Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund

The RISE Fund is supporting the arts and entertainment sector to reactivate. The program is targeting funding towards the arts and entertainment sector organisations who are seeking to restart, re-imagine or create new activities. The program is intended to assist by providing finance to assist the presentation of new or re-shaped cultural and creative activities and events.

How it works

Who can apply?

Organisations with the primary purpose of -the arts and entertainment that can demonstrate that in the absence of this funding, their activity would be substantially less likely to proceed due to a constrained availability of finance as a consequence of COVID-19.

When to apply

The open competitive grant opportunity commences 31August 2020 and will close to applications on 31 May 2021 at the latest, subject to allocation of funds. While there are no rounds, applications will be accepted at any time between the opening and closing dates for the program.

Funding available

The RISE Fund will provide $75 million in 2020–21. Funding decisions will consider a balance across art forms and types of activity, geographic and community diversity, and generation of jobs.

Program Information

funding tabs

About The Program

Funding application period: August 31, 2020 09:00 AEST to May 31, 2021 23:45 AEST

COVID-19 update

With the COVID-19 (or Coronavirus) pandemic affecting all of Australia's arts and cultural sector, the operations and financial stability of arts organisations have been significantly affected.

The RISE Fund is delivered to support artists and organisations affected by COVID-19 through the delivery and presentation of activities across all art forms to audiences across Australia. Projects that target audiences in outer metropolitan, regional and remote areas will also be taken into account, as well as projects that involve tours and use local regional production, services and support acts.

Activities will contribute to the organisation’s financial viability, job creation, and support for Australian artists or performers and their work. They will provide experiences to audiences, and/or be of a nature that is likely to be popular with Australian audiences.

Up to date information about COVID-19 and how it relates to the arts sector, can be found on the COVID-19 update page.

If you have any questions or need further information, please email the RISE Fund at: RISE [at] arts.gov.au or call (02) 6271 7971.

Program information

The RISE Fund is investing $75 million in 2020-21 as part of the Australian Government’s Arts and Cultural Development Program that supports participation in, and access to, Australia’s arts and culture through developing and supporting cultural expression.

Funding application period: Fund opens on 31 August 2020 and will remain open until all funds are allocated or until 31 May 2021, whichever is sooner.

To apply for funding through the RISE Fund, organisations should submit an application using Department's SmartyGrants online portal. The SmartyGrants application form is designed to assist applicants to demonstrate how their proposal meets the objectives of the program by addressing all the assessment criteria. All eligible applications will be competitively assessed against the assessment criteria.

Program documentation

Before applying, you must read the RISE Fund guidelines. The guidelines include eligibility criteria and information about the application and funding process. The guidelines and frequently asked questions (FAQs) can be accessed at the Australian Government's GrantConnect website.