• applications will be available by mid November 2026
• applications close on Tuesday 6 April 2027, 3.00pm AEST
• application outcomes in November 2027.

Who can apply

Applications will only be accepted from organisations who submit a pre-application by Tuesday 27 October 2026, 3.00pm AEDT and are confirmed as eligible to apply. 

Who can’t apply

You can’t apply if:

• your pre-application was not confirmed as eligible
• you have an overdue grant report
• you have overdue multi-year investment reporting
• you owe money to Creative Australia
• your organisation is not legally constituted in Australia
• you are an individual or group
• your organisation is registered as a Trust
• you receive multi-year investment through the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework.

What can be applied for

We accept applications from organisations that develop, create and/or present artistic and cultural programs.

It is the intention of this category to invest in organisations that are part of the small to medium arts and cultural sector. Large, well-resourced organisations or institutions seeking investment in multi-year arts programs may not be considered a priority for investment in this category.

What can’t be applied for

You can’t apply for:

• programs of activity that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, arts professionals, audiences or communities
• programs of activity that do not have a clearly defined arts or cultural component
• programs of activity that are primarily for the delivery of services
• programs of activity that have already taken place
• programs of activity engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to Creative Australia First Nations Cultural & Intellectual Property Protocols.

Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts

All applications involving First Nations artists, communities or subject matter must adhere to these Protocols, provide evidence of this in their application and support material. More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here.

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework

All approved applicants are required to comply with all Australian law relating to employing or engaging people who work or volunteer with children, including working with children checks and mandatory reporting. Approved organisations who provide services directly to children, or whose funded activities involve contact with children, will additionally be required to implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

Your application will be reviewed by the arts practice panel you apply to. If you submit your pre-application to more than one arts practice panel, we will recommend which arts practice panel your organisation should apply to.

This recommendation will be informed by the information provided in your pre-application however the final selection of arts practice panel is at the discretion of your organisation.

The arts practice panels are:

•    First Nations*
•    Community arts and cultural development
•    Dance
•    Experimental and emerging arts
•    Literature
•    Multi arts
•    Music
•    Theatre
•    Visual arts

* Only Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisations led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can submit applications to this panel. 

First Nations organisations must have a governing body that includes a majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Applicants work with all areas of artistic and cultural expression, including music, dance, visual arts, theatre, literature, experimental arts, and community arts and cultural development.

First Nations organisations may alternatively choose to have their application reviewed under a different arts practice panel.

Learn more about arts practice panels.

Assessment criteria  

We will review your application against the three assessment criteria listed below. 

Under each criterion are bullet points indicating what industry advisors may consider when reviewing your application. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed. 

First criterion 

Quality of artistic or cultural program and strategic plan 

We will review your organisation’s artistic program and strategic plan. We may consider your organisation’s track record and vision supports: 

• the development of great art, artists and arts workers
• engaging arts experiences
• expanding access to arts experiences
• activity that connects communities
• creative work that reflects contemporary Australia
• a dynamic sector that is diverse and inclusive
• the progression of your artistic ambition over the four year period
• enabling risk taking and experimentation in the realisation of works
• a vibrant society and culture. 

Second criterion 

Organisational capacity 

We will review your organisation’s track record of delivery, and capacity to deliver its vision. We may consider: 

• the experience of the people leading and governing your organisation
• the financial health of your organisation and the factors that have impacted it
• realistic and achievable planning and priorities, including the effective use of resources
• the diversity and scale of income and co-investment you generate and receive
• whether your work is supported by meaningful evaluation
• how you demonstrate cultural competencies and adherence to relevant cultural protocols, particularly if your organisation works with diverse artists, audiences or communities. Where relevant, evidence that the Protocols for First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to. 

Third criterion 

Alignment with the Objectives of Creative Australia 

We will review how your organisation’s vision aligns with one or more of the objectives in Creative Australia’s Corporate Plan 2026–30. Our Corporate Plan 2026–30 is informed by the strategic priorities of the Creative Australia Strategy 2026–30. It outlines what we will focus on to achieve them and how we will measure our progress.  

The new Creative Australia Corporate Plan will be published on the Creative Australia website in July 2026.  

Review process

Once you submit your application, we will send you an email acknowledging that we have received it.

Applications will be prioritised by Creative Australia representatives and reviewed by expert industry representatives called industry advisors. While applications will be prioritised for review, industry advisors will have access to all applications submitted to the category for their review.

Industry advisors are experts in their field with relevant experience and knowledge of an arts practice or sector. Industry advisors will review applications under arts practice areas relevant to their knowledge and experience.

