creative writing grants australia

Grants, fellowships and residencies for Australian writers

by Rebekah Manser | Mar 22, 2024

To help you spend time on your writing ventures, councils and organisations all across Australia offer fellowships, residencies and grants for creatives and writers! This means that you can take the time needed to be creative while not sacrificing your mental health and financial stability. Check out a list of grants and fellowships available to authors of different backgrounds, disciplines, and locations below.

1. List of fellowships A-Z 2. List of grants A-Z 3. List of residencies A-Z 4. Fellowships, grants and residencies by location

1. List of fellowships A-Z

Author Fellowship: Australia-wide https://www.copyright.com.au/culturalfund/fellowship/author-fellowship/  

CH Currey Memorial Fellowship: New South Wales https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/fellowships/ch-currey-memorial-fellowship 

Creative Arts Fellowship for Australian Writing: Australia-wide https://www.nla.gov.au/about/fellowships-scholarships-and-grants/fellowships-and-scholarships/creative-fellowships/creative-arts-fellowship  

Creative residencies and fellowships: Northern Territory https://nt.gov.au/leisure/arts-culture-heritage/grants/creative-residencies-fellowships

David Scott Mitchell Memorial Fellowship: New South Wales https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/fellowships/david-scott-mitchell-memorial-fellowship  

Fellowship for Non-Fiction Writing: Australia-wide https://www.copyright.com.au/culturalfund/fellowship/non-fiction-author-fellowship/  

Frank Moorhouse Fellowship for Young Writers: Australia-wide https://www.copyright.com.au/culturalfund/fellowship/copyright-agency-frank-moorhouse-fellowship-for-young-writers/  

Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship: Australia-wide https://writersvictoria.org.au/hazel-rowley-literary-fellowship/  

Margaret Scott Tasmanian Young Writer’s Fellowship: Tasmania https://www.arts.tas.gov.au/tasliteraryawards/Margaret_Scott_Tasmanian_Young_Writers_Fellowship

Merewether Fellowship: New South Wales https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/fellowships/merewether-fellowship  

Queensland Writers Centre Varuna Fellowship: Queensland https://queenslandwriters.org.au/residencies  

Queensland Writers Fellowships: Queensland https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/get-involved/awards-and-fellowships/queensland-literary-awards/queensland-writers-fellowships

SA First Nations Writers Fellowship: South Australia https://www.varuna.com.au/fellowships/writerssa  

SA Literary Fellowship: South Australia https://writerssa.org.au/2023/sa-literary-fellowships/  

The Queensland Writers Centre Established Writers Fellowship: Queensland https://queenslandwriters.org.au/residencies  

UQ 2024 Creative Writing Fellowship: Queensland https://writing.centre.uq.edu.au/uq-2024-creative-writing-fellowship  

Writeability Fellowships: Victoria https://writersvictoria.org.au/writeability-fellowships/  

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2. List of residencies A-Z

Arts Tasmania all that we are Residency: Tasmania https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/tasmanian_residencies/all_that_we_are  

Arts Tasmania Glover Country Residency: Tasmania https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/tasmanian_residencies/glover_country  

Arts Tasmania Poatina Arts Residency: Tasmania https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/tasmanian_residencies/poatina_arts  

Arts Tasmania Tasmanian Residency for Independent Practice: Tasmania https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/tasmanian_residencies/tasmanian_residency_for_independent_practice 

Deep Creek Residency: South Australia https://writerssa.org.au/2024/deep-creek-residency-2024/  

3. List of grants A-Z

Annual Arts and Cultural Grants: Victoria https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/Community/Grants/Arts-and-Culture-grants  

Arts Activities in Regional Communities: Western Australia https://web.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/arts-activities-in-regional-communities/arts-activities-in-regional-communities-guidelines

Arts Grants Program: Northern Territory https://nt.gov.au/leisure/arts-culture-heritage/grants/arts-grants-program  

Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups: Australia-wide https://creative.gov.au/investment-and-development/arts-projects-for-individuals-and-groups/  

Arts Short Notice Activity Program: Western Australia  https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/arts-short-notice-activity-program

Arts Tasmania Aboriginal Arts Program: Tasmania https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/aboriginal_arts_program#double-tabid_201216  

Arts Tasmania Individuals and groups: Tasmania https://www.arts.tas.gov.au/grants_and_funding/individuals_and_groups

Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship Program: New South Wales https://writingnsw.org.au/support/funding-opportunities/boundless-mentorship-2024/  

City of Charles Sturt Arts Fund: South Australia https://www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/services/other-services/grants-and-funding/arts-and-culture-grants/arts-fund  

Create Grants: Australia-wide https://www.copyright.com.au/culturalfund/individual-grants/create-grants/ 

Creative Communities Grant: New South Wales https://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/Community/Grants-and-Funding#section-8

Cultural Development Fund: Victoria https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/people-and-community/funds-grants-and-subsidies/cultural-development-fund-projects  

International Travel Fund for Authors and Illustrators: Australia-wide https://creative.gov.au/investment-and-development/travel-fund-for-literature/  

Regional Arts Development Fund: Queensland https://www.arts.qld.gov.au/regional-arts-development-fund

The Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund: Victoria https://writersvictoria.org.au/the-neilma-sidney-literary-travel-fund/  

4. Fellowships, residencies and grants by location

4.1 australia-wide writer’s fellowships, residencies and grants.

Create Grants https://www.copyright.com.au/culturalfund/individual-grants/create-grants/  

Frank Moorhouse Fellowship for Young Writers https://www.copyright.com.au/culturalfund/fellowship/copyright-agency-frank-moorhouse-fellowship-for-young-writers/    

Author Fellowship   https://www.copyright.com.au/culturalfund/fellowship/author-fellowship/    

Fellowship for Non-Fiction Writing https://www.copyright.com.au/culturalfund/fellowship/non-fiction-author-fellowship/  

International Travel Fund for Authors and Illustrators https://creative.gov.au/investment-and-development/travel-fund-for-literature/    

Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups https://creative.gov.au/investment-and-development/arts-projects-for-individuals-and-groups/  

Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship https://writersvictoria.org.au/hazel-rowley-literary-fellowship/  

Creative Arts Fellowship for Australian Writing https://www.nla.gov.au/about/fellowships-scholarships-and-grants/fellowships-and-scholarships/creative-fellowships/creative-arts-fellowship  

4.2 New South Wales writers’ fellowships, residencies and grants 

CH Currey Memorial Fellowship https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/fellowships/ch-currey-memorial-fellowship  

Merewether Fellowship  

https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/fellowships/merewether-fellowship    

David Scott Mitchell Memorial Fellowship  

https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/fellowships/david-scott-mitchell-memorial-fellowship    

Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship Program https://writingnsw.org.au/support/funding-opportunities/boundless-mentorship-2024/    

Creative Communities Grant https://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/Community/Grants-and-Funding#section-8    

4.3 South Australian writers’ fellowships, residencies and grants 

Deep Creek Residency https://writerssa.org.au/2024/deep-creek-residency-2024/  

SA First Nations Writers Fellowship https://www.varuna.com.au/fellowships/writerssa  

SA Literary Fellowship https://writerssa.org.au/2023/sa-literary-fellowships/  

City of Charles Sturt Arts Fund https://www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/services/other-services/grants-and-funding/arts-and-culture-grants/arts-fund  

4.4 Western Australian  writers’ fellowships, residencies and grants 

Arts Activities in Regional Communities   https://web.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/arts-activities-in-regional-communities/arts-activities-in-regional-communities-guidelines

Arts Short Notice Activity Program   https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/arts-short-notice-activity-program

4.5 Victorian writers’ fellowships, residencies and grants 

Writeability Fellowships https://writersvictoria.org.au/writeability-fellowships/  

The Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund https://writersvictoria.org.au/the-neilma-sidney-literary-travel-fund/  

Annual Arts and Cultural Grants https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/Community/Grants/Arts-and-Culture-grants  

Cultural Development Fund https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/people-and-community/funds-grants-and-subsidies/cultural-development-fund-projects  

4.6 Queensland  writers’ fellowships, residencies and grants 

Regional Arts Development Fund https://www.arts.qld.gov.au/regional-arts-development-fund  

Queensland Writers Fellowships https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/get-involved/awards-and-fellowships/queensland-literary-awards/queensland-writers-fellowships

UQ 2024 Creative Writing Fellowship https://writing.centre.uq.edu.au/uq-2024-creative-writing-fellowship  

