Deadline: 2 June 2020
If you are an individual artist, arts worker or group of artists, a Career Development Grant can provide support to further develop your skills or improve your capacity to build an enduring career in the arts.
Funding Information
- Career Development grants are available from $5,000 to $25,000.
- These grants can support a broad range of activities such as skills and professional development, mentorships, showcases, residencies and other projects directly related to your career development.
- Supported activities must last no longer than two years from the proposed start date.
Eligible Activities
You can apply for a range of activities. Some examples of the activities they fund are:
- professional skills development
- showcase opportunities
- forum/workshop attendance
- residencies
- mentorships
- arts market attendance and exploration
You can’t apply for the following activity:
- projects or activities that do not involve or benefit practicing artists or arts worker.
- projects or activities that do not have a clearly defined arts component.
- projects that have already taken place.
Eligibility Criteria
- Only individuals and groups may apply to this category.
- You must be a practicing artist or arts worker and an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.
- Applications for funding to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts panel must come from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals or groups.
- You can’t apply for a grant if:
- you received a grant, or administered a grant, from the Australia Council in the past and that grant has not been satisfactorily acquitted.
- you owe money to the Australia Council.
- you have already made three applications to categories listed under Australia Council Grant Programs this calendar year (funding proposals submitted to categories under Other Grants and Opportunities are not counted as one of your three applications).
Peer Assessment
As part of the application process, you will be able to choose which peer panel you want to assess your application. The peer panels available are:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts
- Community Arts and Cultural Development
- Dance
- Emerging and Experimental Arts
- Literature
- Multi-art form
- Music
- Theatre
- Visual Arts
Assessment Criteria
You must address three assessment criteria in this category:
- Potential of the artist/artworker: Peers will assess the potential of the artist/artsworker at the centre of your proposal. They may consider:
- artistic merit of proposed project
- quality of work previously produced
- public or peer response to work previously produced
- demonstrated ability, skills and creative thinking
- Viability: Peers will assess the viability of your proposal. They may consider:
- skills and artistic ability of the people involved, and their relevance to the proposed activity
- effective use of resources, with realistic and achievable planning
- level of confirmation of proposed activities and partners
- adherence to relevant cultural protocols
- evidence of considered consultation and engagement with participants, audiences and communities
- Impact on career: Peers will assess the impact that the proposed activity will have on your career. They may consider:
- capacity to strengthen skills and abilities of artists/arts professionals
- potential to discover and develop new markets, or meet existing market demand
- relevance and timeliness of activity
How to Apply
- Grant applications are submitted through online system.
- The types of questions they ask in the application form include:
- a title for your project
- a summary of your project
- a brief bio of the artist or group applying
- an outline of your project and what you want to do
- a timetable or itinerary for your project
- an outline of how this project will impact your career
- a projected budget which details the expenses, income and in-kind support of the project
- supporting material as relevant to your project, including an artistic example, bios of additional artists, and letters of support from participants or communities
For more information, visit https://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/funding/funding-index/career-development-grants-for-individuals-and-groups/