Major Commission Grant for New Artistic Work (Australia)

Deadline: 28-Sep-2026

The Major Commission Grant supports the creation and high-profile public presentation of significant new artistic works by South Australian independent artists, groups, and eligible arts and cultural organisations. The programme provides up to $100,000 to support ambitious projects that represent a significant scale of artistic production and presentation and contribute to the professional development and creative aspirations of South Australian practitioners. Each application must include a commissioning partner, such as a production house, independent producer, festival, publisher, gallery, arts organisation, or high-profile venue. The partner must have a proven track record of delivering projects of a similar scale and must secure at least 30% of the total project budget, either through cash or in-kind support, from sources other than Arts South Australia. Funding can cover creative and commissioning fees, administration, production, personnel, marketing, materials, venue and equipment hire, travel, accommodation and living allowances, freight, curatorial expenses, catalogue production, photography, documentation, and exhibition costs.

About the Major Commission Grant

The Major Commission Grant is designed to support ambitious new artistic works by leading independent artists, groups, and arts and cultural organisations based in South Australia. The programme seeks to provide artists with the resources and professional opportunities required to develop projects of significant scale and present them to audiences in high-profile settings within South Australia.

The grant aims to:

- Support the creation of significant new artistic works. - Provide opportunities for high-profile public presentation. - Elevate the profile of South Australian creative practitioners. - Support ambitious artistic and creative projects. - Encourage professional growth. - Help artists and organisations pursue their creative aspirations. - Strengthen the profile and visibility of South Australia’s arts and cultural sector. Funding Available The Major Commission Grant provides funding of up to: $100,000 The funding can contribute to the costs associated with developing, producing, presenting, and documenting a major artistic commission. Applicants should provide a detailed and realistic budget demonstrating how the grant will contribute to the overall project. What Projects Does the Grant Support? The programme supports significant new artistic works that demonstrate a substantial scale of production and presentation. Projects should be ambitious and capable of being presented in a high-profile setting in South Australia. Applicants need to demonstrate that the proposed commission represents a meaningful step forward in their artistic practice, professional development, or creative ambitions. The programme is therefore suited to projects that are more substantial than routine or small-scale artistic activities. High-Profile Public Presentation A key feature of the Major Commission Grant is the requirement for the project to have a high-profile public presentation in South Australia. Applicants should demonstrate where and how the work will be presented and explain why the proposed presentation setting is appropriate for the scale and significance of the commission. The public presentation should contribute to the visibility of the artist, group, or organisation and provide a meaningful opportunity to reach audiences. Commissioning Partner Requirement Every application must include a commissioning partner. Potential commissioning partners may include: - Production houses. - Independent producers. - Festivals. - Publishers. - Galleries. - Arts organisations. - High-profile venues. The commissioning partner must have a proven track record of delivering projects of similar scale. The partner’s involvement should demonstrate that the proposed commission has the professional support and infrastructure required to deliver a major artistic project. 30% Partner Contribution Requirement The commissioning partner must secure at least 30% of the project’s total budget. This contribution can be provided through: - Cash contributions. - In-kind contributions. The required 30% contribution must come from sources other than Arts South Australia. Applicants should clearly document the commissioning partner’s financial or in-kind contribution within the project budget and supporting arrangements. What Can the Grant Pay For? The Major Commission Grant can support a broad range of expenses connected with the development, production, and presentation of the artistic work.

Potential eligible costs include:

- Administration. - Commissioning fees. - Creative fees. - Producer personnel. - Technical personnel. - Production costs. - Marketing. - Materials. - Venue hire. - Equipment hire. - Travel. - Living allowances. - Freight. - Curatorial costs. - Catalogue production. - Photography. - Documentation. - Exhibition expenses. Applicants should ensure that proposed costs are directly related to the commission and are clearly justified in the application budget. Who Can Apply? The grant is open to a range of South Australian independent artists and arts organisations.

Eligible applicants include:

- Independent artists. - Independent groups. - Small-to-medium funded organisations. - Major funded organisations. - Eligible arts and cultural organisations that do not receive annual or multi-year State Government funding. Applicants should ensure that they satisfy the relevant organisational and funding-status requirements before applying. Who Is Not Eligible? Certain organisations are excluded from applying for the Major Commission Grant.

These include:

- Statutory Authorities. - Organisations funded through the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework. - Organisations that otherwise fall within the programme’s relevant exclusions. Although some excluded organisations cannot apply as grant recipients, Statutory Author