2026 South Australia Arts Grant Round

The Balnaves Foundation is a private philanthropic organisation established in 2006 by Neil Balnaves AO. The Foundation distributes $5 million annually to Australian not-for-profit organisations working in the arts, health and education, with a focus on initiatives that benefit young people, First Nations peoples, and those facing disadvantage.

In 2026, the Foundation celebrates a significant milestone: 20 years of partnership and shared impact with more than 60 not-for-profit organisations over the past two decades.

In this the Foundation’s 20th year, and in honour of the Balnaves family’s South Australian roots we are launching a special grant roundwith a focus on the future: building lasting connections between young South Australians and the arts.

This grant round is to support innovative and ambitious multi-year arts projects in South Australia that meaningfully engage and connect young and emerging audiences with bold creative work through strong public programming. Grants of $150,000 -$250,000 per year are available to eligible organisations with the capacity to deliver multi-year work.

Funding is intended to support public engagement and participation. While some production costs may be eligible, this grant is not intended to fund the production of a work of art as its primary purpose.

Please note, the information on this page is only for the 2026 South Australia Arts Grant Round. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, please consider submitting an application through the Foundation’s General EOI process.

Key Information

Australian arts organisations are invited to apply for funding to deliver ambitious, multi-year projects that place young and emerging audiences at the heart of bold creative practice in South Australia.

Key parameters: 

• Funding Range: $150,000 p.a. – $250,000 p.a.
• Funding Period: 2–5 years (3 years optimal)
• Location: South Australia
• Eligibility: Open to DGR Item 1 organisations or those with an approved auspicing arrangement
• Project Commencement: No later than 1 June 2027

To be considered, projects must demonstrate all of the following:

• Public Programming: the project must include a meaningful public-facing component
• Young and Emerging Audiences at the Centre: young and emerging audiences up to the age of 35 must be meaningfully engaged in the project
• Artistic Ambition: the project must be bold, contemporary, and willing to take creative risks
• Multi-Year Scope: the project must extend across a minimum of two years and no more than five years, with three years considered optimal

Please note that projects must be delivered in South Australia. Organisations outside of South Australia are welcome to apply if they can demonstrate the capacity to deliver the project within the state.

Eligibility

Who is eligible

Eligible applicants must be organisations holding both Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1 and Tax Concession Charity (TCC) status, or those with an approved auspicing arrangement.

Who is not eligible

The following are not eligible to apply:

• Individuals
• Organisations that are financially insolvent, under administration, or in the process of winding up
• Organisations with a compliance action against them by the ACNC
• Government agencies, departments, or statutory authorities
  • This exclusion does not apply to entities operating primarily for the delivery of cultural or arts experiences (such as art galleries, theatres, museums, and libraries), regardless of their ownership or funding structure
• Schools, universities, or TAFEs

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework

All successful applicants must comply with all Australian laws relating to employing or engaging people who work or volunteer with children. This includes working with children checks and mandatory reporting obligations. Successful organisations who provide services directly to children, or whose funded activities involve contact with children, will also be required to implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

First Nations Cultural Protocols and Projects

The Balnaves Foundation recognises that First Nations peoples are the custodians and authorities of their own cultural material, stories, knowledge, and artistic traditions.

Projects involving First Nations cultural material should be First Nations-led and take into account First Nations perspectives.

If your organisation is not First Nations-led, and your project primarily serves First Nations people and/or communities, you must be able to demonstrate that First Nations creative sovereignty is reflected in the project governance and design. Projects that are extractive or tokenistic are not eligible for funding.

If your project does not primarily serve First Nations people and/or communities, the above criterion does not apply. However, if your project engages with First Nations cultural material regardless of audience, you should refer to Creative Australia’s Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts when developing your project and application.

Next Steps

Further information, including extended eligibility and application criteria is located in the Information Pack. We encourage organisations to read this and the Frequently Asked Questions document thoroughly before applying. Both documents can be downloaded below.