Industry advisors will make recommendations for Creative Australia to consider when making the final decisions on which organisations to invest in for 2029–32.

The full list of industry advisors will be published on our website following notification of the outcomes in November 2027.

Further detail on industry advice can be found here.

The types of questions in the application form include: 

• the arts practice area under which you nominate your application to be reviewed
• a brief summary of your organisation, including an outline of your core activity and the role you play in the arts and cultural sector
• a description of your organisation’s audiences and how you engage them
• your organisation’s vision for 2029–32, and how four year investment will help you achieve it
• a brief summary of your organisation’s key achievements over the past three years
• demographic characteristics about the team that will be responsible for delivering activities and programs in your organisation
• the members of your governing board (or other governing body) including their length of service, demographic characteristics and their ABRS Director ID status
• how your organisation prepares for leadership and board or governance transitions, both planned and unplanned
• whether you report your financial information on a calendar or financial year basis
• your past three years of audited financial data, including assets, liabilities, total income and total expenditure*
• projected income and expenditure for the next three years**
  • income should include government income (recurrent, project, other), contributed income (philanthropy, sponsorship), earned income (program, non-program related)
  • expenditure should include program costs (direct and non-direct), capital expenditure and salaries
• investment you have received from sources other than Creative Australia in the past three years
• a business case for an investment increase (optional)
• remuneration (excluding superannuation) details of all people working within your organisation, both currently and proposed in the first year of investment

*Organisations who report on a calendar year basis (year end 31 December), please provide a breakdown of audited financial data for the years 2024, 2025 and 2026. Organisations who report on a financial year basis (year end 30 June), please provide a breakdown of audited financial data for the years 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26.

**Organisations who report on a calendar year basis (year end 31 December), please provide projected income for the years 2027, 2028 and 2029. Organisations who report on a financial year basis (year end 30 June), please provide projected income for the years 2026–27, 2027–28, 2028–29.

Creative Australia will advise what annual level of investment you may apply for. You will receive advice on this via email no later than mid November 2026. It is important to note that if an organisation is approved for investment the final level of investment is at the discretion of Creative Australia.  

Within the application, you can present a business case for an uplift in your investment level per year. The maximum eligible grant request is $550,000 per year, your grant request plus uplift request should not exceed this cap. 

Creative Australia has very limited capacity to provide investment increases to organisations, but we are keen to understand what the impacts of increased investment would be. You will have the opportunity to:  

• nominate an uplift amount per year (between $20,000 and $150,000)
• describe what opportunity, problem, issue, or change has created the need for additional investment, and what evidence you have that supports this need
• explain the strategic context for the investment increase
• briefly outline how the additional investment would be used.

You must submit support material with your application. The industry advisors will review this support material to help them gain a better sense of your organisation. 

There are five types of support material you must submit:

1. Artistic support material

This should include relevant, recent examples of your artistic or cultural work.

Our preferred method of receiving support material is via URLs (weblinks).

You can provide up to three URLs (weblinks) that link to content that is relevant to your proposal. This may include video, audio, images, or written material.

These URLs can include a total of:

•    10 minutes of video and/or audio recording
•    10 images
•    10 pages of written material

Please note: Our industry advisors will not access any URLs that require them to log in or sign up to a platform. Please do not provide links to Spotify or other applications that require users to log in or pay for access.
If you are linking to media files that are private or password protected like Vimeo, please provide the password in the password field on the application form.

Other accepted file formats

If you cannot supply support material via URLs, you may upload support material to your application in the following formats:

•    video (MP4, QuickTime, and Windows Media)
•    audio (MP3 and Windows Media)
•    images (JPEG and PowerPoint)
•    written material (Word and PDF).

2. Audited accounts (or equivalent)

Your latest three years of your audited accounts (or equivalent).

1) Audited Accounts 2024 or 2023–24 (or equivalent)
2) Audited Accounts 2025 or 2024–25 (or equivalent)
3) Audited Accounts 2026 or 2025–26 (or equivalent)

3. Strategic plan 2029–32

A strategic plan that covers the majority of the Four Year Investment contract period from 2029–32 must be attached as written support material.

4. Program of activity

1) a detailed program of activities for 2028
2) an outline program of activity for 2029

5. Support letters

Individuals, groups or organisations can write letters in support of your application. A support letter should explain how the program of activity will benefit your organisation, artists or arts professionals, audiences, participants and community. It can also detail the support or involvement of key project partners, or evidence of consultation.

