Guidelines for project funding

The Copyright Agency Board endeavours to support a mix of writing, publishing and visual arts projects from around Australia.

When considering applications to the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, the Cultural Fund Committee gives priority to those that support innovation in the Australian creative industries to develop local and foreign markets for Australian works. The Cultural Fund Committee gives priority to projects which are not supported by government funding bodies. Current areas of focus for the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund include projects that will:

  • provide cultural and educational institutions support to give individual artists, authors and publishers opportunities to develop their professional skills and develop new works;
  • place artists, authors and publishers in educational settings and build awareness of their work in this sector;
  • underpin export market development of Australian publishing and visual arts; and
  • provide Australian content with a profile in the increasingly globalised online environment so that Australians can compete effectively on the domestic and international marketplace for creative works.

Cultural fund allocations are made at the discretion of Copyright Agency’s Board, on the recommendation of the Board’s Cultural Fund Committee.

The Cultural Fund does not typically support the following:

  • living expenses;
  • business overhead costs;
  • capital works;
  • general administrative costs;
  • book launches;
  • exhibition openings;
  • publishers to publish/market books;
  • production costs for theatre, film and other performances;
  • digitisation of back issues/ catalogues of works;
  • creation or maintenance of a website for a publishing house, author or artist; and
  • development of iPhone/ iPad/ iPod etc. applications.

Creative Industries Career Fund Applications

Individual Australian creators and those working in the creative industries can also apply to Copyright Agency’s Creative Industries’ Career Fund for grants to help them develop their skills and enhance their career. Examples of activities for which individuals often receive funding include:

  • attendance at professional workshops and conferences;
  • participation in rights fairs and festivals; and
  • specific training in technical areas relevant to their creative or professional practice.

There is a separate application process for this initiative.

Acquittals

Successful applicants must submit an acquittal report in relation to the project for which they have received funding. Acquittals must report on exactly what the grant has been used for, and relate to the success or otherwise of the project. As well as noting sucessfull outcomes, acquittals must disclose any areas where the project has not delivered on the expected outcomes providing a full explanation, Other areas of interest to the Copyright Agency Board when reviewing acquittals are the reach of any project (i.e. creator/publisher and general audience members), any demonstratable benefit to Australian creators such as creation or sale of works related to the project.

Acquittals must be submitted in accordance with the time-frame outlined in the offer of funding. Where appliants are unable to supply an acquitta within this time-frame, they must contact the Cultural Fund Manager and discuss amended reporting requirements.

Where an applicant has failed to submit an adequate acquittal, they will not be granted subsequent funding until a satisfactory acquittal has been submitted to Copyright Agency.

Who can apply

If you have a project that meets the Cultural Fund’s guidelines, you may forward your proposal to Copyright Agency. The Cultural Fund sub-committee assesses applications and makes recommendations to the Copyright Agency Board. The Board approves Cultural Fund allocations.

In developing your application, you can contact Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund Manager, Zoë Rodriguez, by email culturalfund@copyright.com.au or phone +612 9394 7600.

To apply, click here. Please note that you will need to open the form and provide details of your project in the spaces provided, using Adobe Acrobat reader.

Special guidelines for festival applications

The following guidelines apply to applications for Writers’ and Illustrators’ Festival funding:

1. The Festival must provide an opportunity for creators to sell their work.

2. For festivals to be held in 2012 and 2014, applications will only be accepted from New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and North Territory.

3. For festivals to be held in 2013 and 2015, applications will only be accepted from Victoria, ACT, Queensland and Tasmania.

4. This will continue in alternate years.

Special guidelines for Copyright Agency support for prizes/awards applications

1. Is your Award open nationally?

2. Entry must be available to both members and non members of your organisation.

3. Reduced entry fees should only apply to those with an economic ground to need it such as students or the unemployed.

4. Are your entry fees appropriate to the amount of the first prize?

5. Where the Award includes publication or exhibition, how does the amount of the first prize compare with your usual publication/exhibition rates?

6. Short-listed entries should be rewarded financially as well as through publication or exhibition.

7. Copyright in works entered in competitions should be retained by the author or artist of the work.

9. Copyright Agency prefers applications where judges are paid and provided with travel expenses, where appropriate.