Artists' Opportunities: Grants, Awards and Residencies Available in Late March 2026
Multiple creative opportunities are currently accepting applications across Australia. The Homiens Art Prize offers a $12,000 annual award for artists in various mediums, with an early deadline of April 1. DanceRites 2026 invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance groups to compete at Sydney Opera House in October for a $50,000 prize pool. The ARA Historical Novel Prize provides $155,000 in awards for Australian and New Zealand writers, closing June 17. Regional Arts Australia is offering eight fellowships totaling $140,000 for artists in regional areas, with expressions of interest due April 13. Additional opportunities include the UNLEASHED+ exhibition for Queensland craft practitioners, 600 SECONDS short performance program in Perth, AWG Emerging Writers' Awards, and artist residencies at The Substation in Melbourne.
Key facts
- Homiens Art Prize offers $12,000 annual award with early deadline April 1, 2026
- DanceRites 2026 competition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance groups at Sydney Opera House in October
- ARA Historical Novel Prize has $155,000 total prize pool across three categories
- National Regional Arts Fellowship provides eight awards totaling $140,000 for regional artists
- Multiple opportunities available across visual arts, performing arts, writing, and multi-arts disciplines
Entities
Institutions
- Sydney Opera House
- Artisan
- The Blue Room Theatre
- Australian Writers' Guild
- Historical Novel Society Australasia
- Regional Arts Australia
- The Substation
- Homiens Art Prize
- ARA Group
Locations
- Australia
- Gold Coast
- Queensland
- Perth
- Western Australia
- Melbourne
- New Zealand
- Gold Coast, QLD
- Perth, WA
- Sydney
- Melbourne, NSW