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The Ian Potter Cultural Trust offers its profound sympathies to all those affected by the horrific attack on members of our community in Bondi last weekend It is the right of all Australians to feel safe and valued as we go about our lives, our work and our cultural celebrations.
We hope that this tragic event will encourage all Australians to support one another and strengthen the ties that bind us together
CEO Update Dedication
Music Contemporary grant recipient Neil Cabatingan sharing his work 'Karaoke MIDI DV' at AirHue's final farewell open studio day in Huế, Vietnam. Image: Nguyễn Lê Ngọc Anh. Read more about his Vietnam residency in our Annual Review
Welcome to this year's final issue of The Coronet
As we wrap up 2025, I am reminded of the commitment that sits at the centre of every
artist's journey a lifelong dedication to their craft. At The Ian Potter Cultural Trust, our programs seek to champion this dedication at key stages of an artist's career
In the 2024–25 fiscal year, we awarded $877,593 in Emerging Artist Grants to 76 earlycareer artists. We also welcomed the two inaugural Ian Potter Creative Fellows and continued our support for our four Emerging Performers Fellows. I encourage you to read more about their unique stories in our Annual Grants Review
Today, I am delighted to announce the latest cohort of fellowship recipients who will benefit from the Trust's support.
Congratulations to composer/violist Matt Laing and violinist Simone Slattery, our new Ian Potter Emerging Performers Fellowship recipients. This program, created in collaboration with the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), provides two talented ANAM alumni $100,000 across two years to develop their performance careers.
I would also like to congratulate musician/composer Aviva Endean and writer/artist Bella Li, our newest Ian Potter Creative Fellows. A collaboration with the longstanding Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships program, these fellowships provide outstanding individuals with grants of $200,000 over two years to support their creative practice in whatever way they choose
Although our office will be closed for the year-end break, our Emerging Artist Grant funding round remains open If you are an early-career artist thinking of pursuing a professional development project in 2026, this opportunity may be of interest to you (see below for more information)
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the retirement of Leon Davis AO from our Board of Trustees We sincerely thank him for his 18 years of service to the Trust We welcome Alison Watkins AM, a non-executive member of the Reserve Bank of Australia, CSL Ltd and Wesfarmers Ltd and the Chancellor of the University of Tasmania We are delighted to have Alison and look forward to her bringing fresh perspectives to our Board of Trustees.
On behalf of our staff and Trustees, I wish everyone in the arts and culture sector a joyful and restful festive season
Paul Conroy CEO Announcement
Ian Potter Creative Fellows
Left: Simone Slattery, image by Keith Saunders | Right: Matt Laing, image by Sharon Gertner
Congratulations to our newest Ian Potter Creative Fellowship recipients: Aviva Endean (music) and Bella Li (literature)
They join eight other Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship recipients in receiving lifechanging grants over the 2026–2027 period.
With no required outcomes, all Creative Fellows are provided with the time, space and resources to develop their practice and take creative risks.
Find out more
Left: Aviva Endean, image by Sarah Walker | Right: Bella Li, image by Robert Albazi
Stephanie Fynn in front of Miguel Chevalier's Extra-Natural at the Artistes & Robots exhibition, Grand Palais, Paris, 2018. Image: courtesy of the artist.
Applications are now open for the Emerging Artist Grants.
If you have your sights set on a residency, masterclass or study tour in 2026, an Emerging Artist Grant may be for you.
Grants of up to $15,000 are available to support early-career Australian artists across all disciplines to pursue professional development, particularly overseas.
Applications close: Tuesday 20 January 2026 at 5PM AEDT
For travel/projects after: Wednesday 8 April 2026
Grants announced: Early April 2065
If you are considering applying for an Emerging Artist Grant, we recommend you watch our video guide first.
Louise Joel, the Trust’s Senior Program Manager, walks you through the application process and shares key tips on what makes a standout submission.
Image: courtesy of the artist and PICA.
Alana Hunt’s interdisciplinary practice is rooted in challenging dominant histories and ideas in public and social spaces.
Hunt investigates this further in her latest solo exhibition and major commission, A Deceptively Simple Need, now on at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art until 21 December 2025
Find out more
2024 Emerging Artist Ally Hocking Howe
Ally Hocking Howe's recital in Texas Image: Maria Crane.
Ally Hocking Howe, also known as King Howe, used an Emerging Artist Grant to undertake jazz violin studies at the University of North Texas in the USA.
Now she’s back in Australia to finish the last leg of her international tour and could be coming to a town near you
2023 Emerging Artist Victoria Pham
Moongazing. Image: Darren Gill.
Maki Morita used an Emerging Artist Grant to travel to Japan and learned all about traditional and contemporary Japanese theatre. Her learnings have inspired her newest theatre production: 月を見る夜 Moongazing on at La Mama HQ, Melbourne from 4–22 February 2026.
tickets
2020 Emerging Artist Shivanjani Lal
Shivanjani Lal, Aise Aise Hai (2021), Laurie Grove Pool Space, Deptford, London, United Kingdom Image: courtesy of the artist.
Shivanjani Lal used her Emerging Artist Grant to undertake an MA in Artists' Film & Moving Image from Goldsmiths University of London.
In this video feature from the National Association for the Visual Arts, Lal speaks openly about the challenges of being an artist and how grants and fellowships enable her to sustain her practice.
2024 Creative Fellow Josephine Rowe
COSMOSIS by VP (2025). Album artwork: Jonathan Zawada
Interdisciplinary artist and evolutionary biologist Victoria Pham used her grant to undertake a series of professional development opportunities focusing on bio-design across Europe.
Bringing together her studies in science, visual art and sound, Pham has just released her debut album: COSMOSIS
Listen now
Josephine Rowe. Image: Dom Krapski.
Josephine Rowe has spent the first year of her Creative Fellowship finalising and promoting her newest novel: Little World.
Little World follows the journey of a mysterious child saint and the lives it touches across time Happy holidays Office Closure
Order now
Snapshot from Multimedia grant recipient David Easteal’s fellowship at MacDowell, New Hampshire, USA Image: courtesy of the artist.
Our office will be closed from Friday 19 December 2025 to Monday 5 January 2026.
If you have any questions, you are welcome to email us through our website's contact page We will respond when the office reopens in early January
See you in the new year!
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.
