2027 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 July 2027. At the exhibition opening, the fellowship of $30,000 will be awarded to 1 shortlisted 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.

The 6 shortlisted artists will receive 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.

Image: (Left to right) Sue Jo Wright, Virginia Keft, Tia Madden, Amelia Skelton, Charles Levi, and collaborative duo Natasha Dubler and Caitlin Dubler. Credit: Daniel Boud, 2026

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: Director, Program Development and Delivery, Create NSW

Eligibility Assessment 

All submitted applications are initially reviewed against the eligibility criteria set out in the program guidelines. Eligibility assessments will be conducted by Create NSW staff.  If Create NSW need more information to assess your eligibility, we will contact you in writing before making a decision.

If there is still uncertainty, the Associate Director, Program Development and Partnerships will make the final decision.

If your application is ineligible, we will notify you by email within 14 days of the closing date.

Applications that are eligible will move to the next stage of assessment.

Application Assessment

Assessment Stage 1 

Applications will be assessed by a VAFE Advisory Panel. The panel includes representatives from Artspace, Create NSW’s Visual Arts Artform Board and a previous VAFE fellowship recipient. Create NSW may also seek advice from external experts at any stage of the assessment process. The panel assesses all eligible applications against the published criteria.

Panel members score each application. Scores are then combined and discussed at a meeting. The panel then make final recommendations. In making recommendations, the panel may consider: geographic and artform distribution and the range and scale of projects. The panel may prioritise applications that best meet the program objectives, support fair and equitable outcomes and deliver the strongest overall value for NSW Government investment. The Director, Program Development and Delivery, Create NSW, makes the final decision.

Up to 6 applicants will be shortlisted to progress to Stage 2. Shortlisted applicants will receive an artist fee of $800, curatorial support from Artspace, and the opportunity to present work in the 2027 VAFE exhibition at Artspace.

Note: Create NSW may contact applicants during the assessment process to request further information or clarification.

Meeting the assessment criteria does not guarantee progression to Stage 2.

Due diligence and other checks  

At any time during the assessment process, Create NSW may undertake due diligence or other checks on an application. This may include, but is not limited to:  

• criminal checks  
• internal conflict checks 
• commissioning or completing research, analysis and modelling to support assessments 

 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.  

Create NSW has the discretion to reject, refuse or cease assessment of an application at any time including where false/misleading information is provided, or probity concerns arise. 

Assessment Stage 2 

The VAFE Advisory Panel will interview the shortlisted artists in the week prior to the opening of the Artspace 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.  

Recommendation and decision making 

The Director, Program Development and Delivery, Create NSW, makes the final decision to determine the successful fellowship recipient. Where applicable, advice from a probity advisor may be considered in making the final decision.  

Assessment process considerations

Applicants should note that: 

• The NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support.
• Meeting the published criteria does not guarantee selection as a shortlisted artist or being awarded the fellowship.
• If you are successful, Create NSW reserves the right not to fund the application at the amount you requested. 

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

• Require additional information from an applicant.
• 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 Fellowship Recipient

If you are the successful fellowship recipient, you will be sent a Funding Agreement (contract). This outlines the conditions of funding, how you will be paid and your reporting requirements.

The successful applicant must have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) with a nominated bank account or be administered by an arts/cultural funds administrator (auspicer) at time of contracting (if successful).

If the lead applicant ABN is a private company ABN, ASIC information will need to be provided. For more information on ABN and entities please use this link.

The successful fellowship recipient must:

• complete an acquittal at the end of the funding period.
• acknowledge 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 application results

Create NSW staff will not provide individualised feedback on VAFE applications.

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 (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 grant funding is approved or declined.  

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

Successful grant applications

• Grant agreement

The NSW Government makes no funding or other commitment to the successful applicant until all parties have agreed to the Funding Agreement (contract). You must not make financial commitments reliant on this grant until the Funding Agreement is accepted.   

The Funding Agreement can only be signed by the individual applicant, representative of the collective or the authorised officers. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure signatories have the capacity and availability to understand, complete and sign documents, to carefully read the Funding Agreement, and for it to be signed by the correct authorised signatories.  

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

• Grant payment

An invoice template is provided with the Funding Agreement. The grant will be paid to the nominated bank account only after the Funding Agreement has been accepted by the recipient. 

• Variations to the grant agreement

Any variations to the Funding Agreement, including project scope or activities, location or timeframes outlined in the application form and Grant Guidelines must be submitted for approval by the Department. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of the grant offer. 

Create NSW has the discretion to approve or reject any variation request from a grantee where the funding has already been paid.  

All requests for a variation must be submitted in writing to Create NSW. To request a variation, or if you are unsure if your enquiry qualifies as a variation, contact arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au.

• Unspent funds

All grant funds are required to be spent on the approved project, and any unspent funds must be returned to the Department in accordance with the Funding Agreement.  

• Indicative reporting and acquittal requirements

You must provide a brief report as set out in the Funding Agreement. We may provide sample templates for these reports. 

