23 August 2026 · Opportunities · Updated 1 November 2026

Open calls and opportunities, August 2026

A short, checked list of open opportunities for the WildWooHoo community. Canberra and Sydney first.

We checked this list again this week. All five items from last time are still open, so they stay. We looked hard for a new Canberra or Sydney lead to add, but nothing we could independently verify had a genuine deadline still ahead of it this week. One note: the Western Sydney micro-grants below close tomorrow afternoon, so if that one is yours to chase, move now.

We keep this list short on purpose. We only list what we can verify is real, open now and has a genuine deadline still ahead of it. If that means fewer items some weeks, that is the trade we will keep making.

Canberra and Sydney

ACT Government, Arts Activities Funding, Up to $5k

Who: artists, groups and organisations based in the ACT · Deadline: rolling, no fixed round. This 2026-27 window closes midnight, 19 May 2027

A standing ACT Government grant for arts activities, from $500 to $5,000. There is no round to wait for: apply any time, at least six weeks ahead of when your project starts.

ACT Government, City of Design Project Fund, Smaller Projects

Who: artists, designers, innovators, arts and cultural organisations and creative businesses based in Canberra (others may apply if their project engages the ACT design sector) · Deadline: rolling, closes 1 April 2027 or when the funding pool is used up

Grants of up to $5,000 for smaller design projects, including ones that contribute to the 2026 Craft + Design Canberra Festival running 5 to 15 November.

Creative Western Sydney Micro-Grants, 2026-27

Who: individual artists, collectives and small-to-medium arts organisations working in Western Sydney · Deadline: 2pm, 2 November 2026, tomorrow

Micro-grants of $3,000 to $5,000 for individuals and collectives, and $5,000 to $10,000 for small-to-medium organisations, to develop new creative work in Western Sydney. This one closes tomorrow afternoon, so apply today if you can.

North Sydney Council, Inside Outside Sculpture Plinth, 2026-27

Who: Sydney based artists, with a preference for artists connected to North Sydney · Deadline: 30 November 2026

An open call to exhibit a sculpture on North Sydney's outdoor plinth for about six weeks. The work needs to weigh under 20kg and survive full sun with no UV protection. Apply through the council's SmartyGrants form.

City of Sydney, Cultural Infrastructure Grants, 2026-27

Who: organisations and individuals creating or upgrading creative space in the City of Sydney local government area · Deadline: 4pm, 30 June 2027

Funding to set up a new, affordable creative space or improve an existing one. Applications are open now, well ahead of the closing date, so there is no need to rush.

Know of an open call we have missed, especially something local to Canberra or Sydney? Tell us at hello@wildwoohoo.com and we will check it for the next roundup.

Sources

  • 2026-27 Arts Activities Up to $5k, artsACT via SmartyGrants, primary source for the funding range, rolling application window and closing date. Open, cross-checked against the arts.act.gov.au funding overview, re-checked 1 November 2026.
  • City of Design Project Fund, Smaller Projects, artsACT via SmartyGrants, primary source for the funding range, eligibility and closing date. Open, cross-checked against the arts.act.gov.au program page and funding guidelines, re-checked 1 November 2026.
  • 2026-27 Creative Western Sydney Micro-Grants Program, nsw.gov.au key information page, primary source for grant amounts and closing date. Open, closes 2 November 2026, re-checked 1 November 2026.
  • Inside Outside Sculpture Plinth, 2026-27, North Sydney Council, primary source for eligibility, practical requirements and closing date, cross-checked against the council's SmartyGrants application form. Open, re-checked 1 November 2026.
  • Cultural Infrastructure Grants 2026-27, City of Sydney via SmartyGrants, primary source confirming the round is open and its closing date. Re-checked 1 November 2026.

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