Queensland Writers Centre Varuna Fellowship https://queenslandwriters.org.au/residencies  

The Queensland Writers Centre Established Writers Fellowship https://queenslandwriters.org.au/residencies  

4.7 Tasmanian writers’ fellowships, residencies and grants 

Margaret Scott Tasmanian Young Writer’s Fellowship https://www.arts.tas.gov.au/tasliteraryawards/Margaret_Scott_Tasmanian_Young_Writers_Fellowship  

Arts Tasmania Aboriginal Arts Program https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/aboriginal_arts_program#double-tabid_201216  

Arts Tasmania Individuals and groups https://www.arts.tas.gov.au/grants_and_funding/individuals_and_groups

Arts Tasmania all that we are Residency https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/tasmanian_residencies/all_that_we_are  

Arts Tasmania Glover Country Residency https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/tasmanian_residencies/glover_country  

Arts Tasmania Poatina Arts Residency https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/tasmanian_residencies/poatina_arts  

Arts Tasmania Tasmanian Residency for Independent Practice https://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/arts/grants_and_funding/tasmanian_residencies/tasmanian_residency_for_independent_practice  

4.8 Northern Territory writers’ fellowships, residencies and grants 

Arts Grants Program https://nt.gov.au/leisure/arts-culture-heritage/grants/arts-grants-program  

Creative residencies and fellowships https://nt.gov.au/leisure/arts-culture-heritage/grants/creative-residencies-fellowships  

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The Australia Council for the Arts is the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body. The Council supports a wide range of arts and cultural activities that involve professional artists or arts workers. Grants may be made to arts organisations as well as to individual artists across the country. Fellowship opportunities include the Creative Australia Fellowships . Literary grants encourage and support the creation, publication and promotion of Australian stories.

Source: http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/ Sighted: 10/12/2013.

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When Michael Denholm returned to Tasmania in the late 1970s, he became involved in organising poetry readings. Discussions with poets and other writers led to a proposal for a new literary magazine to feature Tasmanian writers. With Andrew Sant and Tim Thorne , Denholm founded the Tasmanian Review , publishing the first issue in June 1979. In March 1981, the magazine was renamed Island Magazine , indicating a shift in editorial policy to produce a more national magazine.

Island Magazine published poems, short stories, articles, interviews, photographs and graphics. During the 1980s, the magazine exhibited a strong concern for ecological issues, supporting protests against the Tasmanian government's proposed damming of the Franklin River. But, reflecting the national character of the magazine, contributors during this period included Les Murray , Christopher Koch {n), Dorothy Green , Humphrey McQueen , Donald Horne , Frank Moorhouse , Gwen Harwood , Bernard Smith , Hugh Stretton , Tim Winton i8), Olga Masters , Marion Halligan , John Forbes , Judith Beveridge 2[), Geoff Page and Peter Porter .

In 1989 Denholm and Sant edited First Rights: A Decade of Island Magazine , bringing their term as editors of Island Magazine to a close. Cassandra Pybus was appointed editor and the magazine soon displayed the shortened title Island . During Pybus's term, circulation increased substantially and the reputation of the magazine grew to rival many of the older mainland literary quarterlies. But Pybus's editorial practices, which included employing non-Tasmanian guest editors, caused a conflict with members of the magazine's board who wanted to maintain a Tasmanian focus. In 1994 the board requested her resignation, ending Pybus's term in controversial circumstances, and prompting heated debates in mainland magazines.

Rodney Croome, a prominent Tasmanian gay rights activist, was appointed editor of Island after a short interim period. This coincided with mainland criticism that Island was fast becoming a parochial publication and did not deserve funding from the federal government. With the magazine in financial difficulty, the editorial board challenged this assertion, but, regardless, Croome followed an editorial policy that he later called 'Voicing the South'. In 1999, continuing financial difficulty influenced a 'strategic planning process' with the support of Arts Tasmania , resulting in a change of editorial policy to that originally voiced by Denholm and Sant: 'The two criteria which determine the selection of material for the journal are excellence and variety'. This policy was implemented by David Owen, who was appointed editor in late 1999.

Matthew Lamb was appointed Editorial Director and Features Editor in 2013, with Geordie Williamson as the fiction editor and Sarah Holland-Batt as the poetry editor. Geordie Williamson was replaced by Anica Boulanger-Mashberg as fiction editor in 2016; both Boulanger-Mashberg and Holland-Batt left their roles in 2019. Matthew Lamb left his role as editor in 2015.

