Deadline: 10-Nov-2025
The Brisbane City Council, in partnership with the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, has opened applications for the 2025–2026 Creative Sparks Grants Program.
This initiative is designed to strengthen Brisbane’s creative sector by supporting local artists, cultural workers, creative producers, and not-for-profit community arts and cultural organizations. The program encourages applicants to test, develop, and deliver innovative ideas that contribute to Brisbane’s cultural vibrancy while building the city’s creative economy.
The program seeks to create meaningful opportunities for diverse artistic expression while enhancing Brisbane’s reputation as a global hub for creativity. Its objectives include supporting new work and collaborations, growing diverse and accessible arts experiences, promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artistic endeavors, and fostering broader community participation in the arts. By strategically investing in the city’s creative sector, the program aims to boost employment, attract tourism, and strengthen social cohesion.
Grants of up to $15,000 are available for the creation and public presentation of artistic projects within the Brisbane Local Government Area. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-March 2026, and project activities must commence after 13 March 2026. Only one application per individual or organization will be accepted, and preference will be given to those who have not received Creative Sparks or Lord Mayor’s Creative Fellowship funding in the previous financial year.
Eligible applicants include individual artists, arts workers, cultural workers, and creative producers aged 17 years and above who reside within the Brisbane LGA and are Australian citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or be auspiced by an incorporated organization. Organizations must be not-for-profit community arts, historical, or cultural groups that employ Brisbane-based independent artists and arts workers, with offices located within the Brisbane LGA.
Brisbane City Council strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, culturally and linguistically diverse artists, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ communities, and artists under the age of 25. By supporting such diverse voices, the Creative Sparks Grants Program continues to expand opportunities for inclusive cultural development and to cultivate Brisbane’s identity as a thriving and creative city.
For more information, visit Brisbane City Council.