If relevant to your application, letters of support must provide evidence of appropriate permissions and support from First Nations organisations, communities, and Elders. Please refer to the First Nations Protocols for more information.

You can include up to five letters of support, with each letter not exceeding one A4 page.
 

Based on the recommendations of industry advisors, who will review applications in panels for each arts practice area, we will rank the applications from highest to lowest, based on how well each application meets the assessment criteria.

We will consider the arts practice context and analysis of the organisational and financial data provided in each application. Please note: if we have provided investment to your organisation previously, our review will also consider how well you have delivered the activity supported.

We may also consider the spread of organisations across arts practice areas, geography, and communities, in prioritising how we rank organisations.

We will only invest in organisations where industry advisors have recommended that an application submitted meets the assessment criteria to a high degree and is a high priority for investment.

A recommendation of the mix of organisations to be invested in will be approved by the Creative Australia Executive Team and will be presented to the Australia Council Board for endorsement.

You will be notified of the outcome of your application in November 2027. 

If you are applying to Four Year Investment for Organisations, you should be aware of the reporting requirements if your application is approved. These are not negotiable and form part of the conditions of the funding agreement, so be sure to include the resources required in your future budget projections.

If you receive multi-year investment from Creative Australia, you must report two to three times a year. Reporting includes financial reporting, annual reports on KPIs, annual reports on activity and annual reports on statistical data, to receive payment instalments.

You must provide your organisation’s annual financial statements audited in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards by an Approved Auditor, and discloses separately the Four Year Investment as both income or unexpended grants. An Approved Auditor means a person who is: (a) registered as a company auditor under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), or a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, or of CPA Australia or the National Institute of Accountants; and (b) not a principal, member, shareholder, officer or employee of the Organisation or of a related body corporate as defined in Section 50 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

The data and outcomes reporting provides us with valuable information to monitor the performance and activity of each organisation and ensures accountability for the investment of public funds. It also informs research and communication by Creative Australia, allowing us to demonstrate the impact of the organisations we invest in.

Support 

Creative Workplaces resources 

There are lots of organisations that offer information, advice and pathways for resolving different workplace issues – including art form specific organisations that understand your kind of art. We strongly encourage applicants to visit the Creative Workplaces website for more information on where to get help with a range of matters.  

Mental health and wellbeing support 

We acknowledge the significance of applying for this investment category. If you or someone you care about is in crisis or in immediate danger or at risk of harm call 000. If you need help but it is not an emergency call 131 444. 

If you are struggling with your mental health and wellbeing, there are organisations and government agencies that can help. Visit the Creative Workplaces website for more information on where to get mental health and wellbeing support. 

First Nations support  

Visit the Creative Workplaces website for a directory of organisations and guilds that support First Nations artists, arts workers and arts organisations in Australia. 

 Additional resources to the guidelines: 

• Frequently asked questions
• Guide to writing your strategic plan (available in July 2026)
• Resources supporting better practice governance in arts and culture on the Governance Hub
• Protocols for First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts 
• Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan 

We are an international organisation, can we apply?

No, only organisations that are registered under Australian law can apply. 

We are a Trust or Trustee Company, can we apply? 

Trustee companies and Trusts are not eligible to apply.

We are a commercial/for profit business, can we apply?

Yes, if you can demonstrate that:

• the funding will support activities with a clearly defined arts component
• there is a compelling financial rationale for subsidising these activities
• none of the Creative Australia funds will be distributed to shareholders.

Further detail on who can apply to the Four Year Investment program is available in the guidelines.

Our organisation doesn’t receive multi-year investment from our State or Territory arts agency, can we apply?

Yes. You will need to demonstrate that your organisation generates diverse income streams; however, those income streams can come from any source.

Further details on who can apply to Four Year Investment is available in the guidelines.

We don’t have a board or governing committee, can we apply?

Yes, if your organisation is registered under, or by, Australian law. If you do not have a board or governing committee, you will need to describe in detail the governance model for your organisation. This might include whether your organisation has a board, a management committee or other oversight structure. The governance model must be independent of management of the organisation.

Can we apply for a specific program which sits within a larger organisation?

It is the intention of this category to invest in organisations where the artistic activities funded through four year investment make up the majority of the organisation’s program. This is typically organisations that operate as small to medium enterprises. Large, well-resourced organisations or institutions seeking investment in multi-year arts programs may not be considered a priority for investment in this category. 

Can service delivery organisations apply? 

Four Year Investment for Organisations is intended to support organisations that develop, create and/or present artistic or cultural programs.

