About ArtStart

The ArtStart program has been created to give financial assistance to recent arts graduates, helping you make the challenging transition from studying to having a professional career in the arts.

If you've completed an accredited Certificate IV arts course or higher in the past three years - or are about to complete one - you could be eligible.

An ArtStart grant could provide you with up to $10,000 to fund services, resources, skills development and/or equipment to help you build an income-generating career in the arts practice you have studied.

A few examples of how an ArtStart grant CAN be used include:

• creating a portfolio of work
• marketing yourself
• setting up studio space
• paying for business advice
• disability awareness training
• tools of trade
• and much more

ArtStart is NOT designed to fund individual artworks or one-off projects or shows, to fund artists' living expenses or to pay yourself artist fees.

It is, however, designed to help you grow your arts career. Even the process of applying will help you to begin planning your arts business. So don't hold back! Apply soon.

And remember, grants are assessed by a panel of peers and awarded on merit.

Need more?

For comprehensive information on eligibility, FAQs, fundable activities and what you will need to support your application, click here to visit the Australia Council website. 

You can also read assessment meeting reports from past ArtStart funding rounds. You can find these reports here.

You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. When grant rounds are open, we send out some helpful application tips and FAQs via Facebook and Twitter. We also like to post about other opportunities for emerging artists, so keep in touch!