The Ian Potter Cultural Trust's Emerging Artist Grants is sponsored by The Ian Potter Cultural Trust (a separate charitable trust of The Ian Potter Foundation). Supports exceptionally talented early-career Australian artists across all artforms for professional development opportunities, typically overseas. This can include residencies, workshops, conferences, mentorships, and study tours.

How to Apply | The Ian Potter Cultural Trust How applications are assessed Learn about the Emerging Artist Grants criteria, eligibility and application process. Emerging Artist Grants program This information relates only to applying for an Emerging Artist Grant. The Ian Potter Cultural Trust runs funding rounds through which individual artists can apply for grants of up to $15,000.

The Trust funds nationally and supports artists working across the spectrum of the arts, from traditional art forms through to experimental mediums. Before starting an application for an Emerging Artist Grant, please carefully review the information on this page to ensure you are eligible, your development opportunity meets the funding criteria, and you understand the application process.

All applicants must review the Trust's Standard Grant Conditions . Lyla Levy Jordan performing with Yuriko Watanabe at Piere Boulez Saal, Berlin. Image: Bonnie Britain.

Lyla Levy Jordan performing with Yuriko Watanabe at Piere Boulez Saal, Berlin. Image: Bonnie Britain. Current Round | Round 2, 2026 Tuesday 23 June 2026, 5PM AEST For travel/projects after Eligibility Criteria: Watch the Video To be eligible for funding, applicants must: Be a minimum of 18 years old when they apply.

Be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia, with access to an Australian bank account in their name. Make a reasonable personal financial contribution to their project. Demonstrate exceptional talent, initiative, and passion for their work.

Classify as an emerging or early-career artist*. *As a general guide, the Trust considers emerging and early-career artists to be within 10 years of attaining their first formal arts qualification in their area of practice (such as an undergraduate degree or equivalent). This does not mean applicants need to have attained formal qualifications in their area of practice to be considered for a grant.

Where an applicant does not have formal training, the beginning of their practice is commonly marked by a significant recognition of the artist's work and the artist's vocational commitment to ongoing practice. Visit our FAQs for further clarification. Individuals who have received or acquitted a grant from the Trust within the last two years.

Artistic groups such as a string quartet or comedy duo cannot submit a single application on behalf of multiple individuals. For artists seeking funding for a collaborative development project, each artist must submit an individual online application. The Trust primarily supports projects with structured professional development and networking opportunities in an international context.

Study tours that have a clear skills development focus Masterclasses and private lessons Conferences and workshops Postgraduate study with a focus on professional development and artistic practice where no equivalent exists in Australia. Professional development programs combining multiple opportunities can be applied for as a single project. For example, a series of residencies or a workshop followed by private lessons.

The Trust primarily funds projects undertaken overseas. Development projects in Australia will only be considered for funding in exceptional circumstances. This includes distinguished or extraordinary opportunities that will offer exceptional benefits to an individual's creative practice.

The Trust may also consider supporting the purchase of non-standard musical instruments or equipment in particular circumstances . Opportunities and projects that fall into the following categories are ineligible. Projects for which the sole purpose is an exhibition, performance, or making a work (such as a recording or publication).

This includes performances at festivals. Undergraduate degree courses. Postgraduate study being undertaken through an Australian institution within Australia.

Projects that are already underway or will commence before the date indicated in our funding rounds; the Trust does not fund retrospectively. Applications that the Trust has previously declined. Applicants may re-apply if seeking funding for a different project.

How applications are assessed Applications are reviewed for eligibility, assessed by external practice area experts and then considered by the Board of Trustees. Our external experts and Trustees are looking for well-researched projects that demonstrate thorough planning and offer the time and scope to gain maximum benefit from the development experience.

We support applicants who can demonstrate initiative, exceptional talent, and the ability to realise their ambitions. Applications will be assessed on the following criteria: Applicant's talent and demonstrated commitment to their practice. Relevance and benefits of the development experience to the applicant's career development.

Viability of the proposed project. Alignment of the proposed project with the Trust's funding principles. Due to the high volume of applications, the Trust is unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Application Process: Watch the Video Instructions for preparing an application Step 1: Review all the information on this page. Step 2: Identify which Funding Round you wish to apply in, and note the key dates (application open and close and earliest commencement date for eligible projects). Step 3: Utilise the Application Guide drafting documents.

Step 4: Click the Apply Now link at the bottom of this page. This link will only appear when a funding round is open. You can preview the application form .

Step 6: Complete our eligibility quiz; this must be successfully completed before you can continue with an application. Step 7: Complete the online application form questions. Step 8: Upload all the required documents and provide links to your support material.

This includes your CV, project budget, project itinerary, references, confirmation of your professional development opportunity and examples of work. Step 9: Submit your application before the funding round close date. You will be unable to access the application form after 5 pm AED/ST on the closing date.

Applying while overseas? We recommend submitting your application a day early. If you are in a different time zone, please note that the application form within GivingData may incorrectly list the due date and time.

Always refer to the date and time listed on our website for the funding round you are applying within. The application portal will always close at 5 pm AED/ST. Applications are reviewed by external experts and then considered by the Board of Trustees.

The funding round you applied within lists a general date for the announcement of grants awarded. You will be advised of the outcome of your application by email. If successful, you will be asked to confirm your grant and submit your banking details for payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

Notification of your application's success will include the Standard Grant Conditions , which you must read carefully. If you do not wish to proceed with the grant or if there have been any changes to the project you proposed in your application, please contact the Trust as soon as possible and prior to providing your banking details.

After completing your project and travel, you must acquit your grant by submitting a report in accordance with our Standard Grant Conditions. Further information for grantees can be viewed here . Our top tips: watch the video After reviewing all the information on this page, we encourage applicants to: Visit our FAQs to further understand the Emerging Artist Grants program funding criteria and application process.

Read our Grantee Stories and Annual Reports for examples of what and whom we fund. See our Application Guide for tips on preparing your application, supporting documents and material. Utilise the application drafting documents in the Application Guide (i.e. sample application form, sample budget, budget template, sample itinerary and itinerary template).

Please note that applications must be completed via the application portal below (this link will only be live during an open funding round). Seek funding from other sources to ensure the best chance of your project's success. These might include other trusts and foundations, scholarships and awards, service clubs, family, or businesses.

Contact us if you have any further questions about your eligibility, project, application or support materials. Create an account in GivingData, our grant management system, and start your application. Level 3, 111 Collins Street This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Emerging Performers Fellowships Ian Potter Moving Image Commission We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work.

We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.