Organisations whose primary purpose is the delivery of services to the arts and cultural sector, rather than the delivery of an artistic or cultural program, are not eligible to apply under this category.

Eligibility is assessed in accordance with the Four Year Investment for Organisations guidelines. Organisations that are unsure of their eligibility are encouraged to contact the Multi‑Year Investment team to discuss their circumstances before submitting a pre‑application.

What category can service delivery organisations apply to and how will they be assessed?

Creative Australia supports service‑based activity through a separate stream of multi‑year investment called Delivery Partners. Delivery Partners invests in organisations to support the provision of services to the arts and creative industries. 

Delivery Partners is not an open, application‑based investment program. Investment is made through negotiated agreements between Creative Australia and service providers, and opportunities arise through open or invited calls for proposals, depending on the nature of the services being sought. 

Applications or proposals for Delivery Partner opportunities are assessed by industry advisors, who provide advice and recommendations to Creative Australia. If a proposal is approved, Creative Australia negotiates an investment agreement with the organisation, including agreed services and key performance indicators to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery

Creative Australia acknowledges that some organisations deliver an artistic program while also providing services. Where an organisation’s primary focus is the delivery of an artistic or cultural program, it may be eligible to apply for Four Year Investment for Organisations, even if it also delivers some services. 

Creative Australia acknowledges that there are many services that are still needed across the sector and will continue to identify and support priorities where possible.

Visit the Creative Australia website for more information on Delivery Partners. 

As an arts organisation, do we need to have a national reach?

No, arts organisations do not need to have a national reach, they may work at any scale. However, arts organisations must be able demonstrate the quality of their artistic program and that their work is recognised nationally as an exemplar of its kind.

This means an organisation may present its artistic program for a local community or region but that the work is considered as being of high quality by peers in other parts of their arts sector or the broader community in Australia or internationally. 

Do we need to select which arts practice panel our application will be reviewed under? 

In your pre-application form, please indicate to which arts practice panel you intend to submit your application. If you are unsure, you may select up to two from the list. If you are eligible to make an application, we will recommend which arts practice panel your organisation should apply to. This recommendation will be informed by the information provided in your pre-application however the final selection of arts practice panel is at the discretion of your organisation.

Further details on arts practice panels for Four Year Investment are available in the guidelines.

Why has Creative Australia moved from two stages (EOI and full application) to one stage?

Moving to a single-stage application process simplifies the experience for applicants and reduces duplication of effort. It enables a more direct and timely review of applications, shortens overall timelines, and allows both applicants and assessors to focus on complete submissions from the outset.

Why are pre-applications reviewed by Creative Australia representatives? 

For all Creative Australia grant programs, after we receive your application, we first check it meets the eligibility criteria for the grant or opportunity to which you are applying. This step in the process is conducted by Creative Australia representatives. In the case of Four Year Investment for Organisations, the pre-application eligibility check will be conducted by Creative Australia representatives. 

When we complete the pre-application form it states that our organisation does not meet the eligibility requirements. Can we still submit our pre-application?

Yes. Please submit your pre-application for review. 

When will we know the outcome of our pre-application?

We aim to notify you of the outcome of your pre-application no later than 10 business days from submission. Pre-applications close on Tuesday 27 October 2026, 3.00pm AEDT.

Will we be ineligible if our organisation has not received two (2) Creative Australia project grants in the last five years?

Your organisation must have received at least two project grants from Creative Australia in the last five years (since 1 January 2021) to be eligible to apply for Four Year Investment for Organisations. The following Creative Australia grant categories will not be eligible for consideration at this criterion: 

• The Australian Cultural Fund
• AusArt Day
• Giving Day to the Arts.

If your organisation does not meet Creative Australia’s investment history eligibility criteria, we will consider whether you can demonstrate regular project or multi‑year investment from other sources, such as local government, state or territory governments, or the private sector.

Where we determine that you can demonstrate a record of financial stability, your pre-application may be confirmed as eligible to apply for Four Year Investment.

Exceptions to this criterion will be determined through an internal review process. 

Please note, internal review outcomes may take up to 20 business days from submission of your pre-application. 

What Creative Australia multi-year investment programs will make an organisation eligible to apply?

Organisations who have received Creative Australia multi-year investment from one or more of the following programs in 2017–2028 will be eligible to apply:

• 2017–20 Four Year Funding for Organisations or the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy
• 2021–24 Four Year Funding for Organisations or the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy
• 2025–26 Two Year Investment for Organisations
• 2025–28 Four Year Investment for Organisations, the Visual Art, Craft and Design Partnership Framework or Delivery Partners. 