In 2015, Island stopped producing an online edition and expanded its print run significantly. In late 2019, Island announced that it has not secured Arts Tasmania funding for 2020-2024, and would need to explore additional avenues for funding.

Reviews and criticism were not plentiful during the 1960s, partly because Perth's The Critic already performed that function for the local community. This changed slowly during the 1970s following the establishment of a BA course in Australian literature at the University of Western Australia in 1973. By the late 1970s, the number of reviews and articles had steadily increased to cater for students of Australian literature, but the editors tried to avoid an overly academic tone to maintain a broad readership.

Westerly occasionally produced special issues during the 1960s and 1970s. This became more regular in the late 1980s and 1990s when the fourth issue of the year concentrated on a particular theme. One of the more significant has been Westerly 's special issues on South East Asia. Earlier issues display an interest in countries common to the Indian Ocean, but this gradually expanded to include the wider Asian region. The extent of this concentration is exhibited in the book of extracts Westerly Looks to Asia: A Selection from Westerly 1956-1992 (1993). Other special issues have examined Australian Jewish writing, the relationship between Australia and the Mediterranean, environmental issues and justice.

Like most literary magazines, Westerly has struggled to attract funding. Early volumes included a significant amount of advertising. The financial burden was eased when the first ongoing grant from the Australian government was received in 1963. Westerly has since received assistance from the university and state and national bodies, but this funding steadily decreased during the 1990s. As a result, the magazine changed format in 1996. Four years later, as a result of continuing financial pressure, Westerly affiliated itself with John Kinsella's literary magazine Salt . An editorial note stated that this resulted in 'wider distribution, and a broader and more international profile, putting it in a unique position among Australian literary magazines.' With this affiliation, Westerly has appeared annually since 2000, sharing the year (and subscribers) with Salt , which appears during the first half of each year. Westerly continues to cover West Australian, Australian and Asian literature while Salt offers subscribers an annual of European and American literature.

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Music Australia launches Record Label Development Scheme to support breakthrough of Australian recording artists

Music Australia is proud to unveil a new funding initiative designed to support Australian labels, from local independents through to major label Australian subsidiaries that are actively discovering, developing, and promoting local talent.  

Offering grants up to $150,000, the Music Australia Record Label Development Scheme will support eligible record labels committed to the growth and success of Australian recording artists.  

Director of Music Australia Millie Millgate said:  

“The role record labels play in developing our artists is significant and we need to safeguard them at a time when breaking Australian artists has never been harder. This investment will ensure Australian labels of all sizes, and with different genre focusses, can continue to compete effectively, support their artists, and contribute intrinsic value  to a vibrant music ecosystem in Australia .”  

The new program offers grants between $10,000 and $150,000 to support eligible record labels, that have been operating for a minimum of three years, with at least three active artists on their label roster.  The investment will support a range of activity, including professional recordings, videos, digital content and artwork, marketing and promotional campaigns,  production, manufacturing and freight, artist development, staffing, technology to enhance business capabilities, and professional development training.  A mandatory non-recoupable 10% artist creation fee will be added to the grant amount to be shared amongst the artists that are featured in the project activities, including recording and video production.

Music Australia is also incentivising record labels to manufacture using environmentally sustainable materials. Where labels can demonstrate they have been guided by Green Music Australia’s Sound Country: A Green Guide on Physical Music Products , Music Australia will subsequently reimburse the price difference.  

The Record Label Development Scheme will ensure Australian labels can continue to compete effectively, support their artists, and contribute to the vibrant music ecosystem in Australia. 

The pre-application eligibility is now open and will close on Tuesday 8 October 2024.

For more information on eligibility and to apply, visit the Music Australia website .  

Music Australia  has been established under the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy  Revive , a dedicated new body within Creative Australia to support and invest in the Australian contemporary music industry.  

For Creative Australia enquiries:

Brianna Roberts, Media Manager, Creative Australia Mobile: 0498 123 541 Email : [email protected]  

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We acknowledge the many Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and honour their Elders past and present.

We respect their deep enduring connection to their lands, waterways and surrounding clan groups since time immemorial. We cherish the richness of First Nations Peoples’ artistic and cultural expressions.

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