AusArt Day 2026: what it is and how to get involved
Thursday 22 October 2026 is a day to support the artists and organisations making Australian art possible. Here’s how AusArt Day works and how you can take part.
What is AusArt Day?
AusArt Day is Creative Australia’s national arts fundraising initiative. Artists and arts organisations run campaigns to raise money for their creative work, with supporters choosing the projects they want to back.
The official directory brings those campaigns together and lets you explore by state and art form.
Who does it benefit?
Participating artists, groups and organisations raise funds for the work described in their own campaigns. The 2026 directory includes:
- Hermannsburg Potters: fundraising for a new art centre for Western Aranda artists.
- Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation: supporting First Nations artists, stories, culture and remote art centres through its Beyond the Fair campaign.
- Art Career Academy: raising funds for ten Going Pro scholarships for emerging visual artists.
Find a project that matters to you
These are three examples from a wider programme spanning visual arts, music, theatre, dance and other creative fields. Read each campaign’s description to understand its aims.
How to support a project
For offline giving, contact the participating artist or organisation.
- Find a campaign. Browse the official directory for a location, art form or project that interests you.
- Read what it will fund. Each participant runs its own campaign; its page explains the proposed work and any updates offered to supporters.
- Follow its donation link or share its story. Creative Australia encourages both donations on 22 October and sharing registered participants’ work online or in person.
How artists and arts organisations can get involved
The programme’s open-access registration process covers artists, collectives and organisations. Registered activities must meet Creative Australia’s eligibility requirements, including a dedicated 12-hour digital fundraising campaign on 22 October and reporting results as requested.
Participants can use their chosen online fundraising platform and access promotional assets and fundraising support.
The official registration form asks for applicant and project details, a fundraising target, donation-page information and campaign imagery with permission and credits.
With the day approaching, contact AusArtDay@creative.gov.au to confirm current registration availability and timing before planning a new campaign.
Find a campaign to support
Start with the official AusArt Day project directory to find a campaign you would like to support.
Sources & checking
This guide combines practical Art Fairs advice with the references below. It is not a report of a first-hand visit or an artist interview.
- Creative Australia: AusArt Day 2026 and participating campaigns
- Creative Australia: AusArt Day FAQs
- Creative Australia: official AusArt Day promotional resources
- Official AusArt Day applicant and project registration form
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