Cultural Fund

2023 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 to support vital grants for Australian writers and visual artists and to enhance the profile of our dynamic writing, publishing and visual arts sectors.

We fund mid-career and established Australian writers and visual artists to create new work; and support publishers, literary magazines and journals, and key industry stakeholders to create income generating opportunities for writers and visual artists and projects that connect with readers and audiences.

We encourage new partnerships with the education and cultural sectors and partner with other philanthropic bodies to support writers and visual artists.

The Cultural Fund supports a small number of major writers’ festivals through an invitation-only process. In 2023 these include Adelaide Writers’ Week, Brisbane Writers’ Festival, Byron Writers’ Festival, Canberra Writers’ Festival, Melbourne Writers Festival, NT Writers’ Festival, Perth Literature and Ideas Weekend, and Sydney Writers’ Festival. This support is specifically earmarked for writers’ fees for a small number of sessions and festivals must pay ASA rates to participating writers.

Through Reading Australia, our flagship portal for Australian teachers, we create curriculum-mapped units of work for teachers, by teachers, to help introduce books by Australian writers into classrooms.

Our priorities are:

• Ensure Australian writers and visual artists are better supported and paid appropriately for their creative endeavours
• We encourage all applicants to pay industry rates to participating creators
• Offer Create Grants to Australian writers and visual artists to create new work
• Offer career-sustaining Fellowships for mid-career and established Australian authors
• Support Australian teachers with a dedicated Reading Australia Fellowship for English and literacy teachers 
• Partner with significant visual arts organisations through Copyright Agency Partnerships, a new, annual series to support major commissions for mid-career and established visual artists in partnership with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art; the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art; and the Institute for Modern Art.
• Support significant national organisations through two rounds of funding a year to create opportunities for Australian writers, journalists, editors, picture book illustrators, cartoonists, graphic novelists, visual artists and English and literacy teachers
• Support Australia’s leading industry trade organisations to benefit writers and visual artists and which raise the profile of reading, writing, publishing and the visual arts
• Support leading organisations to build literacy skills for children and young adults

As our funding priorities and grant programs change regularly, intending applicants are encouraged to check our website and contact the Cultural Fund before applying.

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

Cultural Fund Grants and Fellowships: closing dates for 2023

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