Grant FAQs
Perhaps you have a question about the funding model? We have anticipated a few of the questions you may have below.
FAQS – Development Grants and Arts Projects
FAQs – Four Year Funding for Organisations
FAQs - Arts and Disability Funding
FAQs – Core Grants Programs
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I have never applied to the Australia Council before, can I apply now?
Yes, provided you meet the eligibility requirements of the Australia Council. We encourage first time applicants to have a look at the Grants program information on the website. If you have any further questions about our programs, please contact the Grants Enquiry Team. enquiries@australiacouncil.gov.au
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Is art form expertise still central to the peer assessment process?
Yes. Applications are assessed by peers with specific areas of arts practice expertise. Peers also bring other skills relevant to assessing applications to our grant programs, including expertise in market development, audience and international engagement.
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Are applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants still assessed by a panel made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders?
Yes, they can be. Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or organisations can be assessed by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Panel, consisting entirely of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peers. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants may instead choose for their applications to be assessed by any of our other peer panels (e.g. music, theatre etc).
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Do I still need to apply to a number of different artform panels if I want to apply for funding towards a multi-art form project?
No. As part of the application process, you can nominate a panel of multi-art form peers to assess your application.
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What do you mean by a Multi-art Form Peer Panel?
Our multi-art form peer panels are made up of artists and arts workers from a range of art form areas. Peers may include those from specific art form areas (e.g. music or visual arts), peers who work across a number of art forms, and/or peers who work in interdisciplinary practice. You can have your application assessed by the multi-art form peer panel if your project involves multiple separate art form-specific activities. This could include, for example: a festival that incorporates music, literature and theatre, or a project that has no one specific arts practice focus. However, if your project does involve more than one area of arts practice, you still have the option to choose one of the single art form panels, which you think will best relate to your work, to assess your application.
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I am an emerging artist, does that mean I should have my application assessed by the Emerging and Experimental Arts Panel?
Emerging artists can apply to all art form panels. General characteristics of ‘emerging and experimental arts practice’ include the exploration of challenging new concepts in the creation and experience of arts and culture. It plays with or invents new forms, methodologies, technologies or explores non-material ideas. These sometimes include art/science research collaborations, bio art, live art, socially engaged practices and new technologies. For more information about Emerging and Experimental Arts we suggest you read through the EEA - Frequently Asked Questions.
If you’re unsure about which art form panel best fits with your project, we recommend you contact the Grants Enquiry Team to discuss further.
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If I apply to one of the Government programs delivered by the Australia Council, will this count as one of my applications to the Australia Council per year?
No. Applications to Government programs run by the Australia Council will not count as an application to Australia Council Grant programs. In 2016 applicants will be able to submit up to three (3) applications to the Australia Council’s core grants program, as well as applications to the Government programs.
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How long will it take to for me to be notified of the decision on my application?
We aim to notify you of the outcome of your application no later than 12 weeks after the relevant closing date. Please see the program page for the grant category you are interested in for more details.
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What is your definition of a practising artist?
We provide funding to practising artists or artsworkers. While you may not regularly earn income from your practice, you must be identified and recognised by your peers as a practising artist or artsworker. This may include cultural practitioners, editors, producers, curators and arts managers.
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What is your definition of a legally constituted organisation?
The Australia Council requires that organisations be registered under law (for example, incorporated associations, companies limited by guarantee) or created by law (for example, government statutory authorities). Organisations that are not legally constituted are not eligible to apply for funding to grant categories open to organisations only. Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status. Funding programs for organisations are not intended for sole traders or partnerships.
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What is your definition of a group?
We define a group as two or more individuals who do not form a legally constituted organisation. This can include co-collaborators and collectives. Groups are not eligible to apply to programs open only to organisations.
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Are groups made up of Australian and international artists eligible to apply?
Yes. However, the contact person for Group applications must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
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Do you fund artist fees?
