First Nations Screen Fellowship

You must be:

• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individual*
• A resident of NSW and/or have a strong cultural affiliation with country that is now called NSW
• An Australian citizen, and
• Over the age of 18. 

*An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which they live.

Applicants must also adhere to the general eligibility requirements under the Screen NSW Terms of Trade.

ABNs

You can apply with no ABN, but if successful, you will be required to either obtain an Individual/Sole Trader ABN or engage a Funds Administrator.

All other ABNs are ineligible, including Company/Incorporated Association ABNs. 

You are ineligible to apply for the First Nations Screen Fellowship funding if:

• Your project or program has already started, taken place or due to be completed before the funding period starts
• You are applying on behalf of an organisation
• You have received funding from Screen NSW for the same project.
  
  

The successful applicant will receive $25,000 in financial support to be used for the development of new work, research and travel among other activities to be defined by the applicants. 

Funding is not available to support:

• Accredited study, training or university courses or education programs
• Fundraising, awards or prize money
• The purchase of technical equipment
• Loan repayments.

• The viability of your fellowship’s purpose and rationale in terms of budget and goals
• The ambition and distinctiveness of the proposal relative to advancing your career and the likelihood of meeting proposed key performance indicators
• The quality and experience of proposed key fellowship personnel and partners including but not limited to mentors and programs (if applicable)
• Quality of samples of previous works. 
  
  

• Benefit to career and/or NSW audiences
• Effective planning and use of resources/funding and good time management.

You will need to tell us about your proposed Fellowship program in a one-page EOI proposal. Your EOI should include the rationale of why you want to undertake this Fellowship. EOI proposals can be provided as a written one-page pitch or a short video. This is to be uploaded via SmartyGrants.

Your one-page EOI proposal (or equivalent short video) should include:

• An overview of your work/projects to date, a description of your fellowship program, identifying mentorships, residencies, research, and outcomes (Who, What, Where, When)
• A brief timeline of your proposed fellowship program listing key dates and outcomes Information on how this fellowship opportunity will benefit you at this stage of your career
• Any potential partnerships with communities or collaborations? You may consider engaging with communities and/or collaborating with other artists, arts/cultural workers, academics and/or organisations in your fellowship program.
  
  

Please provide the following support material as attachments:

• Up to three relevant and recent examples of your work (images, video, recordings, written material or links to websites) - max of 1 page written, 2-minute video sample, 2-minute recording per sample
• Your CV (maximum one A4 page)
• Confirmation letters and/or letters of support related to your project (provided as one document), such as from Elders, communities, partners, venues, key sector contacts, mentors and/or collaborators or other funding agencies. 

You will receive an email confirmation from our secure online grants system.

Your EOI will be checked for eligibility. If eligible, your EOI will proceed to the two-stage assessment process. If ineligible, you will be advised in writing within 14 days of the closing date and your application will not proceed to assessment. 

Your EOI will be assessed consist of representatives from leading NSW Screen organisations, independent organisations and individual screen practitioners against the published assessment criteria.

The assessors meet to determine their final recommendation. They will consider the assessment criteria, the demographics, distribution, range and scale of the initial recommendations. This may include prioritising NSW individuals and activities with outcomes that address Priority Areas, to ensure equity across the State and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment. 

The NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support. You are not guaranteed funding even if your application meets the assessment criteria. 

Final recommendations are submitted for the consideration of the Head of Screen NSW.

Screen NSW may also request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their EOI under embargo. Under embargo means that applicants are notified but they cannot publicise the outcome until the official announcement has been made by the Minister for the Arts or Screen NSW. Please note that the embargo period is taken seriously and failure to comply may impact your current or future funding eligibility.

If successful, the NSW Government must be acknowledged in any marketing/publicity collateral relating to the Fellowship.

Please note if you have received a grant or administered a grant from Screen NSW or Create NSW in the past and it was not satisfactorily acquitted, payment of new funding may be delayed until the acquittal has been submitted and approved.