Art Business – First Nations Development Fund

This Fund provides grants from $10,000 to $50,000 to build sustainable business practices and support economic and capacity-building opportunities. The opportunity is open to First Nations individuals and micro-organisations working in any artform and creative business.

Grants can be used to support, professional and workforce development, governance training, capacity building, temporary staffing, marketing, seed funding, building digital capabilities and strategic planning.

This fund should improve business skill, capacity and financial stability to increase opportunity for growth and elevate capabilities.

The First Nations Creative Business Fund is for projects beginning after Tuesday 12 February 2025. Funded activities must last no longer than 12 months from the proposed start date.

This new initiative is part of Creative Australia’s First Nations First industry development programs that outline our commitment to First Nations arts and culture. Creative Australia undertook extensive consultation to seek feedback on priorities and needs of the sector in response to the Australian Government’s shared vision for Australia, Pillar 1, First Nations First – Revive: a place for every story and a story for every place.

Eligibility

Who can apply

• You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident to apply or an organisation based in Australia
• You must be a First Nations individual, group, or micro-organisation of no more than 5 FTE (full time equivalent) staff.

Please note: You can only submit one application for this grant initiative.

Who can’t apply

You can’t apply to this fund if:

• you have an overdue report for another Creative Australia grant
• you owe money to Creative Australia
• your organisation is not First Nations led
• your project is already funded by Creative Australia
• you are receiving Multi-Year Investment from Creative Australia.
• you are receiving operational funding from State of Federal bodies
• your organisation is part of a larger business unit such as a council, tertiary institution, Land Council, and Aboriginal Corporation

What the fund can be used for

Activities related to the development and impact of your creative business.

Activities include but are not limited to:

• An artist or designer purchasing a graphic design program, a short course in the program and a tablet to increase the mobility and quality of their design services
• A musician purchasing a digital audio workshop, mentoring and studio time to boost the professional quality of their music
• Community consultation and temporary marketing staffing to expand the audience and network of a growing organisation
• Access costs are legitimate expenses and may be included in your application. We encourage applicants to ensure that their work is accessible to everyone
• Build e commerce and digital platforms to streamline your business activities.

What can’t be applied for

You can’t apply for:

• Individuals and organisations which are not delivering cultural, creative or artistic work
• activities that have already taken place
• activities that have already been funded by Creative Australia (for example, through your multi-year investment)
• activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to our First Nations Cultural & Intellectual Property Protocols.