The ACT Government is committed to strengthening its future bid for Canberra to become a UNESCO City of Design and to grow the reputation of Canberra, as a designed city, rich with talented artists and designers.
Becoming a City of Design will boost Canberra’s creative economy through knowledge-sharing, supporting local talent and businesses and encouraging innovation across sectors. It will celebrate Canberra’s unique design identity—including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander design—while fostering community pride, participation, and cultural exchange with the UNESCO Creative Cities Network of 350 cities.
Funding is available for projects by artists, designers, arts and cultural organisations and creative businesses based in Canberra:
- that demonstrate excellence in design and support Canberra’s ambition to be a global city of design, and
- to enable participation in the 2026 Craft + Design Canberra Festival (the Festival) taking place between 5 to 15 November 2026.
2026 Craft + Design Canberra Festival
Craft + Design Canberra, a not-for-profit organisation and one of the longest-running visual arts membership organisations in Australia presents the Festival biennially. The Festival celebrates Canberra as both a creative capital and a global city of design, connecting the community with makers, designers and innovators through a dynamic program of exhibitions, talks, tours, symposiums, workshops, open studios, design markets, and events.
The 2026 theme of ‘Dissent’ is intended to advocate for creativity as a powerful tool for questioning, challenging and reshaping societal norms. The Festival encourages alternative perspectives to foster critical dialogue and collaboration.
Funding Streams
The Fund has two funding streams:
- Major Projects - $5,000 up to $50,000
- Smaller Projects – up to $5,000.
In 2025-26 and 2026-27, a total of $600,000 is available across the two funding streams. Approximately $500,000 will be available for the Major Projects stream and approximately $100,000 will be available for the Smaller Projects stream. These amounts may vary depending on demand and the number of successful applications.
Major Projects
This funding stream will prioritise the development and implementation of new, high quality or ambitious activities that demonstrate excellence in design and can be presented as part of the Festival program from 5 to 15 November 2026 for activations and all of November 2026 for exhibitions. Activities presented outside of the Festival are also eligible if the activity strongly demonstrates against the aims of the Fund.
Applications closed 3 December 2025.
Smaller Projects
This funding stream is for smaller projects that contribute to the Festival program or can strongly demonstrate a contribution to Canberra as a global city of design.
Applications are now open and close 1 April 2027 with outcomes notified within 6 weeks of the application submission date.
Information Session
artsACT facilitated an online information session about the City of Design Project funding at 4.00pm, Thursday 6 November 2025.
This presentation is available for reference - City of Design Project Fund - Presentation
How to Apply
Applications to both funding streams must be submitted online via the artsACT grants portal.
Project Fund Guidelines
We encourage all applicants to thoroughly read through the City of Design Project Fund Guidelines and contact artsACT with any questions. Please also contact us to discuss any accessibility requirements you may have. You can either phone us on 6207 2384 or email artsACT@act.gov.au
- City of Design Project Fund Guidelines (PDF 703 KB)
- City of Design Project Fund Guidelines (Word Document 299 KB)