Canberra artists and organisations have received more than $570,000 in ACT and Australian Government funding to strengthen creative practice and expand access to the arts.
In Round 2 of the ACT Government’s Arts Activities Funding program, 16 projects received a total of $513,394. Grants support new work, residencies, mentorships, and community-focused arts activities.
This year’s recipients include:
- Emma Batchelor, developing Bloomwaves, an experimental literary work created within queer community spaces.
- Gang Gang Café, staging Sundowner 2026, a one-day urban music and arts festival.
- Canberra Burlesque Academy, running accessibility-focused dance and performance mentorships for BIPOC, LGBTQI+, and disabled participants.
- Jordan Best, touring Bombshells to regional NSW with ACT-based performers.
- Ujjwal Rai, developing a movie screenplay, Maha Maya, with local writers.
- Brenda Croft, creating new photomedia and video works for a solo exhibition at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, and digitising her photographic archives.
Ms Croft said:“I am hugely grateful to artsACT for enabling me to undertake both projects.”
A further $59,960 has been awarded to ACT artists through the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, supporting:
- The Stellar Company, running dance and movement classes for older Canberrans of migrant backgrounds.
- Australian Dance Party, presenting IMPULSE, a multidisciplinary performance in public spaces.
- Tuggeranong Community Arts Association, running Weaving Stories, a First Nations-led workshop series in Tharwa.
Arts minister Michael Pettersson MLA said: “Canberra’s arts community continues to demonstrate extraordinary creativity, diversity and depth. These projects reflect the strength of our local talent and the importance of supporting artists to grow their practice, collaborate and connect with audiences.”
The next round of Arts Activities funding ($5,000 to $50,000) opens on 1 December. For more information, visit www.arts.act.gov.au/.
