Arts Organisation Investment Program 2023
This Program supports the arts sector in Canberra to create, develop and promote the arts for the benefit of artists and their work, and for the ACT community to have strong access to and engagement in the arts.
Find all current recipients on our website.
Funding Aims
The ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program supports arts organisations that engage with the local community to provide arts programs, services, expertise and infrastructure to support and develop the arts in the ACT.
These organisations provide sector development, professional pathways for artists and arts workers, support a diversity of activity and provide access opportunities for all Canberrans.
The program funds the delivery of activities that meet the three strategies in Canberra: Australia’s Arts Capital – a statement of ambition for the Arts 2021–2026 for Canberra to be recognised as Australia’s arts capital:
- Create amazing art and culture – everywhere, at any time, for everyone
- Develop arts, cultural and creative industries, practice and facilities – supporting creation and culture at all levels via any path
- Promote our arts and culture – to attract artists and creators, arts workers, visitors and investment.
This funding provides arts organisations with opportunities for arts leadership, organisational and financial management, innovation and impact for the arts sector and broader community.
Funding Categories
There are three streams in the ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program, covering operational and program costs:
- Arts Centre Investment provides five-year funding of between $100,000 and $1 million per year for ACT arts organisations that manage an ACT Government arts centre/s, aligned with a five-year licence to occupy the centre/s.
- Arts Organisation Investment provides four-year funding of between $100,000 and $600,000 per year for leading ACT arts organisations.
- Emerging Arts Organisation Investment provides two plus two years funding of up to $100,000 per year for organisations that have not received artsACT multi-year funding previously.
Applications closed at 5.00pm on 9 September 2022.
Organisations that are in receipt of one of the three streams of funding may be eligible for Opportunity Investment funding. Opportunity Investment funding provides up to $30,000 for one-off unforeseen opportunities, focussing on collaborative or innovative activities to develop an artform and/or expand into new markets. Organisations must contact artsACT to discuss the opportunity before being invited to complete an application which will include a detailed proposal and budget.
Read the ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Framework and ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Guidelines.
Information meetings
artsACT is available to meet and discuss questions about the funding framework, guidelines and application process.
Please email artsACT@act.gov.au if you have any questions.
Video recording of online information session
artsACT held an online information session about ACT Arts Organisation Investment funding on Wednesday 17 August 2022.
The YouTube video of that online session is available here.
Application process
Applications were submitted via the online artsACT grants portal. Applicants were strongly encouraged to read the ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Framework and ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Guidelines before making an application:
- ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Framework (PDF 591 KB)
- ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Guidelines (PDF 2.6 MB)
Deed of Grant and Licence
All successful applicants will be required to sign a Deed of Grant and successful applicants for Art Centre Investment Funding will receive a Licence to operate an ACT art centre.
The Deed of Grant commits arts organisations to certain reporting and acquittal requirements. A summary of reporting and acquittal requirements is found here:
- Reporting and Acquittal - Additional guidance (Word Document 20 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions and responses are provided for applicants:
- FAQs - Arts Organisation Investment Program (Word Document 30 KB)
Image: Front cover of the ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Framework featuring Upending Expectations, an exhibition at the Canberra Glassworks. Photo by Pew Pew Studio.