KEY DATES
Applications open Friday 1 May 2026 at 12 noon ACST
Applications close on Sunday 31 May 2026 at 11:59pm ACST
For activity occurring between 1 July 2026 – 31 December 2026
ABOUT THE GRANT
Our Development Grants support eligible emerging creatives with grants of up to $3,000 to kickstart new projects, research and develop ideas or new works, present work or build skills, new markets and creative practices.
ACTIVITIES ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING
Funding is designed to support projects over six-months, and can include:
- The creation or realisation of new work or projects
- Research and development of new ideas
- Development of new skills in creative practice
- A creative or business mentorship
- Participation in professional development programs
Activity must take place between 1 July 2026 and 31 December 2026.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Applications are invited from final year students and graduates of supported degrees from our partner institutions – the Adelaide University* and Flinders University – within five (5) years from graduation.
Honours students and graduates (up to five years following the final year of study) are also eligible to apply, provided honours study was undertaken directly following the undergraduate degree.
Masters and PhD graduates and candidates are not eligible to apply unless they still qualify through their undergraduate or honours study.
Check your eligibility HERE
BEFORE YOU START YOUR APPLICATION
- Check your eligibility
- Read this Information for Applicants guideline thoroughly.
- Read our Grant Writing Tip Sheet here
Application
Applications are made via the required form on the Helpmann Academy website.
If you need to submit via video submission, please get in touch with our team at info@helpmannacademy.com.au or +61 479 114 073 in advance of the deadline to discuss alternative arrangements.
In the form, you will be asked to;
– fill in the fields with basic personal information
– provide a brief description of your proposed activity
– respond to all questions
– upload requested support material
Applicants are required to provide responses to the following questions
- Tell us about yourself and your creative practice to date.
- Provide a detailed description of the proposal (500 words or less)
- Tell us why this proposal is important for your career development (500 words or less)
The following support material is required:
- Artist CV – maximum two pages
- Official Academic Transcript
- Project Budget – applicants must use the Helpmann Academy budget template
- 4-6 images and/or 1-2 audio-visual demos of your work (please note file size limitations in application form)
Optional support material may be included with your application:
- Letters of support,
- project timeline,
- reviews/press coverage of past work,
- show reels or audio/visual demos.
* We recommend you organise and request letters of support from your referee(s) as soon as you start your application – allow plenty of time before the application due date to do so. Letters must be provided with the online application form, not sent separately.
Assessment
Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Level of artistic merit
- Alignment of proposal with career development and growth
- Feasibility and value of the proposal
- Potential impact and future benefit of the proposal
- Capacity to develop new networks, collaborations and/or partnerships.
Applicants will be notified of outcomes within four weeks of the application close date.
CONSULTATION AND GUIDANCE
Applicants are encouraged to discuss their application prior to submitting, please feel free to reach out to Helpmann Academy and book a time for a chat about your project.
Our Program Manager Toni Wills can discuss how the grant fits in with your practice and ambition. We can provide feedback on how you might be able to refine your proposed idea before submitting your final application.
To book a 30-minute consultation, please click here.
CONDITIONS OF DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
The following conditions apply to all successful applicants:
- The panel reserves the right to award an alternative amount to the sum requested.
- All funding decisions are final.
- Applicants must not have any overdue acquittals for previous projects. Funding will not be provided if the recipient has an overdue acquittal.
- Funding will only be provided for the purchase of equipment, or freight, if they are specific to the project being undertaken.
- Supplies and materials will only be funded if they are specific to the project being undertaken and not for long term use.
- Funding will not be provided for current course requirements or any formal qualifications.
- Funding will not be provided retrospectively, and expenses cannot be covered until a signed agreement form has been returned.
- Funding will not be provided for JamFactory’s Foundation Year Associate Program in Ceramics, Glass, Furniture or Jewellery/Metal.
- Recipients must undertake the activity within the stated activity period.
- Recipients will be required to provide the Helpmann Academy with a midway update throughout the duration of the program and provide a final artistic and financial acquittal report within four weeks of the completion of the program.
- Recipients will be required to acknowledge Helpmann Academy in any publicity, signage or other distributed material relating to the project for which the grant is awarded. This includes logo placement on all promotional material including print and online material and verbal acknowledgement of the Helpmann Academy at any publicly accessed events (including online activity). Recipients will be provided with the Helpmann Academy logo for this use.
- Recipients may be asked to supply images and content throughout the project for use on our social media channels. Recipients may also be required for social media ‘takeovers’ on our channels, which can be done with our assistance, if needed.
- If there are any changes to the recipient’s proposed program or budget, they must notify the Helpmann Academy immediately, and obtain approval before commencing any revised plans or spending.
*Graduates of the University of South Australia or the University of Adelaide are also eligible for this grant.