AusArt Day is a national initiative designed to support and enable a collective action by artists and arts organisations to fundraise on one national day - increasing the visibility of arts philanthropy and encouraging greater generosity in support of the arts.

For 2026, AusArt Day will take place on Thursday 22 October 2026, building on the momentum of its inaugural year. AusArt Day offers two grant opportunities, as follows:

To support the creation of digital content for use within your AusArt Day campaign:

• artists and collectives - $2,500
• arts organisations (of less than $5 million operating budget) - $5,000.

An opt-in dollar-for-dollar matched funding to incentivise your donor engagement during your AusArt Day campaign:

• artists and collectives - $2,500
• arts organisations (of less than $5 million operating budget) - $5,000

The matched funding initiative encourages donations during AusArt Day by matching each contribution dollar-for-dollar, effectively doubling the value of every donation up to a set limit (limits outlined above).

Applicants who opt in to the matched funding component are required to demonstrate how matched funding will be applied strategically to strengthen their campaign and maximise donor engagement. Applicants may receive one or both granted opportunities.

Creative Australia remains committed to its matched funding programs, Plus1 and MATCH Lab. We are currently reviewing both programs and will share further announcements, including opening dates, in June 2026.

Applicants to the micro-grant opportunity must meet the following criteria:

• be a practicing Australian artist or a small to medium-sized arts organisation, active in fundraising for an arts and cultural project, cause or activity, with an annual operating budget under $5 million
• are a legally constituted entity (with an ABN)
• be 18 years or older
• are based in Australia and are carrying out the majority of their arts activity or practice within Australia
• work within one or more of the following artforms: First Nations Arts, Music, Visual Arts, Literature, Dance, Theatre, Emerging and Experimental Arts (EEA), Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD), and Multi-Arts
• demonstrate capacity to deliver a fundraising activity
• example of a minimum delivery of one fundraising campaign in the last 3 years (2023/4 - 2025/6)
• at least one public social media account that has been actively used for a minimum of 12 months, with at least 12 posts per annum.

The grant for the matched funding will support the following activity:

• Dollar-for-dollar matched funding of donations during AusArt Day (by matching each contribution dollar-for-dollar, effectively doubling the value of every donation up to a set limit - limits are outlined in 'About this Program').

• Phone: 02 9215 9000
• Email: enquiries@creative.gov.au