Yes. The Australia Council expects that artists professionally employed or engaged on Australia Council-funded activities will be remunerated for their work in line with industry standards. Payment of artist fees should be reflected in your application budget.
For further information on artist fees and industry pay scales see Payment of Artists.
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Do you fund organisational administration costs?
Funding is available to support projects with a clear start and end date. If you need funding towards your administration costs to be able to deliver your project, you can include them in your grant request. However, you need to be aware that competition for funds is very high and peers will look at the diversity and scale of any co-funding when assessing the viability of your project. Projects that include a high percentage of administration costs may be less competitive.
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Do you fund feature film, television or documentary?
While we can support screen-based art, we do not generally support activities associated with feature film, television or documentary. See Screen Australia, the Federal Government’s primary agency for production of Australian screen activity. http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/
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How important is it to have co-funding for your project?
We encourage our applicants to seek funding from other sources to cover the complete costs of their projects. While it does depend on the size of your grant request to us, we would expect that applicants with large grant requests would also secure funding from elsewhere to cover all costs associated with a large scale project.
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Will receiving a grant affect my taxable income?
Yes, a grant to an individual is considered income and taxable. We encourage you to discuss the impacts of receiving a grant with your accountant or financial adviser.
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When will I receive payment of the grant if my application is successful?
Please note we pay our grants in the financial year which they are approved. We will not adjust payment timelines to the particular circumstances of individuals. You must accept the conditions of your grant and invoice us for payment within one month of notification of the outcome of your grant. If we do not receive an invoice within this time-frame we may withdraw our offer of the grant.
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Will receiving a grant affect my social security benefits?
Grants fund necessary business expenses incurred in establishing and running an arts practice, creating a new work or delivering a project. Although they are not used for day to day living, grants are considered income for social security purposes. The amount is generally assessed as a lump sum and will affect your social security payment for the financial year. However, artists who are running a business (even on a small scale) may have their grant treated differently.
Artists should contact Centrelink on 13 28 50 for more information. Additionally, Centrelink’s Financial Information Service (FIS) is an education and information service available to everyone in the community and may be of great benefit to artists who also receive assistance through the social security system. To contact FIS phone 13 23 00.
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Do you support artists working in languages other than English (LOTE)?
Yes, provided you meet the general eligibility requirements, you can make your application in any language, for projects and activities in any language (including Auslan).
If any aspect of your application requires translation, please contact the Grants Enquiry Team before the closing date of the round to which you are intending to make a grant submission. Please be aware that, if you do not contact us before the closing date, we may not have sufficient time to meet your translation needs.
We can arrange the translation of the content of your application form, and, where appropriate, support material. We can also arrange the translation of the guidelines and application forms. In some cases we will engage an industry expert to provide the peers with an evaluation of creative content submitted in a language other than English.
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My application form will be in English, but do you accept support materials in languages other than English (LOTE)?
Yes, if you have support materials such as letters from project partners, collaborators or participants that are in languages other than English (including Auslan), we can arrange translation or captioning. Please contact the Grants Enquiry Team before the closing date of the round to which you are intending to make a grant submission. Please be aware that, if you do not contact us before the closing date, we may not have sufficient time to meet your translation needs.
Our online application form also has a checkbox at the top which you can tick if you have attached materials in LOTE. This alerts the Grants Team that you have submitted these materials.
FAQS – Career Development Grants for Individuals
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How often can I apply?
In 2016 we will accept up to three (3) applications per year from an individual, group or organisation to the Australia Council’s core grants program. However, if you are successful within one of the grant rounds, you will not be eligible to apply to the following round.
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Do I need to have confirmed venues or partners in order to apply?
No. However, applications involving venues and partners are likely to be more competitive if their involvement is confirmed.
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Do you fund creative research and development?
Yes. Creative research and development is a key component of the creative process and can be funded through our Arts Projects grants. You can apply for funding for activity that will benefit your career as an artist or arts worker through Development Grants for Individuals and Groups.
