Indigenous Languages and Arts program

The Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA) program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to express, preserve and maintain their cultures through languages and arts activities around Australia.

How it works

Who can apply

Organisations that support participation in, and maintenance of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through community-led Indigenous languages and arts activities.

When to apply

The annual open competitive grant opportunity commences around the beginning of each calendar year. The 2020-21 grant opportunity opened on 24 February 2020 and closes on 30 June 2020.

Funding available

The ILA program administers around $20 million per annum that is available for Indigenous languages and arts projects.

Program Information

funding tabs

About The Program

Funding application period: February 24, 2020 09:00 AEDT to June 30, 2020 11:30 AEST

The Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA) program invests around $20 million per annum to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to express, preserve and maintain their cultures through languages and arts activities around Australia.

First Nations languages and arts are integral to the identity, connection with culture and emotional health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and are essential to maintaining the vitality and strength of Indigenous communities.

Funding

The ILA program supports community-led organisations with grant funding administered through an annual open competitive grant opportunity and a restricted competitive grant opportunity which is by invitation only.

The annual open competitive grant opportunity generally commences in the first half of each calendar year. We recommend you monitor this website regularly for updates about the upcoming 2021–22 open competitive grant opportunity.

The ILA program guidelines will be released when the grant opportunity opens and include eligibility criteria and information about the application and funding process.

To apply for future grant opportunities through the ILA program, organisations will need to submit an application using the Department's SmartyGrants online portal before the grant opportunity closes. The application form is designed to assist applicants to demonstrate how their proposal meets the objectives of the program and addresses the assessment criteria. All eligible applications will be competitively assessed against the assessment criteria.

Open competitive grant opportunity

The open competitive grant opportunity is designed to support one-off Indigenous languages and arts projects. There is a cap on the amount of funding available and the duration of the project.

Restricted competitive grant opportunity

The restricted competitive grant opportunity is by invitation only from the ILA program and is designed to assist community-led organisations such as Indigenous Language Centres with annual multi-year operational funding.