PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Arts North West provides professional development workshops as well as individual advice to arts workers, creatives, councils, businesses and arts and cultural organisations in our region. We can:

• Review funding applications

• Suggest funding sources and opportunities

• Auspice grants

• Provide tips on project management, planning, budgets, partners

• Assist with logistics planning – insurance, branding, business plans

• Advise on promotion and marketing

• Art handling and installation

For more information contact our Executive Director.

2025 Green Touring Program

Greening Production-Making Online Series

The emissions output of a tour is to a large extent pre-determined by the decisions made at the beginning of the creative process. So, in 2025 AOT is partnering with Theatre Green Book Australia (TGBA) to present four, free 60-minute online sessions that focus on greening production-making every Monday 2-3pm from 24 March – 14 April.

Run by Grace Nye-Butler, the aim of this Series is to develop eco literacy skills and support directors, creatives and production departments to integrate emissions reduction strategies into their practices. It’s worth highlighting that the idea here is not to be in competition with an artistic vision, but for this vision to be supported by knowledge and awareness that allows for eco-informed decisions. The Series will feature guests along the way who are using the TGBA, to give specific examples of how it can be applied to production-making.

One of the inspirations for this Series was the popularity of the episodes in last year’s Green Touring Online Series that focused on production. These episodes featured makers Bryony Anderson and Tanja Beer, Production Manager Dana Spence, as well as Grace Nye-Butler and Chris Mercer giving an overview of TGBA. Replays of these conversations are available here.

THE SERIES

Session 1 - Monday 24 March 2-3pm

Session 2 - Monday 31 March 2-3pm

Session 3 - Monday 7 April 2-3pm

Session 4 - Monday 14 April 2-3pm

Artist Callout: Gungahlin Community And Youth Centre Public and Community Arts Projects

Expressions of Interest Close Midnight Sunday 6 April 2025

Belco Arts is calling for expressions from interest from artists for two public and community arts projects which will be delivered as part of the build of the new Gungahlin Community and Youth Centre.

About the project

The Gungahlin Community Centre has been developed using a co-design approach with input from key local stakeholders. It is designed to be a place for community to come together, connect and access a wide range of facilities, activities and supports.

Engagement with the local community is a central part of the development of both artworks, creating designs that reflect, represent and celebrate the local community. One work will create an entry statement to the building, utilizing the awnings and high level glass at the front of the centre, while the other will create a feature in the central courtyard through decorative fencing panels, inlays into paths or additions to seating within the courtyard.

For each opportunity, initial expressions of interest will be assessed by a panel made up of Belco Arts staff, and members of the community centre design and construction team. Up to 3 artists will be selected and paid a fee to develop a detailed concept development. Technical specifications and plans will be provided to artists at this stage.

call for artists: Expressions of interest

Maitland Regional Art Gallery are looking for proposals from artists interested in exhibiting with them from 2026-2028 in their Project Spaces. These exhibiting spaces are perfect for experimental, creative and site-specific ideas, perfect for expanding your creative practice.

✨ EOI's close Friday 25 April.

✨ Like to know more? Click https://bit.ly/3FH41a0

Call for Artist Submissions: Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2025

Submissions are now open for Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2025, one of Sydney’s most iconic art events. Held along the breathtaking Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, this internationally renowned exhibition attracts over 500,000 visitors each year and showcases over 100 sculptures from artists across the globe.

All forms, sizes, and materials of sculpture are eligible for submission. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your work displayed in one of the world’s most scenic outdoor galleries.

Key Details

🗓 Submissions close: Sunday 6 April 2025
📍 Location: Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, Sydney
🎭 Exhibition dates: To be announced

Artist Awards & Subsidies

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi provides significant support for participating artists, with a range of awards and financial assistance, including:

• The Aqualand Sculpture Award – $70,000 (acquisitive award for permanent placement in NSW)

• Helen Lempriere Scholarships ($35,000 senior-career artist, $30,000 mid-career artist, $25,000 emerging-career artist)

• Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artist Mentorships – $15,000 each (for two Australian artists)

• Artist cost contribution – up to $3,000 (for eligible artists exhibiting in ‘Sculpture Inside’)

• Danish Artist Award – $15,000 (Friendship Society of Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand)

• Waverley Council Mayor’s Award – $10,000

• Mostyn Family Foundation Artist Subsidy – $5,000

• Capral Artist Subsidy – $5,000

• Kids’ Choice Prize – $5,000

This is an unparalleled opportunity to exhibit in Australia’s largest free-to-the-public sculpture exhibition.

For submission details and guidelines, visit Sculpture by the Sea.