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Do you fund academic study?
We are unlikely to support projects that solely focus on academic study. More broadly, where applicants are engaged in academic study, we are also unlikely to support projects that will be assessed as part of any academic activities.
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I am an artist working with a manager or producer. Should I or my manager be the applicant for my application?
The best applications are those where the voice of the artist comes through. Where possible you, ‘the artist’, should write your application. Your manager may administer the grant on your behalf to undertake the financial and reporting requirements.
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Can existing Key Organisations apply to the Arts Projects – Organisations category in 2016?
Yes. Existing Key Organisations are eligible to submit applications to the February, June and October rounds in 2016.
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Will you offer international artist residencies?
Yes. The Australia Council’s International Residency program will be offered annually. The next round will close 4 October 2016. Please refer to the International Residencies grant guidelines.
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Does my project have to start by a specific date?
Yes. Projects must be planned to start no later than one year after we notify you of the decision on your application. Notification is sent approximately 12 weeks after the grant program closing date.
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Do you still fund early career artists?
Yes. Early career artists are eligible to apply for funding through Development Grants for Individuals and Groups and through Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups.
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I might receive an invitation for an international tour or showcase where the timing to confirm participation may not fit with your closing and response dates. Are you able to respond quickly to time sensitive applications for international activity?
No, we’re not able to respond quickly to time-sensitive applications and have suspended our International Market Scheme. At this time we cannot accept applications outside of our published closing dates and can only advise of the result of assessments within our published notification dates.
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Can we apply for a program of projects or activities under ‘Arts Projects – Organisations’?
Yes. Organisations can propose a program of projects and/or activities. This could be an organisation’s full artistic program for a given calendar year or more, for example.
We encourage applicants to be mindful of the following considerations:
- The activities should each contribute toward a clear, unifying overall objective – for example, the organisation's artistic vision. It is important to demonstrate the rationale for the inclusion of these activities and how the overall program will align with the organisation's vision.
- In proposing a program consisting of multiple projects or activities, it is possible that some individual projects may be less compelling than others. If you are submitting an application proposing multiple activities or projects, we encourage you to ensure that a similar level of consideration, planning, and artistic merit is common to each to avoid one component of your program potentially letting down the others.
- You may wish to consider using one of the 3 URLs you can provide as support material to link to a document that provides more detail about each individual project or activity in your program.
- The activities should each contribute toward a clear, unifying overall objective – for example, the organisation's artistic vision. It is important to demonstrate the rationale for the inclusion of these activities and how the overall program will align with the organisation's vision.
FAQs – Four Year Funding for Organisations
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Can I apply for Four-Year Funding if I have never applied to the Australia Council before?
Yes, provided you meet the eligibility requirements for the Four-year funding program. As competition levels will be high, and competitive organisations will need to be able to articulate a five-year vision for their organisation, we strongly recommend that you contact the Enquiry Team to discuss your application first.
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How will support be provided to Service Organisations?
Organisations with national impact, that deliver services to one or more areas of the arts, can apply. You will be assessed in competition with other like organisations against relevant criteria.
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Can I apply for international activity as a Four-Year funded organisation?
You can include costs associated with international activity in your application for Four-Year Funding. We encourage you to project and factor these costs into your four-year funding period where necessary. Please speak to the Enquiry Team for further information.
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Who will be the peers on the panel assessing my application?
We draw our peer panels from our pool of registered peers. Peers are chosen by virtue of their knowledge and experience and are equipped to make a fair and informed assessment of artistic work and grant applications. Your application will be assessed by one of our nine arts practice specific panels.
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Is there a template I can use for my 2016 budget?
Yes. While you can supply your 2016 budget in any format you like, you can choose to use the template that the Australia Council’s existing multi-year funded organisations use here.
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Will my previous record with the Australia Council be taken into account during the assessment of my application?
Yes. Any information previously submitted by your organisation may be considered during the assessment of your application.
