Grants for Organisations

ABOUT THE GRANTS

The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund supports leading Australian creative organisations and key industry stakeholders with grants to create and deliver exceptional opportunities for Australian writers, journalists, editors, publishers, English and literacy teachers, and visual artists, and especially for those from First Nations and diverse backgrounds.

The Cultural Fund’s priorities are:

• Commissions and paid opportunities for writers and visual artists through audience development projects
• Targeted leadership and sector development projects for the writing, publishing and visual arts sectors
• To complement Reading Australia, we are interested in supporting writers-in-schools programs for Australian writers whose work is featured on Reading Australia or is used in the classroom

The Cultural Fund will consider applications for the following projects:

Audience Development

• Audience and reader development projects
• Commissions for visual artists to create new work and whose work will be exhibited in galleries or institutions in Australia
• Literacy-based projects for children involving professional writers (excluding the writing of educational resources)
• Payments to creative writers published in literary magazines and journals
• Projects connecting teachers and librarians with Australian Literature
• Publishing commissions to write new work by First Nations and culturally diverse authors
• Significant national writers’ awards for payments to writers (excluding prizes offered by publishers and literary journals)
• Reviews of new Australian books in national publications
• Writers/artists-in-residence/schools/universities

Sector Development

• For people working in the Australian Publishing industry – leadership initiatives and opportunities for First Nations and diverse editors, publishers and journalists
• Writing and Publishing sector leadership – for trade organisations only. Includes bespoke/focussed/individual industry mentorships with professional authors and sector professionals.
• For the Visual arts sector – leadership and policy development opportunities for First Nations and diverse curators at galleries and cultural institutions. Note we do not support visual arts journals.

This excludes visual arts publishing, mentorships and professional development.

Activities supported

• Before applying, visit our activities supported page for a full list of what the Cultural Fund will and won’t support. This information is updated every year. Please read specific information for organisations, as this differs to the criteria and projects supported for individuals.

AMOUNT OF GRANT

• $10,000 to $30,000 per project
• Projects should start after 3 August 2026
• These grants are for a single project for up to a year
• We strongly encourage all applicants to pay industry rates to writers and visual artists. This is a crucial component of your application.

WHO CAN APPLY  

HOW TO APPLY

• Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time via the SmartyGrants online system
• Applicants may submit only one application per round
• Incomplete or late applications will not be considered

YOUR APPLICATION
More information and contact

For further information, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Please contact us before the application closing date if you’re unsure about your eligibility to apply for a grant. Our email is culturalfund@copyright.com.au.