News October 27, 2015

Australia Council unveils new grants model and Strategic Plan

Former Editor

The Australia Council launched a new Strategic Plan and grants program Monday morning that will be put into effect in January 2015.

Launched by the Attorney General and Minister for the Arts, Senator the Honourable George Brandis QC, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop MP and Australia Council Chief Executive Tony Grybowski at Sydney Opera House, the announcement marked the most significant change to the current arts model in its 40-year history.

The Council’s new grants model will allow a diverse range of artists and organisations to apply for funding with the opportunity to apply for multiple stages of a project in one application. The model includes five grant programs for artists and arts organisations, which will be assessed in the same way as the current 2014 grants, by a rotating pool of peers from the arts sector.

The grants are:

– Development grants for individuals and groups valued at between $5,000 and $25,000
– Arts project grants for individuals and groups valued at between $10,000 and $50,000
– Arts project grants for organisations valued at between $10,000 and $150,000
– Fellowships valued at $100,000
– Six year funding for arts organisations (these will start from January 2016)

The new model ensures that individuals or groups of artists are not competing with arts organisations. It will also recognise both emerging and established artists.

The current 2014 Australia Council grant programs will remain in place until the end of the year.

The Australia Council will also administer on behalf of the Australian Government the following programs:

– Contemporary Music Touring Program
– Festivals Australia – regional festivals fund
– Visions of Australia – regional exhibition touring fund
– Playing Australia – regional performing arts touring fund
– Artstart

The Australia Council’s Strategic Plan will be rolled out over five years in partnership with artists, government and arts organisations.

Details of the plan can be viewed here. One initiative that was outlined by Grybowski was the Council’s plan to establish a world-wide network of arts managers and partners that can be accessed by Australian artists and organisations.

Australia Council Chair Rupert Myer AM said in a statement: “This plan reflects our ambition to make more visible the vitality of our arts and culture, and to recognise the evolving way that Australians make and experience art, from galleries, theatres and studios to dry river beds, beaches and virtual spaces.”

Grybowski will conduct open public information sessions for the broader arts sector in each state and territory to outline the new strategic direction. View full schedule details below:

Australian Capital Territory:

Date Tuesday 19 August 2014

Time 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Venue Street 3, The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, Canberra City West

RSVP Bookings essential, events4@australiacouncil.gov.au by Friday 15 August
Victoria:

Date Wednesday 27 August 2014

Time 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Venue The Courtyard, State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne

RSVP Bookings essential, events6@australiacouncil.gov.au by Friday 22 August
South Australia:

Date Tuesday 2 September 2014

Time 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Venue Lyrics Room, Adelaide Festival Centre, King William Street, Adelaide