2026 Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging)

Program objective

The Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging) (VAFE) program is delivered with the curatorial and exhibition support of Artspace. The objective is to support NSW visual arts practitioners in the early stages of their career to challenge and expand their practice.

Up to 6 applicants will be shortlisted to take part in the fellowship exhibition at Artspace, Sydney in May 2026. At the exhibition opening, the fellowship of $30,000 will be awarded to 1 successful emerging visual artist to undertake a self-directed professional development program. This program could include research, travel, studio residencies, creation of new work, mentorships and other activities that align with the recipient’s practice and career progression.

Shortlisted artists will receive an artist fee to participate in the exhibition and may be asked by Artspace to participate in artist talks, other public programs, meetings with visiting curators, and media interviews to produce greater visibility for their practice. The shortlisted artists will be interviewed prior to the opening of the exhibition, as part of the assessment process to determine the fellowship recipient.

About Artspace

Artspace is one of the leading institutions for the production and presentation of contemporary art in the Asia Pacific. Their expansive, multi-platform approach to programming includes new commissions, exhibitions, performances, studio residencies, publishing, public programs, learning and outreach initiatives, and advocacy. Artspace is where artists of all generations test new ideas and shape public conversation. Embracing risk, experimentation, collaboration and advocacy, Artspace’s mission is to enhance our culture and support community vibrancy through a deeper engagement with contemporary art.

Credit:  VAFE Shortlisted artists 2025 The shortlisted finalists for 2025 are Ellen Ferrier, Ellie Hannon, Ali Noble, Vedika Rampal, Joel Sherwood Spring and Ali Tahayori.

This program is administered by Create NSW.

Eligibility

What your application needs to include

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: the Director, Program Development and Delivery

Pre-eligibility   

After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email from SmartyGrants. Create NSW staff will check eligibility.  

Assessment Stage 1 

 VAFE Advisory Panel will score your application based on the criteria.   

 VAFE Advisory Panel may:  

• set aside an application if it is below acceptable standard in any of the published criteria.  
• ask for it to be reviewed by Create NSW First Nations staff. This is for applications that are working with First Nations arts and culture.   

Assessment Stage 2   

VAFE Advisory Panel member’s assessment scores will be amalgamated and presented at the assessment meeting to determine recommendations. 

The VAFE Advisory Panel will discuss and consider the assessment criteria. 

This may include prioritising applicants that address Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) Strategic Priority Areas, to ensure equity across the State. 

Up to 6 applicants will be shortlisted and will receive an artist fee and curatorial support to participate in the 2026 VAFE exhibition at Artspace. 

Assessment Stage 3 

VAFE Advisory Panel will interview the shortlisted artists in the week prior to the opening of the exhibition as the final part of the assessment process for the award of the fellowship. One fellowship of $30,000 will be announced on the opening night of the exhibition.  

Assessment process considerations

Applicants should note that: 

• The NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support.
• You are not guaranteed funding even if your application meets the published criteria.
• If you are successful, your application may not be funded to the amount you requested. 

Create NSW may, at its sole discretion and at any stage of the application process, do all or any of the following: 

• Require additional information from an applicant.
• May request applicants to provide clarification or additional information regarding the eligibility criteria.
• Change the scope of the requirements of these guidelines.
• Vary, amend (including by replacement), or terminate the application process. 
• Re-open an application after the closing date, provided it doesn’t give the applicant an advantage over other applicants. 
• Consider any non-conforming or late application.  
• Request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.  

Successful Grant Applications

If your application is successful: you will be sent a funding agreement (contract). This outlines the conditions of funding, how you will be paid and your reporting requirements.

All applicants must have an active ABN with a nominated bank account or provide details of a funds administrator.

• Individuals must have a sole trader ABN or private company ABN (only if the individual is the sole director) or a funds administrator and a nominated bank account.
• Unincorporated groups, associations, organisations or other entities that do not have legal status must be contracted by an individual or a funds administrator on behalf of the group, association or organisation.
• Partnerships and organisations with legal status must have an ABN which matches their entity name and a nominated bank account.

The Nominated Bank Account must be a separate account at a financial institution used solely for the Grant, or an existing general account at a financial institution where adequate internal financial controls are in place to identify the Grant.

All applicants must:

• complete an acquittal at the end of the funding period. This may include an online meeting to discuss outcomes of the project.
• acknowledgment of Create NSW funding in all publicity materials.

You may be asked by Create NSW staff to provide additional information as a special condition to the agreement:

• a Connection to Place Statement, reference letter or letters from First Nations peers or community groups, to show details of your Cultural Artform Affirmation and how you are working with First Nations Protocols and ICIP.
• a detailed budget.
• other information as specified by the VAFE Advisory Panel.

Contracts will not be issued, and payments will not be made, until all Create NSW outstanding acquittals have been submitted.

Feedback on Create NSW project funding application results

Create NSW staff continue to help and support applicants who are preparing new funding applications. However, we do not provide individualised feedback on past applications. This is so we can continue to meet service standards by supporting applicants applying in future rounds. 

Applicants are encouraged to book an appointment with an Arts Funding and Development staff member to clarify any questions related to the application process.

Publication of grants information

The Grants Administration Guide (Guide) requires that certain information is published in relation to grants awarded no later than 45 calendar days after the grant agreement takes effect (see section 6.5 of the Guide and Appendix A to the Guide).

This information is also open access information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act), which must be made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.

In accordance with these requirements, relevant information about the grants awarded will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder as soon as possible after the funding agreement is executed. However, if due to the commercial-in-confidence nature of the information provided, the amount of funding provided will not be published.

All records in relation to this decision will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998 (NSW).

• If you agree we will publish your name, your LGA, primary location, artform, project title and description and amount of funding for media and communication purposes.
• This is subject to privacy legislation.

Please refer to Information for Funding Recipients for more detailed processes for successful applicants.

This includes:

• Program evaluation
• Conflict of interest management
• Organisations working with First Nations people or communities
• Complaint handling, access to information and privacy

Anticipated assessment outcome date is within one week of the final approval of funding commitments by government. The anticipated assessment outcome timeframe is sixteen weeks after closing date.

Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is within one month of successful notification.

Support and contact