First Nations Creative Careers Grants

The First Nations Creative Careers Grants Program was a pilot funding program, delivered in 2020/21 and 2022/23, which has now concluded.

The First Nations Creative Careers Grants provide professional development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, artisans, and creatives.

  • Grants up to $20,000 are available
  • Applications closed: Sunday 30 April 2023
  • Notification of results: by 2 June 5:00pm 2023

    The program is funded by the City of Adelaide and Arts South Australia to facilitate and increase participation and input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives in the city.

    View the First Nations Creative Careers Grants funded 2022/23


    UCity First Nations Creative Career Grant Recipient 2023

    Who can apply?

    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals based in South Australia at any stage of their creative career
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collectives and legally constituted organisations based in South Australia
    • South Australian arts and cultural organisations and Statutory Authorities funded by the South Australian Government in partnership with independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who must be the primary beneficiaries

    Note: priority will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led applications.

      More information

      Please read the program guidelines below, or download the PDF document.

      Contact us at:

      View the previously funded First Nations Creative Career Grants.

      First Nations Creative Careers Grants will provide professional development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, through:

      • Mentorships, fellowships, internships, and placements that demonstrate strong developmental content; or
      • To enable a multidisciplinary approach to public art. The definition of public art includes permanent, temporary and ephemeral works such as installations, sculptures, murals, mosaics, projection, lighting, soundscapes, multi-media, performance-based work. It also extends to unique street design and furniture elements created by an artist to add value to public realm projects such as windows, gates, grates, light fittings, bollards etc.

      Grants up to $20,000 will be available through a competitive process for South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, collectives, and organisations, as well as South Australian organisations applying for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific professional development opportunity.

      The program is funded by Arts South Australia and the City of Adelaide to foster leadership and career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts workers.

      Priority Areas

      • enhance confidence, experience and skill of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in arts sector
      • support career advancement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and collectives
      • increase participation, visibility, and representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in City life

      Who can apply?

      • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals based in South Australia at any stage of their creative career
      • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collectives and legally constituted organisations based in South Australia
      • South Australian arts and cultural organisations and Statutory Authorities funded by the South Australian Government in partnership with independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who must be the primary beneficiaries
      • priority will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led applications

      Eligibility

      • career and professional development activities to be undertaken between July 2023 and end December 2024
      • professional development opportunities that demonstrate a connection with the City of Adelaide. For example, professional development activities taking place within the City of Adelaide boundary, and/or activities that support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives currently studying, living, or with studios based in the City of Adelaide including North Adelaide
      • it will be a condition of funding that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples based in South Australia are the primary beneficiaries

      What you can apply for:

      • artist, creative or professional fees associated with a professional development opportunity
      • professional development, training and skills development
      • research and development
      • workshops, short courses, conferences, masterclasses or significant events
      • intergenerational learning, i.e. cultural maintenance and cultural practices under the guidance of an Elder and/or senior cultural leader with a creative outcome
      • residencies
      • collaborations
      • mentorships
      • work placements and internships
      • living allowance, travel costs, and/or materials (directly relating to the professional development opportunity)

      Assessment Criteria

      Criteria

      Weighting

      Proposal

      • extent to which the application is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led
      • quality of the professional development opportunity and its relevance to the art sector
      • partners, mentors, and/or host organisation involved have capacity and appropriate experience
      • strength of connection with the City of Adelaide

      40%

      Viability

      • professional development opportunity is realistic and well planned
      • budget includes fair remuneration for creatives
      • evidence of additional resources and support including in-kind contributions or other sources of income

      20%

      Impact

      • capacity to develop new networks, collaborations, partnerships and pathways for creative and career development
      • capacity built for future participation in, and contribution to, art sector by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

      40%

      What will not be funded?

      Applications will be ineligible if any of the following apply:

      • the application does not meet the identified strategic priorities of the City of Adelaide
      • the application will contravene an existing City of Adelaide Policy or Operating Guideline
      • the application is for costs that have already received funding from City of Adelaide and/or Arts South Australia
      • applicants who have not acquitted on previous City of Adelaide and/or Arts South Australia funding
      • activities, events or programs that are duplicating existing services
      • permit fees and other non-professional development costs
      • applications that don’t demonstrate a connection to the City of Adelaide
      • professional development opportunities already completed or due to be completed before the commencement of the funding period (July 2023 - end December 2024)
      • applications seeking reimbursement of funds already spent
      • the funding request is for organisational core operational activity
      • the funding request is for the purchase of large capital items or renovations
      • activities with safety or environmental hazards
      • requests from commercial organisations operating on an expected profit basis, including ticketed paid entry events or memberships (unless it can be demonstrated that there is significant benefit for the city, and it strongly aligns with the program’s priorities)
      • the applicant undertakes canvassing or lobbying of Elected Members and/or employees of the City of Adelaide and its subsidiaries in relation to the funding request during the application and assessment period

      Required Information

      As part of the application form you will need to provide information about:

      • if an individual, a short biography about yourself e.g., a curriculum vitae, and how you will benefit from the opportunity
      • where relevant, information about the organisation, partners and/or mentors and their experience in this area
      • the opportunity and its potential impact
      • a breakdown on how the grant money will be spent
      • where applicable, information on any additional funding received (other than through City of Adelaide or Arts South Australia) to support this professional development opportunity
      • applications made by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individual or organisation will be eligible for flexible submission approaches e.g., video submissions, face-to-face meetings, other suitable methods by prior arrangement. Please contact us to discuss

      Key Dates

      • applications open: Tuesday 14 March 2023
      • applications close: Sunday 30 April 2023
      • notification of results: by 2 June 5:00pm 2023
      • successful applicants will be contacted about their funding agreement
      • on completion of their project, applicants will be required to deliver an acquittal process arranged by the City of Adelaide. Successful applicants will also be asked to provide evidence of financial expenditure

      Application Process

      • applicants can contact a City of Adelaide Case Manager Officer on (08) 8203 7807 or (08) 8203 7050 and/or email [email protected] to discuss any questions about the application form, the application process or eligibility criteria. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals or organisations can arrange a flexible submission approach such as video submissions or face-to-face meetings (during working hours), if preferred
      • applicants seeking funding can apply by submitting an application form online via the City of Adelaide SmartyGrants Portal within the advertised timeframes
      • register if you are a new SmartyGrants user
      • if you have an existing SmartyGrants account, you can use it to complete an application
      • click on the “First Nations Creative Careers Grant Round 2022/23”
      • click on “Start a submission” to access the application form
      • complete the online application form
      • your application form can be saved and updated at any time until you click “Submit”
      • you will receive an automated response once your application has been submitted
      • late submissions will not be accepted

      Assessment Process

      Once submitted, an application will be assessed according to:

      • eligibility
      • assessment criteria
      • available funding

      Eligible applications will be assessed against the assessment criteria by a panel which will include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation.

      All successful applicants will be required to:

      • provide copies of public liability (minimum $20M) and employment insurance
      • sign off on the funding terms and conditions
      • provide a tax compliant invoice for payment/s
      • ensure all people working or volunteering with children as part of this project have a valid Working with Children Check

      Application Support


      The First Nations Creative Careers Grants are brought to you by the City of Adelaide in partnership with Arts South Australia.


      Banner image: Teen Protest Art Workshop delivered as part of Tikari Rigney’s First Nations Curatorial Residence at Adelaide Contemporary Experimental and supported through the City of Adelaide and Arts South Australia pilot First Nations professional development grants (from left to right): Simone Tur, Natalie Harkin, Tikari Rigney, Jayda Wilson. Photography by Thomas McCammon. Image courtesy of Adelaide Contemporary Experimental.

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