KEY DATES
Applications open: Monday 18 August
Applications close: Sunday 28 September
Activity period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2026
ABOUT
Following on from the success of the inaugural Elise Ross Regional Award, we are thrilled to offer this opportunity for 2025.
The Elise Ross Regional Award 2026 is proudly supported by the Ross Family in loving memory of Elise, as a tribute to her passion and determination to support regional artists. Valued at up to $5,000, this round has expanded opportunities for emerging artists living in and/or planning to practice or study in regional South Australia.
In 2026, this award assists emerging visual and performing artists based in regional South Australia, to overcome barriers presented by distance and population size, with creative and professional development opportunities.
The award may also be used by emerging creatives living and working in Adelaide and surrounds, who plan to perform, exhibit, tour, or study in regional South Australia. Projects should foster activity, build connections between emerging creatives, or create audiences in regional South Australia. You must demonstrate a genuine connection to the region that you plan to take your creative project to or undertake your professional development in.
You can pursue customised professional development programs, develop new creative projects, or do 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. Residencies, internships, and/or training can be based interstate or internationally. You are encouraged to think big and go for it!
This award aims to fund meaningful opportunities not otherwise available in regional towns and hubs, plus opportunities for emerging artists wishing to engage with regional South Australia. Whatever direction you take, the opportunity should have a meaningful and vital impact on the development of your artistic practice and/or the community you engage with, while empowering you to progress in your career.
The Elise Ross Regional Award 2025 is proudly supported by the Ross Family.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Applications are invited from final year students and graduates of supported degrees from our partner institutions – the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, and Flinders University – within five years from graduation.
Honours students and graduates (up to five years following the final year of study) are also eligible to apply, provided honours study was undertaken directly following their undergraduate degree.
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. Make sure you read these guidelines thoroughly.
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.
Interested applicants are encouraged to make an appointment with the Helpmann Academy to discuss your proposed application. We are happy to provide guidance and advice on how you might be able to refine your proposed program and application.
Interested artists are encouraged to get in touch to discuss how we can help with your application. Please contact the Helpmann team to book a 30-minute chat – use our online booking form, contact us via info@helpmannacademy.com.au, or call us on (08) 7089 0720.
WHAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY CAN BE UNDERTAKEN
The Elise Ross Regional Award 2026 is designed to support an emerging visual and performing artists based in regional South Australia, to overcome barriers presented by distance and population size, with creative and professional development opportunities. Emerging creatives from all disciplines are invited to apply.
The Elise Ross Regional Award aims to fund meaningful opportunities that are not currently available in the regional town or hub.
You can pursue customised professional development programs, develop new creative projects, or do a combination of both, either as an artist based in a regional location or as an artist taking a project regional.
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.
For applicants based in a regional location, residencies, internships, and/or training can be based interstate or internationally.
Regionally based applicants are also encouraged to consider the progression they would like to take in their career development, and research what opportunities are available outside of their regional town to help facilitate this. Those applying to present in a regional town need to consider the above for their participants.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MAP TO VIEW REGIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DEFINITION
APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Application
Applications must be submitted via the Helpmann Academy website.
We aim to make our application process as accessible as possible. If you need to submit through alternative means, e.g. video submission, please get in touch with our team to discuss arrangements.
Applications should clearly demonstrate how the program or activities would benefit your career as an emerging artist practicing in regional South Australia.
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. Outline the challenges you currently face as an emerging artist based in regional South Australia.
Please ensure you summarise any barriers or obstacles that are impacting your creative and professional development as an artist in regional South Australia.
OR
How will your project add to the creative and professional development of your participants?
3. Tell us what you want to do.
Tell us about your intended project.
4. Tell us why you want to do it.
Outline the expected outcomes of undertaking your proposed program by telling us why this activity will be beneficial for the advancement of your career or the careers of regionally based artists and how you intend to utilise the knowledge and experience gained.
The following support material is required:
- Artist CV(s) (maximum two pages)
- Your official academic transcript – this must be your official transcript, showing your conferral date
- A budget outlining all expenses associated with the program and clearly showing how these expenses will be covered. Budgets must be formatted using the Helpmann Academy budget template.
- A clear timeline outlining the proposed activities and when they will take place.
- Three to five images or examples to showcase your work
The following support material is optional and may be included with your application:
- Notes to budget corresponding with your budget.
- Any letters confirming aspects of your project (i.e., placement at your chosen institution, residency or internship, confirmation of exhibition, or show).
- A letter of support* from a current or previous lecturer, on official letterhead.
- A letter of support* from an industry professional who can speak to your practice.
- Further letters of endorsement, reviews/press coverage of past work, show reels, or audio/visual demos
* If you plan to submit a letter of support, we recommend you organise and request this from your referee as soon as you start your application. Allow plenty of time before the application due date to do this. Some referees welcome a draft or dot points articulating the key aspects of your project. Support letters must be provided with the online application form and not be sent separately.
Assessment
The successful applicant will clearly demonstrate how undertaking their proposed project will continue or expand their career development and creative practice, either as an emerging artist practicing in regional South Australia, or as an artist presenting in a regional area. 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.
- The proposed activity being 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 ELISE ROSS REGIONAL AWARD
The following conditions apply to all successful applicants:
- 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 are 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.
- The recipient must undertake the activity between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2027.
- The recipient will be required to provide the Helpmann Academy with a report at the midway point, as well as a final artistic, statistical, and financial acquittal report within four weeks of the completion of the program.
- The recipient 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.
- The recipient may be asked to supply images and content throughout the project for use on our social media channels. They may also be required for social media ‘takeovers’ on our channels, which can be done with our assistance if needed.
- The recipient will be asked to acknowledge Helpmann Academy and the Ross Family for funding this opportunity and may be asked to provide the family (via Helpmann Academy) with a thank you card, updates and/or images as requested.
- If there are any changes to the recipient’s proposed program or budget, they must notify the Helpmann Academy immediately in writing and obtain approval before commencing any revised plans or spending.
- All funding decisions are final.
BOOK A CHAT!
Interested applicants are encouraged to talk to us to discuss your proposed application. We are happy to provide guidance and advice on how you might be able to refine your proposed program and application. We find that a friendly discussion about your project will help you refine and strengthen your application.
Please contact the Helpmann team to book a 30-minute chat – use our online booking form, contact us via info@helpmannacademy.com.au, or call us on (08) 7089 0720.
The Elise Ross Regional Award 2025 is proudly supported by the Ross Family.