A dynamic and well-resourced arts sector is central to a culturally rich, vibrant and innovative society. The Foundation is interested in enhancing the calibre and capacity of the arts sector and supporting excellent organisations to raise the bar of aspiration and achievement.
The Arts program seeks to support first-rate artistic institutions and organisations in metropolitan and regional Australia which are distinctive in artistic achievement, imagination and innovation to:
A dynamic and well-resourced arts sector is central to a culturally rich, vibrant and innovative society. The Foundation is interested in enhancing the calibre and capacity of the arts sector and supporting excellent organisations to raise the bar of aspiration and achievement.
Specifically, the Foundation seeks to support first-rate artistic institutions and organisations in metropolitan and regional Australia which are distinctive in artistic achievement, imagination and innovation to:
The Ian Potter Cultural Trust
The Foundation’s commitment to the arts is also expressed through The Ian Potter Cultural Trust, a separate charitable trust that makes grants to exceptionally talented early-career Australian artists. The Cultural Trust provides support to individual artists to help them to undertake professional development opportunities, usually overseas.
Open Monday 29 May 2023
Close Wednesday 21 June 2023, 5PM AEST
Close Friday 1 September 2023, 5PM AEST
Mid December 2023
You must speak to the Program Manager to discuss your proposal prior to submitting an Expression of Interest. Call bookings will open approx a month before the next round for this program area.
In preparation, you should also watch the most recent Arts program info session.
The Foundation does not support Arts events (such as festivals or fairs), performances or exhibitions. This exclusion also applies to the development or production of works of art, where this is the primary purpose of the project.
Auspicing refers to the practice of an ineligible organisation (one that does not have DGR and TCC status) applying to the Foundation via an eligible organisation. Auspicing arrangements are excluded under the Foundation's guidelines. The organisation applying to the Foundation must be the organisation that will run the project or program for which a grant is being sought.
The Foundation is limited to providing money, property or benefits for public charitable purposes in the Commonwealth of Australia. However, the Foundation is able to provide a grant for activities outside the Commonwealth if the grant is made for a public charitable purpose in the Commonwealth. For example, a grant might be made to an Australian university to enable it to fund an overseas study tour by an Australian researcher engaged by the university.
Please note there are specific instructions you need to follow if you are from a research institution.
What happens next?
All grant applications are considered by the Board of Governors at the Foundation’s board meetings, which are held three times a year in line with the Funding Rounds.
You will be advised of the outcome of your application by phone or email.
To assist your organisation with the application process, we have provided Word templates of the EOI and full application online forms below.
Expression of Interest (Stage 1)
Full application (Stage 2)
Please note these are NOT the live application forms. All EOIs and full applications MUST be completed online via the Apply Now link at the bottom of this page. Please note this link will only be active when the program area is open for EOIs.