Applications open 27 April – close 24 May, 11:59pm, 2026
Country Arts SA’s Artist Professional Development Grants support regional artists and arts workers to build skills, strengthen practice and take up time‑sensitive professional development opportunities such as workshops, conferences, residencies and mentorships.
Country Arts SA recognises the experience, knowledge and creative leadership artists bring to their work and are committed to supporting equitable access to professional development opportunities across regional South Australia.
This round actively encourages applications from First Nations artists, artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and artists with disability.
Artists working across all artforms and at all stages of practice are welcome to apply.
What The Grant Can Support
Artist Professional Development Grant are designed to support learning, skills development and professional growth that is relevant to your artistic practice.
Grant funds can contribute to costs associated with professional development, including workshops, masterclasses, conferences, seminars or short courses; mentorships with a professional artist; residencies and structured learning programs; travel and accommodation; meals and incidentals; and bringing a professional artist to your community to deliver a workshop or presentation, with the grant supporting the visiting artist’s travel and accommodation.
How Much Funding is Available
Up to $1,500 is available for applicants located in MM2–MM5.
Up to $2,000 is available for applicants located in MM6–MM7.
Applicants are encouraged to combine this grant with other funding or personal contributions if required.
Who Can Apply?
You must be an individual, incorporated organisation, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander corporation or an unincorporated community group that has arranged an eligible auspicing organisation (for profit companies, partnerships and family trusts are not eligible).
You must be based in a regional area. Use the Modified Monash Model to check your location classification (MM2–MM7 are eligible).
Your ABN must be current and match your name and address. Use ABN Lookup to check your details.
Access and Support
Country Arts SA is committed to supporting equitable access to professional development opportunities for regional artists and arts workers. We recognise that artists bring different experiences, ways of working and support needs, and we encourage you to contact us to discuss what will help you apply.
We warmly encourage applications from First Nations artists, artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and artists with disability.
Support is available at any stage of the application process. This includes having a conversation with the Grants team before you apply, assistance to understand the application form or support material requirements or arranging access adjustments that work for you.
If you are unsure whether your opportunity is eligible or would like to talk through your project idea, we strongly encourage you to contact the Country Arts SA Grants team. A conversation before you apply can help clarify eligibility and will make the application process easier. Please email: [email protected]
Please also read the full Guidelines below or download a PDF of the Guidelines here.
Artist Professional Development Grants Full Guidelines
Country Arts SA’s Artist Professional Development Grants support artists and arts workers to participate in professional development opportunities of their choosing. The purpose of these grants is to contribute to costs associated with undertaking professional development opportunities such as workshops, courses, mentorships, conferences and seminars. Country Arts SA aims to run one Artist Professional Development Grant round per year.
What is Classified as a Professional Development Opportunity?
The following activities are considered professional development opportunities:
• participation in courses, residencies, workshops, etc.
• mentoring from a professional artist who can provide advice and teach new skills
• attending a conference, masterclass, seminar, performance, exhibition, etc.
• work experience, an internship or volunteer role
• the engagement of a professional artist (or artists) to run workshops or deliver a presentation in your community – in this instance the grant will be used to cover the travel and accommodation costs of the artist/s that have been engaged, rather than the applicant
If you are unsure about whether your professional development opportunity is eligible, please email Country Arts SA’s Grants team at [email protected]
Grant Round Dates
The 2026 round of Artist Professional Development Grants will open 27 April and close 24 May 2026.
Applicant Eligibility
To apply for an Artist Professional Development Grant, you must be:
• an individual artist/arts worker over the age of 18 with a sole trader ABN; and
• a permanent resident of regional or remote South Australia, residing in locations classified as MM2–MM7 according to the Modified Monash Model
Addresses must be classified as MM2–MM7 according to the Modified Monash Model.
