Arts Organisation Investment Program 2025
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 leading ACT arts organisations that engage with the local community to provide programs, services, expertise and cultural infrastructure to support and develop the arts in the ACT.
These organisations also provide ongoing sector development, professional pathways for artists and arts workers, and support a diversity of activity and access opportunities for all Canberrans.
The Program funds the delivery of activities that contribute to ACT Government priorities and collectively meet the three strategies highlighted in Canberra: Australia’s Arts Capital, Statement of Ambition for the Arts 2021-2026 (Statement of Ambition) and the ten focus areas outlined in Canberra: Australia’s Arts Capital – ACT Arts, Culture and Creative Policy 2022-2026 (the Policy).
Funding Categories
The Program has three streams:
- Arts Centre Investment provides multiyear funding of up to five years for ACT arts organisations that manage an ACT Government arts centre (ACT Government owned facility), aligned with a licence to occupy the centre.
- Arts Organisation Investment provides multiyear funding of up to four years for ACT arts organisations.
- Emerging Arts Organisation Investment provides two plus two years of funding up to $50,000 per year for organisations that have not received funding through the Program previously.
Organisations receiving Program funding may be eligible for Opportunity Investment support of up to $30,000 for one-off, unforeseen opportunities. This funding is intended to support unexpected, time-sensitive opportunities that fall outside of an organisation’s core programming or regular planning cycles.
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.
Funding round information
Applications are now open for the 2025 Arts Organisation Investment Program (the Program) closing 5:00pm 19 December 2025 for funding commencing from 1 January 2027 for organisations and 1 January 2028 for centres.
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.
Information sessions
artsACT will facilitate an online information session about the Emerging Arts Organisation Investment Program Funding Round at 4.30pm, Thursday 21 August 2025. Join the meeting now
artsACT will facilitate an online information session about the Arts Organisation Investment Program at 4.30pm, Thursday 11 September. Join the meeting now
Application process
Applications to the Program are to be submitted via the online artsACT grants portal. Applicants are 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 346 KB)
- ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Guidelines (PDF 661 KB)
- ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Guidelines (Word Document 902 KB)
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.
Reporting requirements
Arts organisations will be required to provide comprehensive and timely reporting on their funding through the Program. Reporting will be conducted through annual acquittals and revised program and budgets, yearly meetings with artsACT, and any other reporting as outlined in the Deed of Grant. Please see examples below.