Applications open Monday 30 June 2025
Applications close Monday 18 August 2025 at 11:59pm
For activity occurring between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026
ABOUT
The Helpmann Fellowships are designed by you.
Proudly supported by the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation and valued at up to $7,500, our Helpmann Fellowships are self-driven and specific to emerging artists from all creative disciplines. Our fellowships support you to undertake self–driven professional development.
Our applicant–led approach encourages ambitious projects with long-term impacts and professional development opportunities to build, grow and invest in your practice.
We are here to support projects that will have a meaningful and vital impact on the development of your artistic practice, empowering you to progress in your career.
This project is key to advancing my career as a full–time artist. Gaining experience in music video production, commercial photography, and PR will enhance my skills and expand my network. Collaborating with mentors is vital to my professional growth and Helpmann’s support will enable me to build and invest in my music career, refine my practice, and achieve significant professional milestones.
Grace Mensforth, Helpmann Fellowship recipient 2024.
Individual artists or collectives can pursue customised professional development programs, larger-scale projects, or a combination of both. The self-directed programs may encompass a range of activities, such as engaging in residencies, receiving specialised training, participating in long-term workshops, or securing internships with recognised institutions or professional practitioners.
You can choose to undertake a new project or integrate the outcomes and learnings into an existing project. These projects may also involve the creation of new artistic works, exhibition or performance outcomes, touring, recording, professional development or activities focused on developing new markets and audiences.
By having the support of the Helpmann Fellowship, I can achieve a dream of mine which I didn’t think was possible in these emerging stages of my career, and that is to tour my own show. I am excited to further my artistic practice through this experience and to connect with industry contacts interstate, building my networks as an independent artist.
Danielle Lim, Helpmann Fellowship recipient 2024.
Feel free to reach out to us to discuss your application, workshop your idea or just to understand the application and selection process more thoroughly. Learn more in the ‘For more information’ section below.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Applications are invited from students who have graduated at the time of application, and graduates within five years following the final year of study from one of our partner institutions and eligible programs.
Honours students and graduates (up to five years following the final year of study) are eligible to apply.
Please note that Masters and PhD graduates and candidates are not eligible to apply, unless they still qualify through their undergraduate or honours study.
To check your eligibility please visit the Who We Support page on our website.
BEFORE YOU START YOUR APPLICATION
Before you get started, please check your eligibility here.
We strongly recommend reading our Grant Writing Tips and FAQs before you start writing your application.
You can join the Write on The Money workshop on Thursday July 3 at Carclew for more information on how to apply for grants. You can also watch the recording from our last Write on the Money workshop (run in partnership with Carclew and hosted at Flinders University) which features artists talking about their experience in applying for funding.
We strongly encourage you to discuss your application with the Helpmann Academy before you press send.
Applicants are encouraged to get in touch to discuss how we can help with your application. Book a 30-minute consult via our online booking form.
Make sure you read these guidelines thoroughly.
APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Application
Applications close Monday 18 August 2025 at 11:59pm
Applications must be submitted via the Helpmann Academy website.
Applications should clearly demonstrate how the program or activities would provide significant benefit to your career as an emerging artist.
Applicants are required to complete the following four questions:
1. Tell us about yourself
Include your artist bio, professional experience to date, any awards you have received, successful grant applications, details of any productions and key artists you’ve worked with.
2. Tell us what you want to do
Provide a detailed description of the project (what do you plan to do?). Please include details about any collaborators, their role in your project, and your reasons for working with them.
3. Tell us why you want to do it
Identify the outcomes from undertaking your project – how will the project contribute to your career development (Why me? Why this? Why now?).
4. The Helpmann Fellowship is intended for ambitious projects – how does your project meet this criteria?
The following support material is required:
- Artist CV(s) (maximum two pages)
- Copy of your relevant official academic transcript.
- A budget outlining all expenses associated with the program, clearly showing how these expenses will be covered. Budgets must be formatted using the Helpmann Academy Budget Template.
- Notes to budget
- A clear timeline outlining the proposed activities and when they will take place.
- Any letters confirming aspects of your project (i.e., placement at your chosen institution, residency or internship, confirmation of exhibition, or show).
- Letter of support* on official letterhead from a current lecturer, previous lecturer, or industry professional who can speak to your practice
- A letter of support from an industry professional who can speak to your practice.
- Images and/or audio visual demos
* We recommend you organise and request letters of support from your referee(s) as soon as you start your application – allow plenty of time before the application due date to do so. Letters must be provided with the online application form, not sent separately.
Additional support material may also be submitted and can include further letters of support, reviews, press coverage of past works or exhibitions, or showreels.
Assessment
The successful applicants will clearly demonstrate how undertaking their proposed activity will significantly contribute to their career development. A panel facilitated by the Helpmann Academy will assess applications based on:
- A high level of artistic merit
- The provision of a clear outline of why the chosen activity is beneficial to the applicant’s career development and the impact the activity will have on their artistic practice.
- If the proposed activity is realistic and achievable.
- A demonstrated commitment to learning.
- A clear outline of the expected outcomes and how they fit with the applicant’s career goals.
- The budget being realistic, accurate and representing value for money.
Shortlisted applicants may be required to attend an interview.
FUNDING / CONDITIONS OF THE HELPMANN FELLOWSHIPS
The following conditions apply to all successful applicants:
- Applicants must be a resident of South Australia.
- Applicants must not have any overdue acquittals for previous projects. Funding will not be provided if the recipient has an overdue acquittal.
- Funding will only be provided for the purchase of equipment, or freight, if they are specific to the project being undertaken.
- Supplies and materials will only be funded if they are specific to the project being undertaken and not for long term use.
- Funding will not be provided for current course requirements or any formal qualifications.
- Funding will not be provided retrospectively, and expenses cannot be covered until a signed agreement form has been returned.
- Recipients must undertake the activity within between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026.
- Recipients will be required to provide the Helpmann Academy with email updates throughout the duration of the program and provide a final artistic and financial acquittal report within four weeks of the completion of the program.
- Recipients will be required to acknowledge Helpmann Academy in any publicity, signage or other distributed material relating to the project for which the fellowship is awarded. This includes logo placement on all promotional material including print and online material and verbal acknowledgement of the Helpmann Academy at any publicly accessed events (including online activity). Recipients will be provided with the Helpmann Academy logo for this use.
- Recipients may be asked to supply images and content throughout the project for use on our social media channels. Recipients may also be required for social media ‘takeovers’ on our channels, which can be done with our assistance, if needed.
- If there are any changes to the recipient’s proposed program or budget, they must notify the Helpmann Academy immediately, and obtain approval before commencing any revised plans or spending.
- All funding decisions are final.
COME AND TALK TO US
Interested applicants are encouraged to make an appointment with the Helpmann Academy to discuss your proposed application. We strongly encourage you to discuss your application with the Helpmann Academy before you press send.
Please get in touch to discuss how we can help with your application.
Book a 30–minute consult via our online booking form or contact us on (08) 7089 0720 / info@helpmannacademy.com.au
Image: Grace Mensforth, performing as ‘Grace Vandals’ with band ‘Tell Mama’. Image supplied by artist.
The Helpmann Fellowships are proudly supported by the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation.
