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 612 scholars and alumni and over over US $1.9 million 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, photography and fashion.
Scholarship and Grant Categories
Arts Fund 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 US $5,000 to artists in the fields of theatre, film, television, dance, music, visual arts, design, literature, photography and fashion. Grants 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, of which both American and Australian Artists may apply.
Specialty Field Scholarships
The Arts Fund supports emerging or early career artists pursuing or planning to pursue artistic development in the Australia to USA and USA to Australia direction. The specialty scholarships outlined below will provide support between US $10,000 – US $40,000 to artists in fields of Fine Art, Fashion, Film Making and Writing. Scholarship funds may be used toward travel, living, tuition and other costs associated with the artistic development abroad.
Please read each specialty scholarship outline and follow links to the partnering organizations websites (if need be), as eligibility requirements, application dates and how to apply may vary.
Indigenous Scholarships
The American-Australian Arts Fund provides support of up to US $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. The American Australian Association awards more than 15 arts scholarships to artists in the fields of theatre, film, television, dance, music, visual arts, craft, design, literature, photography and fashion since establishing the scholarship program in 2002.
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.