The State Government is increasing its commitment to supporting young creatives and leaders, with $400,000 in funding available under a Carclew grant program which has opened this week.
The $400,000 grant program announced today is the most significant boost to youth arts funding in the organisation’s history and is being delivered through the South Australian Government’s A Place to Create cultural policy.
The funding, which runs across two years, more than quadruples Carclew’s existing support for youth arts capacity building and project grants. The grants support individual artists, youth-focused organisations, and emerging creatives across metropolitan, regional and remote South Australia.
The expanded grants program introduces funding increases of up to $20,000 for small to medium youth arts organisations, new quick-response grants, and, for the first time, two annual funding rounds for organisations, enabling more projects more often and strengthening support for and capacity in the youth arts sector in South Australia.
The new Quick Response Grants stream being introduced will offer up to $750 in agile, fast-turnaround funding to support emerging opportunities, particularly for regional and underrepresented young creatives.
South Australian artist and HBO star from The Pitt, Shabana Azeez, is encouraging young artists to apply for these grants, just as she did at the start of her career.
Azeez was supported by Carclew as a young artist starting out locally, highlighting the role early funding and creative community can play in building a career, with the expanded program now set to support even more young people across the state.
Award-winning filmmaker, Emma Hough Hobbs, and award-winning visual artist with large-scale murals featured at South Australian sites, Lucinda Penn, also benefitted from early Carclew support and are encouraging young artists to apply for the grants.
Applications close 14 May 2026. For more information, visit carclew.com.au.
As put by Kyam Maher
This funding will significantly increase support for youth arts organisations and emerging artists across South Australia, and shine a spotlight on the great work of Carclew, and its longstanding commitment to young artists.
We know that it is critical to support young people in the early stages of their career, and I look forward to seeing a new crop of talented South Australians emerge.
This investment through A Place to Create is about ensuring young South Australians have access to the opportunities and support they need to build careers in the arts right here in our state.
Carclew plays a critical role in developing emerging talent, and this expanded program will help more of our young South Australian creatives take that next step, from early ideas through to professional practice.
As put by Carclew Acting Chief Executive Robyn Jones
This investment meaningfully increases young people’s access to the arts across South Australia. It removes barriers, opens doors to opportunity and supports young people to build sustainable creative futures.
As put by actor Shabana Azeez
Carclew backed me as an early career artist in Adelaide when I was starting out locally and trying to create opportunities for myself. Their support gave me community and the means to upskill—I will always be grateful.
As put by filmmaker Emma Hough Hobbs
As an emerging artist still discovering my own voice, having that early grant backing made a huge difference to exploring and presenting my work. It gives you the space and intention to develop your art, as well as the motivation to finish projects to your best ability and continue to build that momentum.
As put by visual artist Lucinda Penn
I love what I do, working with communities and bringing colour into people’s lives through my art. Looking back, it was grants like this that not only gave me the confidence to keep going, but also being part of the Carclew community was invaluable. I really encourage all the young artists out there with a dream to apply and have a go.
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