Grants up to $200,000 to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to express, conserve and maintain their cultures through Indigenous languages and arts activities.
On this page you will find
What is the Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA)?
The Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA) Program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to express, conserve and maintain their cultures through Indigenous languages and arts activities.
Grant funding allocated through the ILA Program supports activities that:
- Conserve, revitalise and sustain Indigenous languages and
- Create, promote and celebrate Indigenous community-based arts activities.
Indigenous Languages and Arts level of support
Funding is structured into activity scales:
Micro
- Up to $20,000
- Up to 12 months
Minor
- Up to $50,000
- Up to 12 months
Intermediate
- Up to $150,000 per annum
- Up to 24 months
Major
- Up to $200,000 per annum
- Up to 36 months
Macro
- Funding amount negotiated
- Up to 36 months
Funding Amount
- Minimum funding: Up to $20,000 (Micro category)
- Maximum funding: Up to $200,000 per annum (Major category)
- Macro funding is negotiated for existing multi-year recipients.
Co-contribution Requirement
- There is no mandatory co-contributionrequirement under the ILA Open Competitive round.
- Applicants may nominate cash or in-kind contributions; however, contributions are optional and not compulsory.
Indigenous Languages and Arts important dates
- Applications Close: 16 March 2026 – 11:30pm AEDT
- Assessment Period: Approximately 4 weeks
- Ministerial Approval: Approximately 2 weeks
- Earliest Project Start Date: 1 August 2026
- Register your interest with GrantHelper.
Indigenous Languages and Arts objectives
Indigenous Languages Objectives
The program aims to conserve, revitalise and sustain Indigenous languages by:
- Supporting language transmission and use in everyday life
- Facilitating intergenerational learning
- Strengthening the languages sector and workforce capacity
- Developing innovative digital and physical language resources
- Supporting access to language materials
- Recording and conserving traditional languages
Important: Kriol, Yumplatok and Pidgin languages are not eligible.
Indigenous Arts Objectives
The program supports community-based Indigenous arts activities by:
- Developing, producing, presenting or performing traditional and contemporary art forms
- Promoting Indigenous arts and cultural pride
- Supporting access to arts participation
- Showcasing traditional and contemporary Indigenous expression
Sector-wide industry support programs are not eligible.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Indigenous Languages and Arts support
Eligible activities may include:
- Documentation and digitisation of Indigenous languages
- Development of community language teaching resources (for use beyond schools)
- Language transmission programs
- Language workshops and on-Country activities
- Multimedia language and arts projects
- Indigenous dance, theatre, music or storytelling projects
- Traditional arts and craft production
- Film or screen-based works
- Contemporary music production or performance
ILA funding cannot be used for:
- Activities already funded by another Commonwealth program
- Museum conservation or artefact interpretation
- Cultural camps without language/arts outcomes
- Festivals
- Primarily commercial activities
- Political or lobbying activities
- International travel
- Land or building purchases
- Infrastructure or assets over $5,000
- NAIDOC activities
- Language interpreting/translation services
- School core business activities (e.g. teacher salaries)
- Re-granting without approval
Other Indigenous Languages and Arts important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Indigenous Languages and Arts support
Eligible entities must:
- Hold an ABN
- Be GST registered (if turnover exceeds thresholds)
- Have an Australian bank account
- Be one of the following:
-
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation
- Incorporated association
- Company incorporated in Australia
- Company limited by guarantee
- Not-for-profit organisation
- Partnership
- Publicly funded research organisation
- Local government council
- Joint (consortia) with eligible lead organization
Not eligible:
- Individuals or sole traders
- Overseas organisations
- Non-corporate Commonwealth, State or Territory entities
- Organisations non-compliant with the National Redress Scheme
Indigenous Languages and Arts assessment criteria
All eligible applications are scored out of 100.
Criterion 1 – Contribution to Program Objectives (40%)
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Clear alignment with ILA language and/or arts objectives
- A detailed and realistic work plan
- Key deliverables and timelines
- A cost-effective and proportionate budget
- Appropriate staffing allocations
- Contribution to Closing the Gap Target 16
- Clear articulation of expected cultural outcomes
Criterion 2 – Community Engagement and Benefit (40%)
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Tangible benefits to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Community-led design and shared decision-making
- Evidence of strong community support (letters required)
- Cultural authority and legitimacy
- Capacity-building, employment or skills development outcomes
- Engagement with local Indigenous organisations
Non-Indigenous organisations must demonstrate local cultural competence and genuine partnership.
Criterion 3 – Organisational Capability and Capacity (20%)
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Governance arrangements
- Risk management and mitigation strategies
- Proven project delivery experience
- Qualified and experienced key personnel
- Financial management capability
- Monitoring, evaluation and data collection frameworks
Value for Money Considerations
Applications must demonstrate:
- Efficient and ethical use of public funds
- No duplication of existing funded activities
- Proportionate scope relative to funding requested
- Overall public and community benefit
How do I get the Indigenous Languages and Arts support?
To be successful, applicants must clearly demonstrate:
- Strong alignment with Indigenous languages and/or arts objectives
- Cultural authority and Traditional Custodian support
- Clear and measurable community benefit
- A realistic, detailed and costed work plan
- Strong governance and financial management capability
- Genuine Indigenous leadership or partnership
- Evidence-based need for funding
- Value for money and sustainability of outcomes
The Minister for the Arts is the final decision-maker.
Information to prepare for the Indigenous Languages and Arts support
Applicants should prepare:
- Detailed project work plan and timeline
- Itemised budget
- Letters of community support (consolidated PDF)
- Evidence of cultural authority
- Risk management plan
- Governance documentation
- Evidence of previous project delivery success
- Accessibility planning documentation
Applying for the Indigenous Languages and Arts support
Applications must be submitted via SmartyGrants.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Indigenous Languages and Arts resources
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