Open Now Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships 2026 Australia, The Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships 2026 is a prestigious fellowship programme that supports early mid-career Australian artists, creatives, and cultural leaders who have demonstrated exceptional talent and courage in their creative practice. Established in 2011, the fellowship provides unrestricted, tax-free grants of AUD 200,000, paid over a period of two years, allowing recipients the freedom to further develop their artistic and cultural work without being tied to specific project outcomes.
Since 2024, The Ian Potter Cultural Trust has partnered with the Sidney Myer Fund to expand the programme by awarding two Ian Potter Creative Fellowships each year. These fellowships carry the same grant value, eligibility criteria, and structure as the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships.
The programme welcomes nominations from outstanding artists, creators, and cultural leaders working across the full range of arts and humanities disciplines. Applications must be submitted through a nominator, as self-nominations are not permitted. In addition, every nomination must include two independent referees, neither of whom can be the nominator.
If you’re interested in this prestigious fellowship program, we encourage you to read the article carefully and follow the application guidelines closely. Make sure to review all eligibility criteria and submit your application within the specified timeline.
Last Date of Application: 9th August 2026
Open Now Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships 2026 Australia Eligibility Criteria
Nominees must be early mid-career artists, creatives or cultural leaders with 7 to 17 years of professional practice.
Nominees must be Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Australia.
Nominees must be primarily resident in Australia for the period of the Creative Fellowship.
Nominees cannot self-nominate, nor can they be nominated by a member of their family.
Nominees can only be nominated once in a given year.
Unsuccessful nominees in 2026 will be ineligible for renomination in 2027.
The Creative Fellowships are intended to support originating artists, creatives and cultural leaders. Arts and cultural workers whose practice is primarily in education or therapy (for example, music therapy) are not deemed eligible for this program.
How Are a Nominee’s Years of Practice Determined for Open Now Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships 2026 Australia?
For the purpose of the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships, a nominee’s years of practice refer to the period during which they have actively worked as an artist, creative, or cultural leader after completing tertiary education, whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. In most cases, professional practice is considered to begin after formal training. For individuals without formal qualifications, the start of their practice is generally identified by significant public recognition of their work and a demonstrated long-term commitment to their creative profession.
A nominee who has undertaken different roles within the same artistic discipline is regarded as having maintained a continuous professional practice. For example:
- A visual artist who later transitions into art curation is considered to have uninterrupted practice in the visual arts, with both periods counted together.
- An actor who later becomes a stage director is recognised as having continuous experience in theatre.
- A dancer who moves into choreography is treated as having an ongoing professional practice in dance.
The Fellowships also encourage nominations from creatives whose work spans emerging, interdisciplinary, or non-traditional art forms. In such cases, the nomination must include a comprehensive biographical statement that clearly explains the nature, scope, and duration of the nominee’s creative practice.
To support the nomination, the nominator must submit the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV), providing evidence of their professional experience. Where relevant, the CV should also include the year of graduation from tertiary studies. All information provided will be verified during the assessment process.
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How to apply?
Nominate now for the 2026 Creative Fellowships
Learn more about the Fellowship Program
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Who is eligible for the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships 2026?
The fellowship is open to early mid-career Australian artists, creatives, and cultural leaders with 7–17 years of professional practice. Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, primarily reside in Australia during the fellowship period, and be nominated by someone else, as self-nominations are not accepted.
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Can I nominate myself for the fellowship?
No. Self-nominations are not permitted. Each nominee must be nominated by an eligible individual and include two independent referees, neither of whom can be the nominator or a family member.
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Do Creative Fellows need to complete a specific project with the grant?
No. The fellowship provides an unrestricted, tax-free grant of AUD 200,000, allowing recipients to use the funding as they see fit. There is no requirement to produce a specific artwork or project during the fellowship period. However, fellows are expected to submit brief progress reports at the end of each year.
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What supporting documents must be included with a nomination?
A nomination can include up to five supporting items, such as a two-page CV, support letters, testimonials, images, audio, or video files. Any combined audio or video material must not exceed 20 minutes in total.
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How are recipients selected for the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships?
Nominations are assessed by a national panel of industry advisors based on two key criteria: outstanding talent and exceptional creative courage. Shortlisted nominees are then recommended to the Arts & Culture Committee, which makes the final recommendations to the fellowship boards.
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