FREE WEBINAR - FUNDING F#!K-UPS

Curious about how to strengthen your next funding application?

Applying for funding can be a nightmare, especially when all your hard work results in zero dollars. You are not alone! Even successful applicants can fail, more than once, and in spectacular fashion.

The next FREE webinar from Creative Plus Business is a a no-holds-barred free look at the most common grant application mistakes that lead to rejection. You'll even get to hear some real-life war stories from the panel of funding experts. Learn from others' failures and prepare to turn those f#!k ups into funding success!

It's happening on Wednesday, 26th March at 6pm.

Register here >>>

Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards

The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards is Australia’s longest-running and most prestigious poetry competition for students. The competition aims to inspire young Australians to express their thoughts, experiences, and creativity through poetry. Each year, thousands of students from across the country participate, showcasing a high standard of literary excellence.

The competition provides a unique opportunity for students to reflect on current events, personal experiences, and the world around them. Entries from both primary and secondary students consistently impress the judges, highlighting the depth and diversity of young Australian voices.

Key Dates

Entries Open: 1 March

Entries Close: 30 June

Winners Announced: First Friday in September

2025 Optional Theme: "All the Beautiful Things"

Students are invited to write about topics and experiences that inspire them. While the theme is optional, it provides a creative prompt for those looking for direction in their writing.

Entry Conditions

Open to all students enrolled in an Australian education facility (Kindergarten to Year 12).

Poems must be 80 lines or fewer, with no illustrations, graphics, or decorations.

Each student may submit up to three poems.

Poems on any subject are accepted; participation in the annual theme is optional.

Poems that have been previously entered in the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards are not eligible for resubmission.

Poems entered in other competitions may still be submitted.

For more details on the competition and how to enter, click here.

BAMM Biennale Portrait Prize 2025

The BAMM Biennale Portrait Prize returns for its 7th year, celebrating excellence in portrait painting. This prestigious competition invites artists from across Australia to showcase their talent, whether emerging or established. The $7,500 first prize recognizes outstanding portraiture, with additional awards across different age categories.

Prizes

🏆 First Prize: $7,500
🎨 People’s Choice Award: $1,000
👦 Youth Categories:

• Under 11: $250

• Under 15: $500

• Under 18: $750

Key Dates

📅 Entries Open: 13 February 2025
📅 Entries Close: Thursday, 24 April 2025
📅 Finalist Artists Notified: May 2025
📅 Winners Announced: Thursday, 29 May 2025

Exhibition Details

📅 Opening Night: Thursday, 29 May 2025, 6 PM
📅 Exhibition Runs: 30 May – 19 July 2025
📍 Venue: BAMM Gallery
🎟 Free Entry

How to Enter

Artists are invited to submit their best portrait paintings for consideration. A $25 entry fee applies. The finalist exhibition will be selected from the entrants, and the winning works will be announced at the opening night event.

For full entry details and to submit your work, visit: https://www.bankartmuseummoree.org/bamm-biennale-portrait-prize

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of one of Australia’s premier portrait competitions!

Music Industry Masterclass

Book now for Accessible Arts free Music Industry Masterclass!

While venues, festivals and industry employers are committed to enhancing access and inclusion, many don’t know where to begin. Our disability-led Music Access & Inclusion Masterclass program has been developed to bridge this gap through building disability confidence.

Discover practical solutions and increase representation of musicians with disability or who are d/Deaf at festivals, gigs and on air.

This program comprises in person and online workshops for industry professionals with and without disability.

Captioning and Auslan interpretation available on request.

Places limited - book now at https://aarts.net.au/news/music-access-masterclass-2025/

This initiative is funded by Sound NSW with support from MusicNSW.

⭐ Free Mentoring Sessions for Aboriginal Artists and Arts Workers

Elevate Your Creative Practice with Expert Guidance

Are you an Aboriginal Artist or Arts Worker from Regional NSW looking to elevate your practice? Thanks to the support of Create NSW, Outback Arts and Mara Mara we are excited to offer 20 FREE mentoring sessions with Lorrayne Fishenden, valued at $140 each. This unique opportunity is part of the Dhurrali Project, dedicated to empowering and supporting Aboriginal creatives.

About the Mentoring Sessions

These sessions are designed to provide personalised guidance, deep insights into the arts landscape, and strategic advice to help you grow and succeed in your creative endeavors. Each participant can benefit from up to three sessions, ensuring a tailored and impactful experience.

