The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund awards more than $818,000 in funding to Australian creators

July 13, 2021

Today, Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund announces $818,917 in funding for 25 new projects in support of authors, visual artists and industry stakeholders as Australia continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding, which is the first of two rounds for 2021 and 2022, will support a diverse range of new and existing projects to benefit writers, visual artists and publishers. Among the recipients are Story Factorys Year of Poetry ($90,000); WestWords for Writers in Schools in Western Sydney ($60,000); Magabala Books Daisy Utemorrah Award ($60,000); The Age Book of the Year ($60,000); and Belvoir St Theatre’s Commissioning Series: Investing in Australian Stories ($96,000), all of which are being funded as three-year projects.

Copyright Agency CEO Adam Suckling says, “This round attracted some impressive applications. We are proud to be providing support for Australian artists and authors at various career stages and from diverse backgrounds via significant exhibitions, commissions for writers, national literary awards, and ongoing opportunities such as book reviews, writing initiatives and ongoing fellowships.”

The Cultural Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Copyright Agency and is dedicated to funding projects that deliver opportunities for Australian writers, journalists, editors, English and literary teachers, visual artists and key industry stakeholders in the writing, publishing, education and visual arts sectors.

“The Cultural Fund provides approximately $2 million a year in grants. We regularly refresh and update our support to ensure it is appropriate, effective and meets the needs of Australian creators. We look to form new partnerships with the sector and other bodies to amplify our support, with the aim of increasing audiences for both Australian writing and visual arts as well as contributing to key sector and educational engagement and development. This ensures Australian creators can continue to tell our uniquely Australian stories,” Mr Suckling says.

Key projects included:

  • Celebrate Reading National Conference, 29–30 October 2021 at The Literature Centre (WA) will receive $11,200. Exclusively showcasing Australian authors, this year’s event will feature conversations, panels and solo presentations from diverse authors celebrating the rich fabric of Australian life.                                                                                                                                    
  • For the Art Gallery of South Australia, six First Nations visual artists will receive support totalling $30,000 to create work for the 2022 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art. The Adelaide Biennial offers career-defining opportunities for artists and in 2022 it will be curated by Sebastian Goldspink.
  • Monash University Museum of Art will use its $20,000 in funding to develop a major Survey Exhibition by leading visual artist, Vivienne Binns, that will tour to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney in 2022, showcasing the pioneering artist’s 60-year-plus art career.  
  • Upswell Publishing in Perth will receive a grant of $10,000 to support writers’ commissions.             
  • Varuna – The National Writers’ House in Katoomba receives $19,590 for the Copyright Agency First Nations Masterclasses, a two-year project to support two masterclasses per year for First Nations writers, a one-week intensive residential masterclass and an online masterclass Its aim is to foster a more inclusive reading culture for all Australian readers and writers.

“This round attracted more than 70 eligible applications, making it a highly competitive round. It was also the last for outgoing chairperson Kim Williams, whom we thank for his guidance and counsel throughout his tenure,” adds Mr Suckling.

“This round of funding not only supports strong standalone projects, it has sought to provide greater flexibility by approving three-year funding for seven extraordinary projects to ensure they have the opportunity to reach their full potential within the Australian cultural landscape.”

The Cultural Fund offers two rounds of grants throughout the year. View the full list of successful applicants here.

Media enquiries

Jane Morey                                                                
morey media                                                              
m: 0416 097 678                                                        
e: jane@moreymedia.com.au

About Copyright Agency

The not-for-profit Copyright Agency connects users and creators of content, providing licences for the use of copyright material such as text, images and art. We manage the educational and government licences for the use of text and images, as well as the resale royalty scheme for artists (by Government appointment). Our members include writers, artists and publishers. Membership is free.

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