australian writers at each of the selected festivals.
Copyright Agency CEO Josephine Johnston says the grants demonstrate the Cultural Fund’s ongoing commitment to enhance the profile of Australia’s dynamic writing, publishing and visual arts sectors.
“Each year the Cultural Fund receives large numbers of applications from creative organisations across the country and the committee has the very difficult task of selecting the projects to support in each funding round,” says Johnston.
“However, I’m delighted that once again we have confirmed grants for all corners of the creative industry, from publishers to poetry to visual arts to trade associations.”
“We are indebted to our members who allow us to commit 1.5% of revenue to our philanthropic arm which supports the many projects that keep Australia’s cultural life thriving.”
Examples of the grants in this round of funding include WestWords’ Writers in NSW Regional Schools project, which will run bespoke literature-based programs across regional NSW, bringing professional writers and illustrators into schools to deliver talks, workshops, and residencies.
Funding for Guardian Australia will support more reviews of Australian books on a global platform, and Queensland Art Gallery’s grant will be put towards Judy Watson’s fee for an upcoming exhibition.
The writers’ festivals include Perth Festival Writers’ Weekend, Adelaide Writers’ Week, Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival 2024, Brisbane Writers’ Festival and Canberra Writers’ Festival.
As a result of the increasing number of applications and a slightly smaller allocation of funding, the Cultural Fund’s priorities for 2024/25 will change. Fellowships and Create grants will continue to support the creation of new work by writers and artists.
However, grants for Australian organisations will now prioritise support for audience development projects that will grow audiences and readership and sector development support. These changes will be introduced for the first round of funding for organisations in 2024, with applications closing 15 April 2024.
“By updating the Cultural Fund priorities with a more targeted approach to funding and a focus on sector and audience development, we can help futureproof the creative industry in Australia and develop a stronger sector for everyone,” says Johnston.
“We’re looking forward to supporting projects to benefit writers and artists and to connect their work with new audiences, as well as supporting important sector development to create new opportunities for greater diversity and career development in the sector.”
For more information about the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, visit: www.copyright.com.au for details.
Image: Judy Watson at QAGOMA – photo by M. Sherwood