For those wanting to support Australian artists, the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) is a great option, especially when/if the EOFY Countdown is on your mind.
Established in 2003 and administered by Creative Australia – our government’s principal arts investment and advisory body – the ACF is an online fundraising platform for the Australian arts and cultural sector.
Through the platform, artists can run short-term fundraising campaigns to support their projects. There are also long-term campaigns to support ongoing work.
The ACF has endorsement as a deductible gift recipient confirmed by the Australian Tax Office. Therefore, any donations over $2 received via the platform are tax deductable.
This means not only will donors receive tax receipts, but 100% of their donations will go directly towards artists.
Individual and business donors can choose one or more specific projects from the following categories to benefit from their generous gifts – Literature, Visual Arts, Community Arts, Performing Arts, Arts or Languages of Indigenous Persons, Music, Crafts, Design, Television, Video, Radio, Film, and Movable Cultural Heritage.
As the ACF explains: “By funding an ACF project, donors connect with artists whose work they believe in and inspire others to do the same.”
More importantly, the platform actively ensures the veracity and viability of the registered projects. Before any artist receives the donations in the form of a grant from Creative Australia, they are required to confirm their readiness and capacity to undertake their project as proposed.
During the course of their projects, artists are also asked to provide periodic progress updates to their donors. Then they need to submit a final report (“acquittal”) to explain how their funds have been used and the status of their projects.
“These reports are monitored and reviewed to ensure the agreement is appropriately fulfilled,” explains the platform.
The ACF’s catchphrase is “Make Culture Happen”. Its data reveals that in the year 2024-25, a total of 1,008 projects in our arts and cultural sector were supported by 20,000 donors, with the most common donation amount being $50.
As the platform proudly declares: “Each of these projects has been individual, impactful and inspiring, painting a broad and bold picture of our sector.”
Particularly notable is how the ACF helps celebrate the Australian Spirit. “A 2022 study found that Australia is ranked fourth most generous country among 119 countries, with 3 in 5 Australians making a financial donation to a charity.”
Equally significant is how the platform has informed our artists that asking for support is NOT embarrassing. “The two main reasons people don’t give are: 1. They haven’t been asked. 2. They don’t know you need the funds.”
“The majority of Australians [give to charities] because they care about the cause. You are not asking for money for yourself but are creating an opportunity for people to be involved in something they are passionate about.”
Note: This article was published under the title “Help support our artists” by Ranges Trader Star Mail, January 23, 2026, P.19.
Voices under the Sun 陽光下的聲音 