Creative Australia is supporting 5 places in the Mastery of Systems Leadership Program run by Small Giants Academy and will cover the full tuition for each place.

These scholarships are for mid-career and established artists, arts workers and arts leaders with at least 15-years of experience who are strategically positioned to influence and enact change in their organisation, community, and sector.

Mastery of Systems Leadership is an intensive 1-year program (August 2026 to July 2027) that supports you to forge new pathways that regenerate, restore, and reimagine what is possible in a world impacted by the 'poly-crisis' (simultaneous occurrence of multiple, interacting crises that intensify each other) made up of ecological collapse, economic fragility and social upheaval. With a cohort of global peers from a range of sectors, backgrounds and career stages, you're invited to move beyond linear, siloed approaches and into a deeper understanding of how systems truly work.

Through two immersive retreats, weekly live online sessions, group collaborations, and expert-led discussions, you will develop your capacity to perceive patterns beneath complexity, build unique coalitions, identify leverage points for change and act with responsibility, creativity and humility.

You'll bring your insights into the role of art, culture and creativity in change to conversations about how we work across sectors, embrace interconnectedness and shift narratives, ideologies and capital. This program offers the tools, community and inspiration to elevate your leadership to meet this moment.

This opportunity is only open to:

• individuals
• Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents
• practising artists or arts workers with at least 15-years of experience in the arts and cultural sector
• applicants primarily working in First Nations Arts and Culture, Community Arts and Cultural Development, Emerging and Experimental Arts, Multi-Arts, Music, Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts or Literature and the intersections of these artforms
• applicants who are available to attend all of the program's activities.

• Email: leadershipprogram@creative.gov.au