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Congratulations to the 45 emerging artists awarded grants in this recordbreaking round!
A total of $579,178 in Emerging Artist Grants has been awarded – the highest amount ever granted by the Trust in a single round This milestone reflects the extraordinary talent, dedication and artistic rigour that continue to energise and elevate Australia's vibrant arts sector
Each Emerging Artist Grant recipient has demonstrated excellence in their respective practices and has meticulously crafted professional development opportunities that will take each of their careers to the next level. To these artists, I wish you the very best and look forward to hearing how your project unfolds
Still of Dido & Aeneas by Pinchgut Opera, lighting designed by new grantee Morgan Moroney, City Recital Hall, Sydney, 2024. Image: Cassandra Hannigan
Since our last newsletter, we have seen some changes to our Board of Trustees. The Hon Alex Chernov AC KC, the Hon Susan Crennan AC KC, Professor Richard Larkins AC and Professor Brian Schmidt AC have retired from our Board. All have been instrumental in shaping the Trust's strategic direction and recent initiatives I wish them all the best in their future endeavours and thank them for their many years of service to the Trust.
We are excited to welcome our new Trustees: Patrick Houlihan, Professor Kathryn North AC and Professor Sir Jonathan Mills AC
Patrick Houlihan is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DuluxGroup and Chair of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Professor Kathryn North is the Director of the MCRI and the David Danks Professor of Child Health Research at the University of Melbourne
Professor Sir Jonathan Mills is an acclaimed composer and former director of the Edinburgh International Festival (2007–2014) He currently holds roles at the University of Melbourne, Museums Victoria, Yale University, and Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum. I have no doubt they will make invaluable contributions to our Board
Applications for our Emerging Performers Fellowship program are currently open (see below) If you are an exceptional ANAM alum seeking support for a performance career beyond the traditional orchestral route, this may be the perfect opportunity for you
The dates for the 2026 Funding Rounds for Emerging Artist Grants are now set. Check the dates on our website if you are planning professional development opportunities overseas.
Before you begin your application, I encourage you to watch the Trust's new short video guide on applying for the Emerging Artist Grants. These videos provide insights into the kinds of projects we support, offer guidance on correctly completing applications and answer commonly asked questions.
Paul Conroy CEO
Round 2, 2025
Emerging Artist Grants 2026
New Multimedia grant recipient Stanton Cornish-Ward behind the scenes filming Image: Kurt Sneddon
Kiah Pullens installing darkroom prints, printed at recom ART Berlin (2022) Image: courtesy of the artist
Thinking of undertaking professional development in 2026? Consider applying for an Emerging Artist Grant
Grants of up to $15,000 will support early-career Australian artists from any arts practice in their pursuit of professional development. See below for 2026 dates prior to starting your application.
2026 dates
BONUS: Watch our new video guides!
Our Senior Program Manager, Louise Joel, provides some helpful advice on preparing to apply, completing a budget and tips on making your application stand out
Applications Closing Soon Ian Potter Emerging Performers Fellowships
(L-R) Top: Fellow Mee Na Lojewski, image by Alfredo Casarola
Fellow Katie Yap, image by Leslie Grant
(L-R) Bottom: Fellow Kaylie Melville, image by Bryony Jackson. Fellow Eliza Shephard, image by Cameron Jamieson
4/1/26, 11:47AM
Applications for the Ian Potter Emerging Performers Fellowships close soon.
The Emerging Performers Fellowship program is a collaboration between the Trust and the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM)
The two-year program supports two exceptional ANAM alumni in pursuing careers that fall outside traditional orchestral pathways
Fellows will each receive $100,000 in financial support from The Ian Potter Cultural Trust as well as tailored mentoring support from ANAM over two years to develop their unique performance practices.
Applications close: 28 September 2025 at 11:59PM AEST Fellows announced: Mid-December 2025
What's On Grantee News
Mechelle Bounpraseuth, Green Paw Paws in Yellow Box (2025) Image: Mark Pokorny
One of our newest grant recipients, Mechelle Bounpraseuth, will have her work featured as part of the Art Gallery of New South Wales' exhibition And Still I Rise
Opening on 8 November 2025, the free exhibition focuses on a culturally diverse group of women artists living in Australia and includes work from other
Yuiko Masukawa’s latest work, 3, celebrates the virtuosity of dance and
2025 Emerging Artist Mechelle Bounpraseuth
2024 Emerging Artist Yuiko Masukawa
3 by Yuiko Masukawa Image: courtesy of the artist.
former Visual Arts grant recipients, Jenna Lee and Marikit Santiago
2025 Emerging Artist Johanna Ng
Congratulations to Johanna Ng on winning the Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize for 2025!
Ng recently completed her research residency in Japan, which deepened her connection to her photography-based practice.
Ng’s work, along with the other finalists, is on display at the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre until 11 October 2025.
the improvisational aesthetics of sport.
With live screenwork by 2023
Multimedia grant recipient Sam McGilp, this site-specific performance premieres 25–27 September 2025 at Narrandjeri Stadium, Thornbury
2024 Emerging Performers Fellow Katie Yap
2025 Emerging Artist Kalu Oji
from
Kalu Oji’s debut feature film Pasa Faho made waves at its MIFF premiere and is on its way to screen up north at the Darwin International Film Festival and the Mparntwe Alice Springs International Film Festival.
2024 Emerging Performers Fellow
Mee Na Lojewski
Affinity Quartet. Image: Will Green.
Johanna Ng in Japan Image: Liu Shujia
Still
Pasa Faho (2025) Image: courtesy of the artist.
Katie Yap. Image: Albert Comper.
Violist Katie Yap is currently a curatorial Fellow of Van Diemen’s Band (VDB)
As part of her VDB Fellowship, Yap brings together six of Australia’s most exciting musicians for a recording that captures four new works, each based on one of Judith Wright’s exquisite bird poems, entitled Multitudes.
Listen now
2025 Emerging Artist
Ellen Ferrier
Ellen Ferrier. Image: Kristen Augeard.
Ellen Ferrier is one of six finalists for Create NSW’s Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging).
After receiving curatorial support from Artspace, the group show filled with the Fellows' new work is now on at Artspace, Sydney until 19 October 2025.
She will soon head to Denmark for a research and mentorship trip using the Emerging Artist Grant.
Cellist Mee Na Lojewski is the Founder and Director of Melbourne-based string quartet, Affinity Quartet.
First coming together as students at ANAM, the ensemble is now celebrating 10 years of work, performances and international awards. Read about their journey below
Read more
2023 Emerging Artist Su Hee Cho
Su Hee Cho rehearsing in South Korea Image: courtesy of the artist
Musical performer Su Hee Cho used a Cultural Trust grant to go to South Korea and learn alongside the traditional percussion group, U-so.
Now, Cho is spreading her knowledge on a workshop tour around schools in NSW
To kick off the tour, she’s holding a concert on 18 October 2025 at Mount St Benedict College in Sydney.
Get tickets
Find out more
The Ian Potter Cultural Trust is fully funded by The Ian Potter Foundation, a major Australian philanthropic foundation that supports and promotes excellence and innovation.
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