How do I check our Creative Australia investment history?

To check your organisation’s Creative Australia investment history since 1 January 2021, please login to our Application Management System. You will be able to view your current and closed grants in the lefthand menu by clicking ‘grants in progress’ or ‘grants acquitted’. 

This data will be automatically populated in the pre-application form. 

We have an overdue grant report or multi-year investment reporting will this stop us from submitting a pre-application?

No, you can submit a pre-application. However, this will need to be resolved prior to submission of your application in April 2027.

We currently receive Four Year Investment. Do we need to submit a pre-application?

Yes. All organisations, including those currently in receipt of Four Year Investment will need to submit a pre-application. 

We currently receive investment through the Visual Art, Craft and Design Partnership Framework. Do we need to submit a pre-application?

Yes. All organisations, including those currently in receipt of VACDPF investment, will need to submit a pre-application. 

When will applications open?

If your organisation meets the pre-application eligibility criteria, you will be eligible to apply for Four Year Investment. We aim to notify you of the outcome of your pre-application no later than ten business days from submission. You can expect access to the application form in our Application Management System by mid November 2026.

When will we need to provide a strategic plan?

If your organisation meets the pre-application eligibility criteria and is confirmed as eligible to apply for Four Year Investment, a strategic plan that covers the majority of the Four Year Investment contract period from 2029–32 must be attached as written support material to your application.

Why are we required to provide demographic characteristics about our Board and staff? 

In the application form we have included a section regarding your Board and staff. This will help in our review of applications to understand the diversity and experience of Senior Management and Board members.  

Who will review our application?

Applications are reviewed by expert industry representatives called industry advisors.

Industry advisors are experts in their field with relevant experience and knowledge of an arts practice or sector. Industry advisors will review applications under arts practice areas relevant to their knowledge and experience.

Industry advisors will make recommendations for Creative Australia to consider when making the final decisions on which organisations to invest in for 2029–32.

The full list of industry advisors will be published on our website following notification of the outcomes in November 2027. 

Further detail on industry advice can be found here.

We have an overdue grant report or multi-year investment reporting will this stop us from submitting an application?

If you have an overdue grant report or outstanding multi-year investment reporting, you will be ineligible to submit your application. 

Will the Visual Art, Craft and Design Partnership Framework (VACDPF) be part of the Four Year Investment for Organisations review process?

Applications to the VACDPF and the Four Year Investment Visual arts panel will be reviewed by the same group of industry advisors. This is to ensure the national ecology for Visual Art, Craft and Design can be considered in the one conversation and review process.

The application asks us to supply our organisation’s four year vision. What period of time should the vision cover?

Your four-year vision should cover all (or a significant portion) of the period 2029–32.

Our organisation reports on a financial year basis (year end 30 June), what time period should I provide financial data for?

The application requires you to supply:

• a breakdown of your past three years of audited financial data, including assets, liabilities, total income and total expenditure for the years 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26.
• projected income and expenditure for the next three years, i.e., 2026–27, 2027–28, 2028–29.
• a breakdown of investment you have received from sources other than Creative Australia in the past three years, i.e., 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26.
• the latest three years of your audited accounts (or equivalent), i.e., 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26.
   

Our organisation reports on a calendar year basis (year end 31 December), what time period should I provide financial data for? 

The application requires you to supply: 

• a breakdown of your past three years of audited financial data, including assets, liabilities, total income and total expenditure for the years 2024, 2025 and 2026. 

• projected income and expenditure for the next three years, i.e., 2027, 2028 and 2029. 

• a breakdown of investment you have received from sources other than Creative Australia in the past three years, i.e., 2024, 2025 and 2026. 

• the latest three years of your audited accounts (or equivalent), i.e., 2024, 2025 and 2026. 

We are a new organisation. Can our organisation apply if we don’t have three years of audited accounts? 

Yes. However, to be competitive, you will need to demonstrate your organisational capacity and viability. Factors that will strengthen your organisation’s capacity and viability include confirmed future funding and the track record of your key staff and board. Further detail on applications, support material and the assessment criteria is available in the guidelines. 

We currently receive Four Year Investment and provide the Creative Australia with our financial and statistical data. Do we need to provide this again with our application?

Yes, please be sure to include the relevant support material and data with your application, so industry advisors  can review your application.

Our organisation isn’t required to provide audited accounts to our regulator/other funders. What should we provide with our application?

