Overview
The Cultural Trust offers grants of up to $15,000 to assist talented emerging and early-career artists to take up professional development opportunities, usually overseas.
If a development opportunity within Australia is of high quality and can offer exceptional benefit to an individual's professional practice, applicants may seek funding to undertake a professional development project within Australia. In line with the Cultural Trust's funding principle to encourage the diversity, excellence, and distinction of emerging Australian artists, The Trustees have indicated a preference that at least 70% of grants be awarded to support projects overseas.
We support applicants who can demonstrate initiative, exceptional talent, and the ability to convert their ambitions into reality. In particular, we are looking for well-researched and planned projects.
The Trust primarily provides support for structured professional development and networking opportunities such as:
- Residencies
- Mentorships
- Study tours that have a clear skills development focus
- Private lessons
- Internships
- Conferences and workshops.
The Trust may also consider supporting postgraduate study with a focus on professional development and artistic practice where no equivalent exists in Australia.
Please note that projects for which the sole purpose is an exhibition, performance, or the making of a work (such as a recording or publication} are ineligible. This includes performances at festivals.
Eligibility
The Trust’s key priority is supporting emerging and early-career artists' career and professional development. Grants are made to practising artists for professional development opportunities, usually overseas. In exceptional cases, the Trustees may consider providing support for artists who do not fall into the emerging/early-career category.
Grant applicants must meet several criteria to be eligible for funding:
- Grants are only available to Australian citizens or Permanent Residents of Australia
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Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age when they apply to The Ian Potter Cultural Trust
- All applicants must demonstrate exceptional talent, initiative and passion for their work
- Applicants must make a reasonable personal financial contribution to the project.
The first step of our online application process is an eligibility quiz which must be successfully completed before you can continue with an application.
Time frame of the project
Applicants must check our funding round closing dates to determine the earliest date their project may commence. The Trust does not fund retrospectively.
Exclusions
The Cultural Trust does not support:
- Projects for which the sole purpose is an exhibition, performance or the making of a recording
- Undergraduate degree courses overseas will not be considered for support
- Postgraduate study being undertaken through an Australian institution*
- Applications that the Trust previously declined cannot be resubmitted.
*The Trust prioritises its funding to support opportunities overseas. Funding for projects in Australia may be awarded if the development opportunity is of high quality and can offer exceptional benefits to an individual's professional practice.
Criteria
Our Trustees are looking for well-researched projects that demonstrate thorough planning, careful budgeting and offer the time and scope to gain maximum benefit from the development experience.
Aside from professional development programs, the Trust may also consider supporting:
- The purchase of non-standard musical instruments or equipment
- Costs of film-making for final year or post-grad film students
To ensure the best chance of success, we encourage applicants to:
- Set out clear objectives for their project, and explain why this project will be of most benefit to them at this stage in their career development
- Carefully plan their project to maximize opportunities for skills development and advancing career prospects
- Provide an informed and detailed travel and project schedule
- Provide a tight, detailed and well-researched budget for the duration of the project
- Seek funding from other sources. These might include other trusts and foundations, scholarships and awards, service clubs, family or business
- Make a financial contribution to the project themselves
- Include work samples with your online application. The preferred method for supplying support material is via URL (website link), which directly links to where an example of your work may be read, viewed or heard
Read the information on this website thoroughly, and call us if you still have questions.
Application Process
Before you continue, you must read the important information above. We also recommend you read the FAQs, Application Checklist and download the sample application form.
Step 1: Click through to our online application and complete the eligibility quiz. The link only works when applications are open, but a PDF of the application questions can be accessed anytime.
Step 2: Set up an account.
Step 3: Complete and submit your online application. You will be required to upload letters of confirmation of your study or professional development opportunity (e.g. a letter of acceptance or letter confirming a teacher's agreement to work with you); a budget, itinerary, CV and references. You must also provide links to your samples of work.
Following our in-house eligibility check, you will receive an email confirming whether or not your application is proceeding to review. Applications are reviewed by external experts and then considered by The Ian Potter Cultural Trust's Board. The Board of Trustees meets three times a year, and you will be notified of the decision within two weeks of the meeting.
Step 4: Once the Board of Trustees have made their decision, you will receive notification by email of the outcome of your application.
If successful:
Step 5: After the project/travel is complete, you must submit a report according to our Standard Grant Conditions.
Step 6: Keep in touch! Please share your experience via the Tell Your Story form on our website or share a post on The Ian Potter Cultural Trust Facebook page, via Instagram @potterculturaltrust, or Twitter @IPCulturalTrust.
