Cultural Fund application guidelines
Updated January 2012. To view a printable pdf version of this information, click
here.
What is the Cultural Fund?
Copyright Agency’s Board is authorised by Copyright Agency’s Constitution to allocate 1.5% of revenue collected to cultural development. This is known as the Cultural Fund. The Cultural Fund supports projects that enhance the economic and creative climate in which Copyright Agency’s members and Copyright Agency operate and provides practical assistance to the benefit of the Australian cultural community generally.
The Cultural Fund also allocates $150,000 annually to support individuals in the publishing and visual arts sectors for career development through the Creative Industries Career Fund.
Cultural Fund guidelines
When considering applications to the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, the Cultural Fund Committee gives priority to those that support innovation in the Australian creative industries to develop local and foreign markets for Australian works.
On that basis, applications are invited for projects which will empower Copyright Agency’s members and Australian rights owners to:
- support those who create copyright works in Australia, so that their ability to produce work and live off it, may be enhanced;
- enhance the environment for the creation, production and distribution of, access to and appreciation of Australian literary and artistic works; and
- assist rights owners to manage their rights efficiently and equitably.
Cultural fund allocations are made at the discretion of Copyright Agency’s Board, on the recommendation of the Board’s Cultural Fund Committee.
The Cultural Fund does not typically support the following:
- regular living expenses;
- business overhead costs;
- capital works;
- general administrative costs;
- book launches;
- exhibition openings;
- publishers to publish/market books;
- production costs for theatre, film and other performances;
- digitisation of back issues/ catalogues of works;
- creation or maintenance of a website for a publishing house, author or artist; and
- development of iPhone/ iPad/ iPod etc. applications.
Creative Industries Career Fund Applications
Individual Australian creators and those working in the creative industries can also apply to Copyright Agency’s Creative Industries’ Career Fund for grants to help them develop their skills and enhance their career. Examples of activities for which individuals often receive funding include:
- attendance at professional workshops and conferences;
- participation in rights fairs and festivals; and
- specific training in technical areas relevant to their creative or professional practice.
There is a separate application process for this initiative.
Who can apply?
If you have a project that meets the Cultural Fund’s guidelines, you may forward your proposal to Copyright Agency. The Cultural Fund sub-committee assesses applications and makes recommendations to the Copyright Agency Board. The Board approves Cultural Fund allocations.
In developing your application, you can contact Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund Manager, Zoë Rodriguez, by email
culturalfund@copyright.com.au or phone +612 9394 7600.
To get started, please visit the Cultural Fund pages of Copyright Agency’s website to download our PDF application form. Please note that you will need to open the form and provide details of your project in the spaces provided, using Adobe Acrobat reader.
Special guidelines for festival applications
The following guidelines apply to applications for Writers’ and Illustrators’ Festival funding:
1. The Festival must provide an opportunity for creators to sell their work.
2. For festivals to be held in 2010 and 2012, applications will only be accepted from New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and North Territory.
3. For festivals to be held in 2011 and 2013, applications will only be accepted from Victoria, ACT, Queensland and Tasmania.
4. This will continue in alternate years.
Special guidelines for prizes/awards applications
1. Is your Award open nationally?
2. Is entry available to both members and non members of your organisation?
3. Will you charge a reduced entry fee for members of your organisation?
4. Are your entry fees appropriate to the amount of the first prize?
5. Is it your intention to return unsuccessful entries to applicants?
6. Where the Award includes publication or exhibition, how does the amount of the first prize compare with your usual publication/exhibition rates?
7. Where short-listed entries are published or exhibited, how will the creators be rewarded financially?
8. Who will own copyright of winning works?
9. Copyright Agency prefers applications where judges are paid and provided with travel expenses, where appropriate.
Who is Copyright Agency?
Copyright Agency Limited provides simple ways for people to reproduce, store and share words, images and other creative content, in return for fair payment. In doing so, it connects the creators, owners and users of copyright material.