The Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund offers grants to Australian creative writers and visual artists to create new work.

Create Grants provide a living allowance for writers and visual artists at key stages of their career.

Creative writers can apply to write their second book in the following literary genres: fiction, poetry, children’s literature, young adult literature, picture book illustration, graphic novels, playwriting, literary non-fiction and writing for performance (plays only).

Visual artists with no more than three solo exhibitions can apply to create a new work for exhibition.

Amount of grant: $20,000 - Up to five grants will be awarded in 2025

Projects should start after 1 August 2025.

Who can apply? 

• Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents
• Applicants must have acquitted any overdue Cultural Fund grants

Creative Writers: 

• Authors must have professionally published/performed by the application closing date ONLY ONE full-length work of their own creative writing (including professionally presented plays) by an Australian-based publisher/theatre company
• Authors must have secured either a publishing contract for the work or a letter of interest or intent to publish/present from an Australian-based publisher or theatre company. This must be submitted with the application.

Visual artists: 

• Visual artists must have exhibited by the application closing date ONLY THREE solo exhibitions in public or commercial galleries (this should not include group shows). These exhibitions should be independently and professionally curated.
• Solo exhibitions as part of an Artist Run Initiative (ARI) will count towards your eligibility if the exhibition has been independently and professionally curated
• If applicants are working in collaboration, all applicants must meet the eligibility requirements
• Visual artists must have confirmed interest from an Australian public gallery or institution to exhibit the work. Confirmation of this must be submitted with the application.

• Email: culturalfund@copyright.com.au