Internships and Fellowships
A list of Internships, Scholarships, Fellowships and Volunteer programs offered in the arts across Australia throughout the year as well a selection of opportunities with nearing closing dates. Click on each link for additional information, including availability, eligibility and key dates.
2026 Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarships
Applications close 11.59pm (ACST), Monday June 30, 2025
The annual Samstag scholarships enable Australian artists to develop their artistic capacities and skills through a dedicated period of practice-based learning in an international learning institution. Each scholarship covers reasonable costs for twelve months overseas, including institutional fees for one academic year of study (where applicable), a generous tax-exempt stipend of $75,000, return airfares, and travel and medical insurance. The next Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarships will take place in 2026 or no later than 31 January 2027; unisa.edu.au/connect/samstag-museum/scholarship.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
At times, the Art Gallery offers internships for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are interested in exploring different career paths at a major cultural institution.
Art Gallery of Western Australia
AGWA accepts volunteers on an ongoing basis, as well as offering formally structured internships.
Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship
Enabling those with a non-science focus to experience Antarctica and Australia’s activities there, so that they may communicate this unique experience and understanding to other Australians.
The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Volunteer Program
For your opportunity to get involved with The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre sign up as a volunteer and offer your valuable support to the daily operations of the centre. The volunteer team assist in a wide variety of roles including (but not limited to) front of house and gallery duties and providing assistance with public programs and events. By joining you will connect with artists and the arts community, and participate in public programs such as talks, panel discussions, concerts and more as well as the programs designed for the volunteers; artist studio trails, floor talks with exhibiting artists and morning tea events.
Create NSW Fellowships
Artists and creative practitioners, groups and partnerships from NSW are invited to apply for Fellowships that enable professional and personal development and career advancement across a range of artforms and practices. Eleven Fellows are sought with opportunities for emerging, mid-career and established artists, including priority areas in Aboriginal arts, artists with disability, regional NSW and Western Sydney Fellowships. Artform Fellowships receive $30,000 in funding and Priority Area Fellowships will receive $50,000.
Creative Australia Fellowships
Applications close 3pm (AEST), Tuesday June 3, 2025, for projects commencing after Monday September 1, 2025
Creative Australia Fellowships of $80,000 support outstanding, established artists’ and arts workers’ activity and professional development for a period of one to two years. There are nine Fellowships offered in the areas of Arts and Disability, Community Arts and Cultural Development, Dance, Emerging and Experimental Arts, First Nations, Literature, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts. If you are successful, the payments will be made in two tranches: $75,000 on acceptance of the funding contract, and $5,000 on acquittal. Visit website for additional details; creative.gov.au/investments-opportunities/fellowships.
Gallery Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarship
Nominations close Monday September 15, 2025
The inaugural, annual $5,000 Gallery Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarship for a graduating Year 12 student from the Clarence Valley, New South Wales, encourages the successful candidate to actively develop their creativity and engagement with the arts and assist with the financial costs of future art endeavours. Up to two students from each school will be nominated by teachers based on their 2025 Year 12 major work, artistic abilities, and commitment to their art practice. The scholarship is open to graduating Year 12 students who have completed studies that year in one or more of the following subjects as part of the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC): Visual arts; Visual design; Design & Technology; Textile & Design; Industrial Technology; Photography, video, and digital imaging. Supported by Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton NSW 2460;
thegalleryfoundation.com.au
graftongallery.nsw.gov.au/Discover/Learn
Geelong Gallery – Volunteers
Become involved in Geelong Gallery’s daily life and join the team as a volunteer to assist staff with visitor services, library, administrative assistance, exhibition openings and other events. Sign up online today to get involved.
Lismore Regional Gallery – Volunteers
Lismore Regional Gallery seeks volunteers to become involved in aspects of the gallery’s daily operations and exhibition program to learn skills through disciplines in the arts, media, cultural studies and events.
National Art School, Sydney
NAS seeks volunteers to work for at least one or two half days each fortnight and commit to the program for 12 months.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Offers placements in a wide range of functions in a number of areas to provide as broad an experience as possible.
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Volunteering with QVMAG enables individuals to develop new skills and knowledge in related fields, offers the opportunity to make professional connections, contribute to the visitor experience, be part of a supportive team and get involved with research and collections behind the scenes.
Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships
Nominations for the 2025 Creative Fellowships open Tuesday July 1, 2025
First awarded in 2011, the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships provide unrestricted, $200,000 tax-free grants over two years to individual Australian artists, creatives and cultural leaders. Specific outcomes for the Fellowships are not required. In 2024, The Ian Potter Cultural Trust joins the Sidney Myer Fund in appointing Creative Fellows. The Trust will award two Ian Potter Creative Fellowships annually, with the same value, criteria and structure as the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowships. The two criteria used to select Fellows are outstanding talent and exceptional courage, specifically to the creative practice of the Fellows and not to cases of personal hardship. Nominations are welcome for artists, creators and cultural leaders across the entire spectrum of the arts and humanities. Applicants to the program may not self-nominate. The Fellowships are intended for individuals in their early mid-career with at least seven years into their creative practice; myerfoundation.org.au/grant-opportunities-list/sidney-myer-creative-fellowships.
Sydney Living Museums
SLM internships are project-based allowing students to gain insight into the elements of one or more projects. Interns may work in core museum areas; exhibition content development; and event programming.
UQ Art Museum Student Opportunities
The UQ Art Museum offers opportunities for student involvement throughout the year to gain experience in the visual arts. These include internships, paid casual positions and volunteer roles in the areas of front of house, registration, curatorial, education, exhibition management and finance. Current opportunities: the museum is seeking volunteers to create a Student Engagement Council that gives voice to the UQ student body by offering feedback and ideas to the UQ Art Museum relating to the creative programme and how to best engage with university students.
William Fletcher Travelling Fellowship & Rome Residency
Applications close Monday June 30, 2025
The William Fletcher Travelling Fellowship & Rome Residency is a biennial award featuring a three-month residency at the British School at Rome (BSR). The period of residency is from the beginning of April to the end of June in 2026. Valued at over A$30,000, it includes accommodation with a studio and some meals at the BSR; $5,000 for airfares, health and travel insurance; a monthly stipend of $2,250; end of term exhibition at the BSR; invitation to participate in an exhibition at the Garden Gallery at the Botanic Gardens from 25 September to 7 October 2026. Any artist who is an Australian resident and practising in at least one of the fields of painting, drawing, sculpture or ceramics is eligible. (If you work in sculpture or ceramics, you are required to support your work with drawings.) Preference may be given to an emerging and mid-career artist to help develop their career; williamfletcherfoundation.org.au/residencies.
Women’s Studio Workshop
Work on projects that may include printmaking, letterpress, papermaking, and book arts, in addition to assisting with the ongoing operations of the facility.