Meet Your Mentor: Lorrayne Fishenden

Lorrayne Fishenden is a well known leader and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in community development, Aboriginal arts advocacy, and business management. Lorrayne has been a pivotal advocate for Aboriginal artists and communities across regional NSW. Her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to cultural development make her an inspiring mentor for this program.

What's Included

Each free mentoring session includes:

• Personalised guidance and support from Lorrayne Fishenden

• Insights into the Aboriginal arts landscape

• Strategies for growth and recognition in your field

• Expert advice on sustainable business practices

How to Book

Use this link https://LorrayneFishenden2Rivers.as.me/?appointmentType=65864844 to schedule a time. Don’t forget to fill in the quick questionnaire that will help Lorrayne prepare for your meeting. Remember, spots are limited, so don't miss this opportunity to take your art to new heights!

Important Information

• Each session is valued at $140

• Up to 3 sessions per participant

• Limited to 20 sessions total

Join us in this exciting initiative to celebrate Aboriginal voices, cultivate creativity, and build a vibrant community of artists committed to sharing their stories with the world.

Apply now and embark on a transformative creative journey!

⭐ Business Connect – Free business support for Creative Industries

Did you know Service NSW Business Connect offers free, independent, tailored business advice for NSW businesses (including sole traders with an ABN)? Business Connect advisors, including specialist creative experts can provide you up to 8 hours of free, tailored business advice in one-on-one sessions more.

Current Creative opportunities

⭐ Debra Porch Award: Visual Arts Residency

Investment to support both an Australian artist and a Thai artist to undertake reciprocal residencies.

About the opportunity

Creative Australia has committed to a three year (2024 – 2026) trilateral partnership with SAC Gallery, Bangkok and UNSW Galleries, Sydney with the support of the Debra Porch Award. Each gallery will host one artist each year; an Australian artist and a Thai artist, to undertake a visual arts residency. 

Each Award has total value of up to $13,000 AUD for Australia/$10,000 AUD for Thailand, with in-kind support provided by residency host organisations as outlined in the ‘Support’ section below.  

Artist Debra Porch’s practice focused on memory, mortality and the relationship between presence and absence. Working and teaching during art residencies she undertook in our neighbouring regions became vital in her art, work and life.   

In honour  of Debra Porch’s life’s work, this award will continue to be reciprocal in nature, to ensure long term engagement and strengthen strong intercultural connections across the Asia Pacific region. 

An Australian visual artist will be awarded a grant for a supported residency at SAC Gallery in Bangkok, Thailand. A Thai visual artist will also be awarded a reciprocal grant for a supported residency at UNSW Galleries in Sydney, Australia.  

The residency host organisations will introduce the artist to the local sector and assist with research and network building with relevant communities. The artist will also have the option to share an artist talk or participate in a public program at the end of the residency period. 

⭐ Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowships

First Nations writers are invited to apply for one of twelve week-long residencies at Varuna in 2025, sharing the residency with other First Nations writers, and benefiting from one-on-one mentorship and the sharing of skills and knowledge.

Residency dates: 24 November - 1 December 2025 or 1 - 8 December 2025
Applications open: 6 February 2025
Applications close: 5pm AEST 7 April 2025
Places: Twelve writers will be selected
Who should apply: First Nations writers working in any genre, at any career stage.

FAQs: Please read the FAQs before you apply.

Twelve fellowships will be awarded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers from anywhere in Australia, for a one-week residency at Varuna, either 24 November - 1 December 2025 or 1 - 8 December 2025. Writers will be allocated a fellowship week based on how their work might align for collaboration, or their availability.

This fellowship program is open to writers of all genres, including fiction, narrative non-fiction, poetry, children's books, graphic novels, dramatic/screenwriting, writing for radio, translation, young adult, essays or short fiction. This program has been expanded in 2025 to include an additional fellowship week and six additional fellowship places. These additional places allow us to broaden our focus to include more non-fiction work, such as language preservation projects, family histories, and culturally significant research. Submissions in language are welcomed.

The fellowship includes:

• A one-week residency at Varuna, including all food and a prepared evening meal, with uninterrupted time to write in your own private studio, and the companionship of your fellow writers

• Travel costs reimbursed between your home and Katoomba

• A one-on-one conversation with a First Nations mentor, and group reading sessions, in a culturally safe space

• A BBQ at the house for the local community

For more information about staying at Varuna, visit our Residencies page.

HOW TO APPLY

You will need to send us up between 5000-10,000 words from the beginning of your manuscript, as well as answer questions about your experience and practice.  For poetry, you need to send us a selection of up to 10 poems; for plays and screenplays you may send a sample of 10 pages, or more if it doesn’t exceed 10,000 words; for graphic novels a sample of 10 pages; for children’s picture books you may send us a full manuscript.

