Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging)

Key Information

• Grant amount: The successful recipient will receive $30,000 in funding towards their fellowship.
• Application opened: 27 July 2026
• Application closes: 14 September 2026, 2:00 pm

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

Who can apply

Individuals and groups are eligible to apply, providing that an individual or all members of the group are emerging/early career visual artists.

Individuals:

• Applicants must be 18 years or above
• Currently living in NSW (minimum 12 months)

Groups without legal status:

• All members must be 18 years or above
• All members must currently be living in NSW (minimum 12 months)
• Must have a written/ signed agreement between all members outlining roles and responsibilities, and their acceptance of the proposed project.

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.

What is an emerging / early career visual artist? 

An emerging or early career artist is someone who is at the beginning of their career, has created a modest independent body of work but hasn’t yet established public and industry awareness of their practice and reputation.

Types of projects funded under this grant

The NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging) recipient will undertake a self-directed program of professional development which may include research, travel, studio residencies, the creation of new work and/or mentorships, as select examples.

When the project can start and end

The fellowship must start after 1 August 2027 and is to be completed within a 2-year period.

The project should be started by 1 August 2027 and the project must be completed by 1 August 2029.

Who can’t apply

• Organisations, including Incorporated Entities, Companies and Trusts.
• You are a previous shortlisted applicant or have been a successful recipient of the NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging)
• Your proposed professional development activity/ies have already taken place or will be started and/or completed before 1 August 2027.
• You are a current employee of Create NSW or have been employed by Create NSW within the last 12 months.

Types of projects not funded under this grant

• Activities that are carried out to satisfy the course requirements of an educational institution, such as TAFE or university
• Activities that directly support the delivery of an educational program or course
• Arts and cultural activities that are led by non-professional artists
• Reimbursement to recover costs of items already purchased (such as flights, accommodation, and materials)
• Purchasing musical instruments, artworks, equipment (such as laptops, cameras, technical equipment, or machinery), or vehicles
• Capital works (infrastructure/building activities)
• Fundraising and donations
• Awards, prizes, competitions, or prize money
• Paying back loans
• Professional development related to filmmaking, screen production, mainstream animation or film festivals (funding programs for these areas are managed by Screen NSW). This does not include videos with direct involvement of artists, musicians and performers such as video art and video for performance.
• Professional development related to contemporary music (please refer to the glossary for this definition). Funding programs for contemporary music are managed by Sound NSW.

Example projects

The most recent Fellowship recipients include the following artists: Amelia Skelton (2026), Ali Tahayori (2025), Gillian Kayrooz (2024), Morgan Hogg (2023), Eddie Abd (2022), Dennis Golding (2020), Shivanjani Lal (2019), EO Gill (2018), Claudia Nicholson (2017), Consuelo Cavaniglia (2016), Heath Franco (2015), Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran (2014).

Additional eligibility requirements

Groups must have a written/signed agreement between all members outlining roles and responsibilities, and their acceptance of the proposed project.

Note: this will count as an application on behalf of all nominated group members. Those members will not be eligible to submit separate applications to the Fellowship.

One application per applicant will be assessed. If more than one application is submitted an applicant will be asked to nominate which application is progressed for assessment and all other applications will be withdrawn from consideration.