These Fellowships are a major new initiative to support the professional development of outstanding artists working across the sector and across Australia. Over five years between 2011/12 to 2015/16, the Australia Council will award 10 fellowships for established artists (each valued at $100,000) and 13 fellowships for early career artists (each valued at $60,000). These new Australia Council Creative Australia Fellowships will provide financial support for artists across all artforms to undertake a program of creative or professional development.

These fellowships will be awarded to:

Enable and further the creative or professional development of outstanding early career artists by supporting a 2-year program of creative work or professional development
Assist early career artists to use and develop innovative practices when creating new work, particularly interdisciplinary approaches
Encourage early career artists to connect with and benefit from established artists in networking and/or mentoring arrangements.

Three Creative Australia Fellowships for early career artists will be awarded each year from 2012-2015 and one in 2016.

wow, sounds awesome! My Bridging visa disqualifies me (bah, DIAC) but otherwise I’d totally put an application in. Not sure what I’d plan to do exactly - a trip to SF or a round-the-world journey sounds most likely - but it’s a great opportunity.