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Will you consult with any other organisations when assessing applications?
The Australia Council makes decisions independently; however we do take into consideration any co-funding arrangements with State and other funding agencies and consult with them where necessary.
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If I am successful in receiving Four-Year Funding, can I still apply to other Australia Council grant programs?
No. If you receive Four-Year Funding you will not be able to apply for grants for the duration of your funding agreement (excluding Playing Australia and the Contemporary Music Touring Program), which will start in 2017.
FAQs - Arts and Disability Funding
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How can I get assistance with my application?
Australia Council staff are available to assist you in understanding the purpose of the grant, application requirements, and submitting your application. Staff can assist over email, phone, Skype, and where possible, in person. Unfortunately we cannot review application drafts.
Additional support can be discussed where needed. Where the additional support required is beyond the scope of what our staff can provide, we may recommend engaging an auspicing body or speaking to an appropriate arts and disability body, member organisation or other sector based agency for further assistance.
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Can I submit my application in an accessible format?
We encourage applicants to submit their applications using our Online System, however you are welcome to submit your application in any way that is accessible to you (for example other formats can include Auslan, audio, video, printed, dictated, electronic and handwritten formats).
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Who assesses my application?
If you select the ‘Arts and Disability’ panel your application will be assessed by a panel of industry professionals across art forms and across states and territories; the majority of whom will identify as an artist with disability.
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How competitive will it be?
As a national arts funding body, all Australia Council funding is competitive. 25 of 217 applications from the 2014 pilot program were successful, or 12% of applications received. Our March 2015 round had a 17% success rate with 15 grants approved out a total of 89 applications submitted.
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What if I am an artist with disability, but don’t want to publicly identify as such?
The Australia Council has a statutory requirement to publish the names of recipients of all of our grants. Therefore the names of successful applicants will appear in a list of projects assessed and approved by the Arts and Disability Panel. If your application is successful, please contact us and we can ensure that in all other promotional material about this funding we can take account of your wish not to be identified.
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Who can I go to if I need more assistance with my application?
Australia Council staff can discuss your project with you and answer any specific questions you have in relation to the assessment criteria and how to complete and submit your application. If you need assistance writing your application, you may wish to contact one of the arts and disability peak bodies, who may be able to assist you. http://australiacouncil.gov.au/about/resources/
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Will I need to specify what my disability is in the application form?
No. You will be asked whether or not you identify as a person or group with disability, but will not need to outline what your disability is or provide a medical certificate/letter of support.
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When completing the application form, what panel do I select?
If you wish to be considered for the arts and disability specific funding, please select ‘arts and disability funding panel’ on the application form.
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I am in a group, which is run through an organisation. Can we apply as a group to the arts and disability panel?
This can be difficult, as we do not wish to indirectly receive applications from organisations, as this funding is only open to Individuals and Groups; and organisations have a wider range of funding options available to them. Eligible groups should have a track record of working together and have plans to work together into the future.
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I am using someone to assist me to write my application and I am unable to physically sign or submit this online myself. How do I complete the application form?
If a person is unable to complete the application form themselves, a support worker or other person assisting with the application can sign on behalf of the applicant. If this is the case, we reserve the right to go back to the applicant at any time for confirmation.
FAQs - International Residencies Program
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Do I have to provide a budget?
No. You are not required to provide a budget with your application.
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If I am successful, am I able to take my partner, child or both?
The capacity to accommodate children and partners varies from provider to provider. Please check the program descriptions for specific requirements. At present, residencies that could potentially accommodate a family (dependant on the number of individuals) include HIAP in Helsinki, ACME in London, and BR Whiting in Rome. Please note that the programs that are limited to the participating artist only, have various limitations e.g. communal living and/or working space or modest living quarters.
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Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. If successful, you are required to have travel insurance for the duration of your residency. The Australia Council covers travel insurance for artists travelling up to six months. The Australia Council travel insurance will only cover you in the country of your residency and only for the period of your residency. For all other travel you must take out your own travel insurance.
