The grant supports NSW First Nations artists, practitioners and arts/cultural workers undertake self-directed professional development programs or opportunities for their personal, creative and career advancement.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: $30,000
- Application opened: 14 February 2022
- Application closed: 31 March 2022, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The grant is a fellowship program provides an opportunity for a NSW First Nations artist, knowledge holder or creative practitioner to undertake creative research that will work towards a presentation outcome at the State Library of NSW.
The successful applicant will be awarded $30,000 to conduct research and engage with the State Library collections, delving into subjects and materials from the Library’s NSW First Nations Collections. They will deliver a creative research project that engages the collection with a public outcome and must be completed in a 12 month period from July 2022.
This program aims to:
- invest in the career development of an artist, knowledge holder or creative practitioner who has the capacity to make an outstanding contribution to artistic practice through and archival/historical research or interpretation in the NSW First Nations context;
- support an artist, knowledge holder or creative practitioner at any stage of their career who has shown dedication and a high level of commitment to their practice to develop new work;
- offer industry mentorship to promote the practice of established artists during the creative residency program; and
- provide targeted support for NSW First Nations arts and culture to ensure its legacy is supported and preserved.
This program is delivered in partnership with the State Library of NSW.
This program is administered by Create NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible to submit for the NSW First Nations Creative Fellowship, you must be:
- an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individual
- a resident of NSW and/or have a strong cultural affiliation with country that is now called NSW;
- an Australian citizen; and
- over the age of 18.
If applying as an Individual:
- you can apply with no ABN but if successful will be required to either obtain an Individual/Sole Trader ABN, or engage a Funds Administrator
If applying as a Group, you can provide:
- a members’ Individual/Sole Trader ABN, or
- a Partnership ABN OR
- an Unincorporated Entity ABN
All other ABN’s are ineligible, including Company/Incorporated Association ABN’s.
Applicants can be at an emerging, mid-career or established stage of their career.
Who can’t apply
You are ineligible to apply for the NSW First Nations Creative Fellowship funding if:
- your project or program has already started, taken place or due to be completed before the funding period starts
- you are applying on behalf of an organisation
- you have received funding from Create NSW for the same project
- you are applying for filmmaking, screen production, mainstream animation or film festivals (see screen.nsw.gov.au for funding opportunities in this area).
Types of projects funded under this grant
This Fellowship will support an artist, knowledge holder or creative practitioner to undertake creative and/or critical research that engages with the historical, cultural, social and artistic collections held at the State Library of NSW and supports the recipient to develop a new body of work.
What can’t you apply for
Funding is not available to support:
- accredited study, training or university courses or education programs
- fundraising, awards or prize money
- the purchase of musical instruments, artworks or vehicles loan repayments
- the cost of plans, feasibility studies or architectural drawings.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
An Overview
- Overview of your work/projects to date, a description of your fellowship program, identifyingmentorships, residencies, research and outcomes. (Who, What, Where, When)
- A brief timeline of your proposed fellowship program listing key dates and outcomes
- Information on how this fellowship opportunity will benefit you at this stage of your career
- Any potential partnerships with communities or collaborations? You may consider engaging with communities and/or collaborating with other artists, arts/cultural workers, academics and/or organisations in your fellowship program
Your application will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Merit
- Impact
Merit criteria
- What is your fellowship’s vision and artistic rationale?
- What are the key objectives of your project?
- Who are the key fellowship personnel and partners (if applicable)? you will need to include their CVs or biographies.
- Quality of previous works.
You will need to provide:
- samples of work
- confirmation letters and/or letters of support
Impact criteria
- benefit to career and/or NSW audiences
- effective planning and use of resources/funding and good time management
Supporting Material
Support Material provided as attachments:
- up to three relevant and recent examples of your work (images, video, recordings, written material or links to websites);
- your CV (maximum one A4 page). If you are applying as a group or partnership you must provide a biography or CV for all members of the group/partnership; and
- confirmation letters and/or letters of support related to your project (provided as one document), such as from Elders, communities, partners, venues, key sector contacts, mentors and/or collaborators or other funding agencies.
Start the application
Applications for this grant are available via the Grants portal, Smartygrants.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for the Arts
Confirmation
You will receive an email confirmation from our secure online grants system.
Eligibility check
Your expression of interest (EOI) will be checked for eligibility. If eligible, your EOI will proceed to the two-stage assessment process.
If ineligible, you will be advised in writing within 14 days of the closing date and your application will not proceed to assessment.
Assessment Stage 1
Your EOI will be assessed by a sub-Committee made up of Aboriginal Board Members from Create NSW’s Artform Boards and representatives from the State Library of NSW against the published assessment criteria.
The Create NSW Artform Boards consist of representatives from leading NSW arts and cultural organisations,independent organisations and individual artists.
Assessment Stage 2
The assessors meet to determine their final recommendation. They will consider the assessment criteria, the demographics, distribution, range and scale of the initial recommendations. This may include prioritising NSW individuals and activities with outcomes that address Priority Areas, to ensure equity across the State and the
best outcomes for NSW Government investment.
Consultations
Create NSW may also request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.
Support and contact
Create NSW staff are available to provide information to applicants on the interpretation of these Guidelines, including the types of eligible projects for funding and advice on the application process.
Create NSW staff are here to help you and can be contacted between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
- Telephone: (02) 9228 4578
- Email: arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au
- Scheduling an online meeting to speak to Create staff through Picktime