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

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

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

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 for 2021/22 are:

• Ensure Australian writers and visual artists are better supported and paid appropriately for their creative endeavours
• 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 to create opportunities for Australian writers, journalists, editors, picture book illustrators, visual artists and English and literacy teachers with two rounds of funding for organisations
• Support leading organisations to build literacy skills for children and young adults
• Support industry collaborations to benefit writers and visual artists and which raise the profile of reading, writing, publishing or the visual arts in general

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. 

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