Or:
• an Australian incorporated organisation; and
• actively registered as such on both the Australian Business Register and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) Register; and
• the organisation’s primary address must be classified as MM2–MM7 according to the Modified Monash Model
• the applicant’s postcode must match that of the registered ABN
Not Eligible to Apply
Applicants are not eligible to apply for an Artist Professional Development Grant if they:
• are an individual under 18 years of age
• are based outside of regional or remote South Australia (MM2–MM7)
• have an overdue Country Arts SA or Regional Arts Fund grant acquittal
• have already received an Artist Professional Development Grant in the same financial year
• are an entity type outside of those outlined under “Applicant Eligibility”
Eligible Expenditure
Artist Professional Development Grant monies may only be spent on:
• professional development costs – fees for workshops, masterclasses, conferences, unaccredited training or courses, seminars, shows, mentors, etc.
• travel costs – flights, bus, train or tram fares, fuel, taxi or ride‑share fares
• accommodation
• meals and incidentals
Grant money cannot be used to pay the applicant for their time to participate in a professional development activity.
Travel‑related grant expenditure cannot exceed the ATO reasonable amounts for travel expenses for the current financial year. Refer to the ATO website for the most up‑to‑date information.
Applicants are required to include receipts for expenditure when the grant is acquitted.
Grant Amount
• Up to $1,500 for applicants located in regions MM2–MM5
• Up to $2,000 per application for applicants located in regions MM6–MM7
The applicant is expected to cover any additional costs associated with participating in the professional development opportunity through their own contributions or other funding sources.
Making an Application
Support Material
If the application is for yourself:
• artist CV (no more than 2 pages)
• evidence of arts practice in the form of photos, web links (webpages, social media, articles, etc.), letters of support, media articles, audio or video files
• evidence of the professional development opportunity
If the application is to engage a professional artist (or artists) to run workshops or deliver a presentation in your community:
• artist CV (no more than 2 pages) for the visiting artist/s
• email or letter of confirmation and quote from the visiting artist/s
• evidence of visiting artist/s arts practice in the form of photos, web links, letters of support, media articles, audio or video files
• evidence of intended promotional planning of the workshop or presentation within your community
Assessment
Applications for Artist Professional Development Grants are assessed internally by trained grant assessors. All applications are assessed on their merit and in accordance with the objectives of the fund.
Factors of consideration when making assessment decisions include, but are not limited to:
• the relevance of the professional development opportunity to the applicant’s existing artistic practice
• the likely impact of the professional development opportunity on the applicant’s practice, including expansion of practice and skills transfer opportunities
• quality and viability of the professional development activity
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within 10 working days of the round closing.
If successful, a grant agreement will need to be signed and an invoice provided prior to the professional development opportunity taking place.
Variations
If your project changes at all, a variation to the grant can be arranged by Country Arts SA’s Grants team. Changes may include, but are not limited to, project start or end dates, type of opportunity you will be undertaking (including changes to mentors or key artists), or the location.
As soon as you are aware of a change, contact the Country Arts SA Grants team via email [email protected] with details regarding the project changes. The Grants team will then arrange a variation form in your SmartyGrants account. You will be notified of approval or if further action is required via email.
Acquitting The Grant
Applicants must acquit the grant within 6 weeks of the professional development opportunity taking place.
Country Arts SA requires information regarding the outcomes and financials of the project. Receipts for expenditure and evidence of participation or delivery of the professional development opportunity must be provided.
Applicants are encouraged to take photos of the professional development opportunity. An acquittal form will be provided for completion via SmartyGrants.
All images submitted with your acquittal must be properly credited with the photographer’s name, description of the photo (including names of any people), where and when it was taken. Permission to use the photo should be obtained from the photographer and any people appearing in the image.
Thinking of Applying?
We encourage you to talk to us before starting your application. Contact the Country Arts SA Grants team to discuss your idea or ask for support. Contact the Grants team: [email protected]
Country Arts SA pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and to safeguard, share and celebrate First Nations’ living cultures.
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