Cultural Fund

2021 application closing dates Organisations Copyright Agency Partnerships Fellowships Individuals Projects Supported

The Cultural Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Copyright Agency.

Our members commit 1.5% of revenue every year towards vital grants to enhance the profile of Australian writers and visual artists and to support our dynamic writing, publishing and visual arts sectors.

With an annual budget of approximately $2m, we support our members, writers, visual artists, publishers and key industry stakeholders to create, award, present, publish, and promote work by Australian writers and visual artists that connects with audiences.

We champion industry-led research and encourage new partnerships with the education and cultural sectors.

The Cultural Fund provides invaluable Publishing Industry Career Development Grants to Australian publishers, freelancers and literary agents and offers Create Grants to individual writers and visual artists to create new work. We also offer career-sustaining Fellowships for mid-career and established authors, a dedicated Reading Australia Fellowship for English and literacy teachers and Copyright Agency Partnerships, a new, annual series to support major commissions for mid-career and established visual artists in partnership with leading cultural organisations around Australia.

Each year we offer two rounds of funding to significant organisations to support Australian writers, journalists, editors, English and literacy teachers and visual artists. We are also keen to support industry collaborations to benefit writers and visual artists and which raise the profile of reading, writing, publishing or the visual arts in general.

Our priority is to ensure that writers and visual artists are better supported and are paid appropriately for their creative endeavours. We also offer grants to leading organisations to help build literacy skills for children and young adults.

In 2020 the Copyright Agency approved $500,000 in Emergency Action Funding to 61 Australian organisations and individuals. A list of successful applicants and information on the grants is available here.

As our funding priorities and grant programs change regularly, intending applicants are encouraged to visit our website and discuss their project with the Cultural Fund before applying.

For more information on activities supported, please see Activities Supported – Organisations and Activities Supported – Individuals. 

Through the Copyright Agency’s initiative, Reading Australia, the Cultural Fund advocates for the study and enjoyment of Australian literature for students. Reading Australia provides curriculum-linked resources to help teachers introduce students of all ages to Australian books.

If you or your organisation would like to receive a hard copy of our Cultural Fund brochure please contact culturalfund@copyright.com.au