The American Australian Association established its Arts Fund (formerly the Dame Joan Sutherland Fund) in 2002 to support American and Australian emerging or early career artists to study or undertake artistic development in each other’s countries respectively. With more than 630 scholars and alumni and over USD $2million invested to date, the American Australian Association is committed to fostering artistic achievement in current and future generations by enabling talented artists to pursue their creative dreams overseas.
Arts Fund
Arts Fund
Arts Scholarships and Grants
The Arts Fund provides support to Australian, Aboriginal Australian, Torres Strait Islander, American and Native American emerging or early career artists undertaking or planning to undertake artistic development in the country of the other. These scholarships and grants support artists in the fields of theatre, film, television, dance, music, visual arts, design, literature, and photography.
Scholarship and Grant Categories
Arts Grants
The Arts Fund Grants support emerging or early career artists pursuing or planning to pursue artistic development in the Australia to USA and USA to Australia direction. These Grants will provide support of up to USD $5,000 to artists in the fields of theatre, film, television, dance, music, visual arts, design, literature, and photography. Grant funds may be used toward travel, living, tuition and other costs associated with the artistic development abroad. Two rounds are open each year for application, during which both American and Australian Artists may apply.
Specialty Field Scholarships
The Arts Fund has focused pathways available in the fields of Art Journalism, Fine Art, Film, Music, Writing, and Theatre. Scholarships provide support between USD $10,000 – $40,000 and may be used by artists to assist in funding travel, living, tuition and other costs associated with their planned artistic development.
Please read each specialty scholarship outline and follow links to the partnering organizations websites (if applicable), as eligibility requirements, application dates and how to apply may vary.
Indigenous Arts Grants
The American Australian Association’s Arts Fund provides support of up to USD $10,000 to emerging Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander artists to study or undertake artistic development in each other’s countries respectively.
Scholars and Alumni
We are proud to have built an alumni network of scholars’ eager to continue to deepen and strengthen the American-Australian relationship through cross-cultural exchange. Many have gone on to become notable and award winning figures in their fields – working in prestigious theatres, art galleries, museums and more.
Inquiries
To make inquiries about these scholarships please contact our Education Team at [email protected] | +1 212 338 6860 x 205.