If you are self-organising your residency and applying through Development Grants for Individuals, you will not be provided with travel insurance by the Australia Council. In these instances, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance and including it in your budget for grant applications.
If you are planning to bring your partner or family over to the country of residence, they will not be provided with travel insurance by the Australia Council and will need to take out their own.
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Are the residency dates flexible?
Unless stated otherwise in the program description, all residencies are offered for fixed dates and periods of time.
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Can the Australia Council provide assistance with international visas?
No. The Australia Council cannot provide any advice on visa or immigration matters. You must contact the relevant embassy and DFAT to get current information. We suggest you allow plenty of time to apply for all international visas.
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I have a grant that has not been satisfactorily acquitted or is overdue. Am I eligible to apply?
No.
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What can I use the grant for?
The grant is contribution from the Australia Council toward your travel and living costs during the residency period. Applicants are expected to research the cost of living in the residency location they are travelling to. You may need to supplement the grant with your own funds depending on your projected costs for the residency period.
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Will the same residencies be offered every year?
The Australia Council will offer residencies annually, and the round will fall in the second half of the calendar year. The International Residencies Program is dynamic and responsive and the programs on offer may shift from year to year. Please check our website prior to the annual closing date for information on which residencies will be offered.
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If successful, am I able to extend my stay abroad?
Yes, but this will be at your own cost and the Australia Council will not be able to provide additional funds towards the extension or an extension on travel insurance.
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How many residencies can I apply for per round?
You can apply for up to three residencies per round. However, you will need to consider how the panel will perceive your commitment to a particular residency program and/or market if you have applied for multiple residencies. Each residency requires a separate application and will count towards your limit of three applications per calendar year.
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What information, resources and contacts will the Australia Council provide if I am successful?
The Australia Council partners with established and reputable residency providers and each program is unique. Successful applicants will be provided with detailed information about each residency and introductions to the residency providers who will assist artists with making local connections. Australia Council staff are able to provide further advice and contacts, as requested. Australia Council’s International Development Managers, across North Asia, Europe, and North America, are also available as an additional resource.
Artists are also expected to have their own resources, contacts and project plans for the residency. -
If I have to take time off from my job to do a residency, what sort of compensation will I receive?
The grant is not intended to cover lost income or rent at home and applicants will need to consider their capacity to undertake the residency prior to applying.
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Does a residency application count as one of the three grant applications I can apply for per calendar year?
Yes. Each residency requires a separate application and will count towards your limit of three applications per calendar year.
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I have already received an Australia Council Residency, am I eligible to apply for another residency?
Yes.
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I received a grant for an application I made to Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups, Development Grants for Individuals and Groups, or Fellowships at the 2 June 2016 closing date. Am I eligible to apply for a residency?
No. Under our eligibility rules, if you receive a grant through Arts Projects for Individual and Groups, Development Grants for Individuals and Groups or Fellowships you are not eligible to apply at the next closing date for those categories or for Residencies. Please note that this guideline does not apply to expressions of interest submitted under Council initiatives, or to applications to Government programs such as Playing Australia. If you are unsure whether you are eligible to apply please speak with a Grants Officer.
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Do I have to provide a timetable of activities in my application?
There is no requirement for you to provide a timetable of your activities.
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Can I still apply to Career Development Grants for Individuals for a self-organised residency?
Yes. The next closing date for this category is 4 October 2016. If you are looking for some tips on organising your residency or programs in the region you’re interested in, check out the resources on our International Residencies Program web page.
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What has happened to the Tokyo Studio, Barcelona Studio, Greene St New York Studio, ISCP Residency and British School at Rome residency?
These programs have been discontinued. Many artists have benefited from these programs in the past. The Australia Council has decided move away from a real estate model to a partnership model for international residencies. Australian artists can still apply directly to ISCP in New York and the British School at Rome for a residency and come into the Development Grants for Individuals to fund it.