You can use the certified accounts that you do produce to complete the financial data in the application, and you can attach these accounts as support material.

If you are approved for Four Year Investment you will be required to provide us with audited accounts as part of your regular reporting, so be sure to include the resources required to do so your future budget projections. 

We are applying for support of a specific program. Do we need to provide financial information for all our activities?

Yes. Please provide your organisation’s audited or equivalent financial data, and the forward projections for your whole organisation.

We are applying for investment in a specific program or business unit, that is part of a much larger institution. Do we need to provide financial information for the whole institution?

This situation is probably the case for larger institutions like universities, local governments, or major galleries. Please note that under the Four Year Investment guidelines our intention is to fund organisations that make up the small to medium arts sector. Applications from large, well-resourced organisations or institutions may not be a priority. 

Please contact our Multi-Year Investment team to discuss your situation, including what financial data you are able to access for your program or business unit.

You will need to provide past audited financial data and accounts for your whole organisation. However, we may give you an exemption to provide forward projections that relate to your program or business unit only. 

Can we submit late support material after the closing date?

The only item of support material we will accept after the closing date is audited accounts for the 2026 calendar year.

If you need to submit these accounts after the closing date, please send them to myienquiries@creative.gov.au and be sure to include your application reference number in the email.

Please note, late support material may not be distributed to industry advisors with your application. We make a note of it on file and bring it to the attention of industry advisors at our discretion.

Our pre-application was declined. How do we request an appeal of the decision?

If you wish to request an appeal of the outcome regarding your pre-application please follow the advice on the Creative Australia website.

What is the likely success rate of the category for 2029–32?

We expect a high volume of pre-applications. 

Only organisations who meet the pre-application eligibility criteria will be eligible to apply for Four Year Investment.

The success rate will vary depending on the number of eligible applications received, the level of investment requested, and the available resources. Only organisations that meet the pre‑application eligibility criteria and submit a competitive application will be considered for investment, in line with the assessment criteria set out in the guidelines.

Will more money be available for the Four Year Investment program?

We anticipate that the amount of investment for Four Year Investment for Organisations will be commensurate with 2025–28.
    
How much money will be available for each arts practice area or by each State or Territory?

There is no set amount to award by State or Territory.

The amount of funding available for each arts practice area will be informed by an analysis of the funding requests for the Four Year Investment program and for the other investment programs we offer.

We aim to ensure that Creative Australia’s investment reflects where each arts practice area needs it most, whether that is for individuals and groups, or project/multi-year year funding for organisations.

We currently receive Four Year Investment. If we are declined investment for the 2029–32 Four Year Investment cycle, will we receive transitional funding?

There will be no transitional funding offered to organisations currently in receipt of Four Year Investment if their request for investment in 2029–32 is declined. 

The application process aims to maximise the notice period for all organisations. If you are declined, we aim to give your organisation at least 12 months’ notice.

Creative Australia is committed to working closely with organisations around the impact of outcomes. However, this does not include any transitional funding support.

Will we still be eligible to apply for other Creative Australia grants if our Four Year Investment application is approved?

You are eligible to apply for government programs like Playing Australia Project Investment, except if you are in receipt of Playing Australia Audience Development investment. 

Eligibility for other investment opportunities will be subject to the published guidelines of each program.

Other applications you submit to the Creative Australia will need to demonstrate the activities are outside the scope of your Four Year Investment application or agreement.
    
How many Four Year Investment Organisations are currently funded for 2025–28?

There are 109 organisations funded in 2025–28. Find a list of the current Four Year Investment organisations here.

Will Creative Australia increase or decrease our organisation’s investment amount if approved for investment in 2029–32?

If an organisation is approved for investment in 2029–32 the final level of investment is at the discretion of Creative Australia. 

Within the application, you can present a business case for an uplift in your annual investment level. Creative Australia has very limited capacity to provide investment increases to organisations, but we are keen to understand what the impacts of increased investment would be. This question in the application form is optional.

If our annual investment request is at the top of the cap, can we still provide a business case for an uplift? 

No. The maximum eligible grant request is $550,000 per year over the four year investment period ($2,200,000 in total). If your organisation is invited to apply for a level of investment that is at the top of the cap you cannot provide a business case for an uplift. Your grant request plus uplift request should not exceed the funding cap for the category. 

When will we receive payment of our funding instalments if our application is approved?

Four Year Investment Organisations receive two payments per year of the funding agreement, in December and May. If your organisation is approved for Four Year Investment in 2029–32 your first payment will be made in December 2028.