We will expect you to report on: 

• activities undertaken and outcomes 
• expenditure of the grant

Acknowledgement

All recipients of NSW Government funding should acknowledge the financial support in accordance with the Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines for Recipients of NSW Government available here. 

You must seek our written consent prior to any significant public announcement, marketing, press announcements, or official launch in relation to the grant. 

The NSW Government logo should be used on all materials related to grants provided to the funded activity. Whenever the logo is used, the publication must also acknowledge the NSW Government. 

Additional information and resources

• Evaluation 

The Department regularly evaluates its initiatives to determine the effectiveness of implementation and to examine the extent to which outcomes and objectives have been achieved. Evaluations are conducted and published in line with requirements from NSW Treasury and the NSW Grants Administration Guide.  

Information from your application, grant activities and reports you have submitted may be used for this purpose. Create NSW may seek to interview you or ask you for more information to further understand your experience with the grant program, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in achieving its objective(s) and outcomes. All applicants, whether successful or unsuccessful, may be contacted to participate in interviews or surveys for evaluation purposes.  

You consent to the use of your information for this purpose by:  

• the Department 
• NSW Treasury  
• the Minister for the Arts office  
• the NSW Ombudsman and Audit Office of NSW  
• consultants and advisers  
• any agency or body of the NSW Government, or any other organisation or individual considered by the office to have a need or an entitlement to know that information (including any federal, state or territory agency or body), where that need or entitlement to know that information arises out of or in connection with the purpose above.  

• Complaint handling

Details on how we handle complaints, access to information and your private information is available here.

• Access to information

The GIPA Act provides for the proactive release of government information by agencies and gives The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA) provides for the proactive release of government information by agencies and gives members of the public an enforceable right to access government information held by an agency (which includes Ministerial offices). Access to government information is only to be restricted if there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. 

The NSW Legislative Council has the power to order the production of State papers by the Executive Government. Standing Order 52 provides that the House may order documents to be tabled by the Government in the House. The Cabinet Office coordinates the preparation of the papers – that is, the return to order.   

The return to order may contain privileged and public documents. Privileged documents are available only to members of the Legislative Council.  

Note that documents submitted as part of a grant application may be subject to an application under GIPA or an order for papers under Standing Order 52.   

Further information on how DCITHS holds information, and how to access it, is available here. 

• Conflict of interest management - including Cultural Ethics

Conflicts of interest are any factors that could compromise the judgment, decisions, or actions of a person or group of people. 

Conflicts may arise if a party in the grants administration process—whether Department staff, assessment panel members, the applicant, or staff employed by the applicant: 

• Has a professional, commercial, or personal relationship with a party who can influence the application selection process 
• Has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation which is likely to interfere with or restrict the applicant from carrying out the proposed activities fairly and independently 
• Has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation from which they will receive personal gain because the applicant received a grant 
• are involved in any other situations which could lead to unfavourable advantage

Conflicts of interest for the Department will be handled as set out in the Department’s Code of Ethics and Conduct.  

Applicants must disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest as part of their application or, if successful, as they arise during project implementation.  

You must inform us as soon as you identify an actual, apparent or perceived conflict of interest.  

Note: You are advised to contact us if you are unsure whether something constitutes an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest. 

Risks are managed in accordance with Department’s risk management framework. Risk management, including fraud controls, will occur throughout the grant life cycle. 

• Confidentiality

Successful applicants may be required to keep the outcome of the application process confidential until the Government makes a public announcement. The Department follows all requirements of confidentiality required as part of the grants administration and assessment process as outlined in the NSW Grants Administration Guide.  

Unless otherwise stated, any commercial-in-confidence provisions (as defined under the GIPA Act) provided by you as part of, or in connection with, a registration, application or negotiation process will be treated confidentially by the office. We may disclose commercial-in-confidence information provided by you to the following parties:  

• The Minister or Minister’s office.  
• the NSW Ombudsman and Audit Office of NSW. 
• consultants and advisers engaged by the Department.  
• any agency or body of the NSW Government, or any other organisation or individual considered by the office to have a need or an entitlement to know that information (including any federal, state or territory agency or body), where the need or entitlement to know that information arises out of or in connection with the office’s assessment, verification or due diligence of any aspect of your application; and  
• where authorised or required to by law. 

If we disclose commercial-in-confidence information to any of the above parties, we will inform the party that the information is strictly confidential. We will otherwise only disclose commercial-in-confidence information provided by you with your consent. 

• Privacy

The Department will collect and store the information you voluntarily provide to enable the implementation of this grant program.  

The Department is required to comply with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act). The Department collects the minimum personal information to enable it to contact an organisation and to assess the merits of an application. Applicants must ensure that people whose personal details are supplied with applications are aware that the Department is being supplied with this information and how this information will be used. 

The Department treats your personal information in accordance with the PPIP Act and the Department’s privacy policy. This includes letting you know:  

• what personal information is collected.  
• why your personal information is collected; and  
• who your personal information is given to.  

The personal information will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected unless an exemption applies. 

Anticipated assessment outcome date is November 2026.

Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is within 45 days of announcement.

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