Currently 3 active fellowships open to applicants in Australia, across AI, arts, film, journalism, research, tech and cross-disciplinary practice. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
Subscribe: RSS feed · Calendar (.ics)
The Copyright Agency Cultural Fund's Fellowship for Non-Fiction Writing awards AUD 80,000 to one mid-career or established Australian author to research and write a substantial new work of literary non-fiction. Eligible forms include memoir, biography, history, criticism, arts and science writing, and environmental and political writing. ELIGIBILITY: mid-career or established Australian authors with a demonstrated publication record and publisher interest in the proposed work; Australian residents only. APPLICATIONS open 20 April 2026 and close 17 August 2026, 1:00pm AEST. Apply via the Cultural Fund fellowship page.
The Copyright Agency Cultural Fund's Author Fellowship awards AUD 80,000 to one established Australian author to create a significant new work for publication. ELIGIBILITY: established Australian authors with critical acclaim and confirmed publisher interest in the proposed work; Australian residents only. This is a separate fellowship from the Cultural Fund's Fellowship for Non-Fiction Writing, though administered on the same cycle. APPLICATIONS close 17 August 2026, 1:00pm AEST. Apply via the Cultural Fund fellowship page.
Three Helpmann Fellowships of up to AUD 7,500 support ambitious, self-directed projects that advance the artistic and professional development of emerging creatives. Fellowships are open across all eligible disciplines, to individuals and to collectives, and funding can go to larger-scale creative projects, tailored professional development, or a combination of both. Previous fellowships have supported the creation of new work, exhibitions and performances, residencies and internships, touring and recording, specialised training, and long-term professional development; each fellowship is shaped by the recipient rather than a fixed programme. ELIGIBILITY IS NARROW AND GEOGRAPHIC: applicants must be current residents of South Australia and either final-year students or graduates within five years of a supported degree at Adelaide University, the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, or the University of South Australia. Honours students and graduates (up to five years after the final year of study) are eligible where honours was undertaken directly following the undergraduate degree. Masters and PhD candidates and graduates are not eligible unless they qualify through their undergraduate or honours study. Final-year students may apply provided the funded activity takes place after studies are completed and within the activity timeframe. Applications are assessed on artistic merit, alignment with career development, feasibility, commitment to learning, and level of ambition. The online application requires a CV (max two pages), an official academic transcript, a budget on the Helpmann template, a timeline, project confirmations, letters of support from an academic and an industry referee, and four to six images or one to two audio-visual work samples. An online information session runs 4 August 2026 at 6pm ACST, and the Program Manager, Toni Wills, takes online or in-person application chats (info@helpmannacademy.com.au). Applications opened 15 July 2026 and close 31 August 2026 at 11:59pm ACST, for activity occurring 1 January to 31 December 2027. Free to apply.