Fellowships will be awarded based primarily on the merit of your writing. Selectors will also consider the potential role of your work in maintaining culture, such as educating the community regarding Indigenous issues, providing an authentic voice in Australian writing, maintaining language, or recording community stories.

Fellowships are awarded by a First Nations selection panel each year.

apply now

⭐ Copyright agency fellowships

The Copyright Agency offers Fellowships for Australian writers to create significant new works.

Year-long Fellowships are intrinsically important to Australian creative writers as it buys them time to create new work.

Two $80,000 Fellowships are available for Australian writers who have achieved some success and critical acclaim with their writing and who have a publisher interested in publishing the intended work.

Author Fellowship

The Copyright Agency’s Author Fellowship will support an established Australian author to create a new work for publication.

One Fellowship will be awarded each year.

Amount of grant: $80,000

Closes: 1pm AEST 18 August 2025

Fellowship for Non-Fiction writing

The Copyright Agency’s Fellowship for Non-Fiction Writing will support a mid-career or established Australian author to create a new work of creative non-fiction for publication.

One Fellowship will be awarded each year.

Amount of grant: $80,000

Closes:  1pm AEST 18 August 2025

FRANK MOORHOUSE FELLOWSHIP FOR YOUNG WRITERS

The Copyright Agency Frank Moorhouse Fellowship for Young Writers will support a writer aged 18-35 years to develop and write a new work of fiction.

One Fellowship will be awarded each year.

Amount of grant: $10,000

Closes: 1pm AEST 23 June 2025

READING AUSTRALIA FELLOWSHIP

The Copyright Agency’s Reading Australia Fellowship for Teachers of English and Literacy will support an experienced teacher or teacher librarian to undertake professional skills development and career-enhancing opportunities.

One Fellowship will be awarded each year.

Amount of grant: $15,000

Closes: 1pm AEST Mon 5 May 2025

⭐ 2025 Sculpture Acquisition Prize - Ceramic break sculpture park

An acquisition prize of $12,000.00

The winning sculpture will form part of the permanent display at Ceramic Break Sculpture Park. The Park offers guests an art experience with a difference in rural NSW. The goal of the contest is to diversify the park’s collection.

Apply now >>>

⭐ Screen NSW - Charlie’s Working Space, LA!

Screen NSW, in partnership with Australians in Film (AiF), offers NSW screen practitioners the opportunity to secure access to a dedicated co-working space at Charlie's in Los Angeles. The one free creative workspace is available for NSW based screen practitioners visiting LA to conduct business, collaborate, and network.

Successful applicants to Charlie’s will receive access to:

• One desk and a writers' room with whiteboards and screens

• Wi-Fi

• An equipped kitchen

• AiF staff.

Charlie’s is located in the Writer’s Building at The Lot Studios in West Hollywood.

⭐ Screen Australia – Industry Partnerships

This program aims to create opportunities through new, original and inclusive approaches to the industry that will expand networks and grow the Australian industry. Screen Australia will consider funding a portion of a total activity budget up to a cap of $30,000 per activity/activities conducted by an organization over the financial year. 

⭐ Screen Australia – International Marketing Support: Festivals and Awards

This program aims to support the promotion of Australian content and talent at the key international festivals and awards events, enabling the enhancement of international marketing strategies in conjunction with other partners. Screen Australia will contribute to the promotional budget for eligible events generally up to $20,000 for feature films and television series and $10,000 for short films. The level of funding will be determined by a film’s individual international marketing strategy as evidenced by a comprehensive plan and budget, produced by either the sales agent or producer. Festival screenings must be the title’s world or international premiere.

⭐ Screen Australia – Distribution Support: P&A Plus

This program aims to enhance the distribution and marketing of quality Australian films across traditional and alternative release platforms. Funding can be sought to support the traditional theatrical ANZ release of completed feature films that have an established local distributor attached, or for alternative release campaigns in certain circumstances

⭐ Screen Australia – First Nations Program: Sector Development (Internships)

This program aims to assist the career development of talented screen content makers who can demonstrate a strong commitment to a career in the film industry. Internships assist practitioners whose careers would benefit from an attachment to a person, production or organisation. This program is designed to assist the career development of talented filmmakers who can demonstrate a strong commitment to a career in the film industry. This is not an entry-level scheme. An internship may take many forms and involve features, documentaries, animation, interactive digital media, TV drama or comedy series

Current ARTS Employment & Voluteering Opportunities