The Cultural Trust is committed to encouraging excellence and supporting a vibrant, world-class arts scene in Australia.

The Ian Potter Cultural Trust runs funding rounds through which individual artists can apply for grants of up to $15,000.

The Trust funds nationally and supports artists working across the spectrum of the arts, from traditional art forms through to experimental mediums.

The Trust primarily supports projects with structured professional development and networking opportunities in an international context.

Examples include:

• Residencies
• Mentorships
• Study tours that have a clear skills development focus
• Masterclasses and private lessons
• Internships
• Conferences and workshops
• Postgraduate study with a focus on professional development and artistic practice where no equivalent exists in Australia

Professional development programs combining multiple opportunities can be applied for as a single project. For example, a series of residencies or a workshop followed by private lessons.

Who can apply?

• Be a minimum of 18 years old by the project start date.
• Be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia with access to an Australian bank account in their name.
• Make a reasonable personal financial contribution to their project.
• Demonstrate exceptional talent, initiative, and passion for their work.
• Classify as an emerging or early-career artist*.

*As a general guide, the Trust considers emerging and early-career artists to be within 10 years of attaining a formal qualification (such as an undergraduate degree or equivalent) in their area of practice.

This does not mean applicants need to have attained formal qualifications in their area of practice to be considered for a grant. Where an applicant does not have formal training, the beginning of their practice is commonly marked by a significant recognition of the artist's work and the artist's vocational commitment to ongoing practice.

• Email: culturaltrust@ianpotter.org.au