About us
We spark investment in the arts by fostering giving and partnerships between the cultural sector, supporters and investors; and by equipping artists and arts organisations with the fundraising and development skills to succeed.
It takes a variety of tools and resources to bring art to life. While different creative pursuits have different requirements, all artists—regardless of their focus—need support, finance and guidance to prosper.
At Creative Partnerships Australia, we provide artists and arts organisations with the tools, skills and resources to flourish. From fundraising programs and opportunities for business partnerships, to practical campaigning tips and capacity building workshops.
Australia’s cultural sector is a thriving community of ideas and inspiration. And while we celebrate its diversity, we work to deliver on common, universal needs; the need to engage people, to source funding in an increasingly competitive sector, to remain sustainable, and to contribute to our national cultural identity.
Our ultimate goal is to grow a more vibrant and robust cultural sector with strong connections to supporters and investors, for the benefit of all Australians.
What we do
Like the cultural industries we support, our goals and services are diverse.
We strive to:
- Grow the culture of giving to arts and culture, bringing donors, businesses, artists and arts organisations together.
- Assist Australian artists and arts organisations to attract and maintain support from donors and businesses, diversifying their sources of revenue.
- Encourage and celebrate innovation and excellence in giving to, and partnerships with, the arts and cultural sector.
How we do it
We work towards a stronger Australian arts sector, through a multi-pronged approach driven by our organisational values: Leadership, Innovation, Collaboration and Openness.
Leadership
To guide artists and arts organisation’s to promote ambition within the arts sector, we offer coaching and advice services, training and tools and resources.
We deliver professional development events around Australia that provide the opportunity to network, and offer a valuable catalyst for connection between artists and various funding sources. Practically, the events teach fundraising skills and provide arts organisations with strategic insight into raising revenue through private giving.
We run more than 500 coaching and advice sessions across the country each year.
Find out about professional development
Innovation
Born from the merger of AbaF and Artsupport, we launched Australia’s first federally-funded matched funding program for the arts. Since then, we’ve developed a range of forward-thinking programs and platforms to support artists via inventive and diverse revenue streams.
Our matched funding programs help independent artists and small to medium arts organisations increase their fundraising, secure new donors and partnerships, and strengthen their networks. Rewarding clear strategy and a creative approach to fundraising, the programs support the sector to diversify its revenue streams, enabling them to reach their artistic goals through sustainable funding models and practices.
In 2020/21, more than $2.2 million was raised by 73 fundraisers through our Plus1 and MATCH Lab programs, and with over $1.25 million of matched funding from Creative Partnerships, more than $3.47 million was invested into the arts sector through these programs.
Through the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) —our fundraising platform for Australian artists and arts organisations that facilitates tax-deductible donations from the public—we continue to push the boundaries of investment in the arts.
In 2020/21 The Australian Cultural Fund supported fundraising campaigns of 490 independent artists, and arts organisations. Together they generated 9,811 donations from 8,788 arts lovers to invest more than $4.4 million into arts and cultural projects. That’s 1 donation every 54 minutes over the course of a year.
Collaboration
We host and support a wide range of events within the cultural sector, to both facilitate and champion the valuable connections between artists, arts organisations and arts supporters.
We present awards to leaders across art, philanthropy and business.
We present or support events for fundraising and development professionals, to enhance the connections between these communities.
Openness
Our support is open and accessible to artists and organisations of all sizes.
State Managers can offer tailored advice and consultation on a range of organisational and individual needs through our coaching and advice service.
Our expert team specialises in:
- Arts fundraising and philanthropy
- Arts and business partnerships
- Business development for the arts
- Board governance and consultation
State Managers provide goals and strategies to increase revenue sourced from the private sector. They can help in developing and facilitating corporate sponsorships. And, they can outline imaginative and efficient ways to attract new money.
Enquire about coaching and advice
We look forward to sparking further investment in the arts for a more robust, sustainable and supported Australian cultural sector.
Creative Partnerships Australia is supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
Additional links:
- Creative Partnerships Australia Corporate Plan 2022 -2025 (PDF)
- Creative Partnerships Annual Report 2019-2020 (PDF)
