WA Innovation Booster Grant and Commercialisation Bridge Grant 

Expected to be open now — check wa.gov.au immediately For: WA startups, innovation-driven SMEs, and early-stage founders 

Based on the 2025 program cycle, the Innovation Booster Grant (IBG) and Commercialisation Bridge Grant (CBG) both run a second annual round opening in September and closing in October. The official WA Government page confirmed the next IBG round was planned for August/September 2026. Given today’s date, this round is either open now or opening imminently. 

The IBG offers up to $50,000 for WA-based startups and SMEs to refine, test, validate or certify innovative products and access specialist expertise. The CBG offers $50,000 to $250,000 for businesses at a later commercialisation stage. Both align with Diversify WA priority sectors, including creative industries. 

Screenwest: BTL Location Assistant Attachment on TV Series 

Closes: 15 October 2026, 5pm AWST For: WA screen practitioners, especially First Nations and underrepresented practitioners 

A paid attachment opportunity on an upcoming WA television series in a Location Assistant role. This is a skills and career development pathway for early-career WA screen practitioners. Screenwest actively encourages applications from First Nations practitioners and those from historically underrepresented groups. 

Screen Australia: First Nations Development Rounds 

Closes: 22 October 2026, 5pm AEDT For: First Nations Australian screen practitioners across feature film, TV drama and documentary 

Three Screen Australia First Nations development programs close simultaneously on 22 October 2026: First Nations Feature Development, First Nations TV Drama Development, and First Nations Documentary Development. Together they cover the full range of long-form screen storytelling. These are always-open programs with a specific closing date for this round. 

Screenwest: Bill Warnock Talent Accelerator Initiative 2026-27 

Closes: 26 October 2026, 5pm AWST For: Early-to-mid career WA screenwriters 

Up to $100,000 for a year-long skills development program for one early-to-mid career Western Australian writer. The initiative covers up to $80,000 for professional skills development and up to $20,000 for project development. Activities can include bespoke learning, industry placements, mentoring, and market access. Named in honour of the late WA playwright and screenwriter Bill Warnock, this is one of Screenwest’s most generous individual career development programs. 

To be eligible, the applicant must have received State or Federal screen funding in the last three years and have had at least one non-tertiary short film or online series produced. Applications from First Nations Australians and people from historically underrepresented groups are actively encouraged. 

Screenwest: Producer Talent Accelerator Initiative 2026-27 

Closes: 26 October 2026, 5pm AWST For: Early-to-mid career WA producers 

Running alongside the Bill Warnock Talent Accelerator, the Producer Talent Accelerator offers one early-to-mid career WA producer the same structure: up to $100,000 across skills development ($80,000) and project development ($20,000) for a year-long program. Activities can include local, national or international placements, high-level mentoring, and market access. Eligibility mirrors the writer program: must have State or Federal screen funding in the last three years and at least one produced short or web series to their name. 

Closing in November 

Screenwest: Scripted Project Development Round 

Closes: 2 November 2026, 5pm AWST For: WA writers and producers developing long-form scripted content 

A new round of the Scripted Project Development Fund opens for WA writers and producers developing long-form scripted content across all screen delivery platforms. This is a core recurring Screenwest fund and a practical starting point for WA scripted practitioners. 

Screen Australia: Future Leaders Delegation to BitSummit 2027 

Closes: 5 November 2026, 5pm AEDT For: Early-to-mid career Australian independent gamemakers 

Screen Australia’s annual Future Leaders Delegation returns, this time heading to BitSummit 2027 in Kyoto, Japan. Up to eight Australian gamemakers will each receive up to $6,000 to cover flights, accommodation, transport, meals and event tickets, plus exhibit their game on a dedicated Australia stand. The delegation also includes a pre-departure workshop in Melbourne. 

To be eligible, applicants must have at least one released game on a public platform, be actively working on a current project, and not have previously attended BitSummit as part of this delegation. Early-to-mid career stage is the target. Applications from First Nations practitioners, those from regional areas, and creatives from underrepresented backgrounds are actively encouraged. 

Screen Australia: Narrative Content Production 

Closes: 3 December 2026, 5pm AEDT For: Australian producers across feature film, TV drama, children’s TV, and online content 

Screen Australia’s next Narrative Content Production round closes 3 December 2026. This is the consolidated production fund covering feature film, drama, children’s television and direct-to-audience content, with a Board date of April 2027. Given the lead time required to prepare a strong application, producers with projects ready for this round should begin the application process now. 

Screenwest: Year-Round Programs (New Financial Year) 

The following Screenwest funds have reopened for FY 2026-27 and are now accepting submissions through to 30 June 2027: 

Matched Development Investment Fund, Matched Scripted Television Production Fund, Emergency Development Investment Fund, Equity and Access Fund, First Nations Practitioner Development, Professional Development Placement (Practitioner and Provider), Travel Fund, WA Post-Production Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Incentive, and the Western Australian Production Attraction Incentive (WAPAI). 

Screen Australia: Always-Open Programs 

Screen Australia’s always-open programs continue to accept submissions at any time: Documentary Development, Narrative Content Development, International Festivals and Awards, International Pitching Forums and Talent Labs, International Finance Attraction, Screen Industry Partnerships (games), and First Nations Sector Development (Industry Support, Internships and Travel Grants). 

Lotterywest: Arts and Culture Infrastructure Grant and Grassroots Grants 

Lotterywest’s Arts and Culture Infrastructure Grant remains open for organisations needing to upgrade spaces, equipment or technology for arts and cultural delivery. The Grassroots Community-Led Grants stream remains open year-round for community-focused projects from not-for-profit organisations and local governments. 

Visit lotterywest.wa.gov.au. 

Industry Growth Program (Federal) 

The federal Industry Growth Program continues to accept applications from innovative SMEs and startups with commercialisable products. Grants of $50,000 to $5 million are available. Visit industry.gov.au/IGP. 

CITS: Connecting to Country

Closes: 15 October 2026, 4pm AWST For: WA Aboriginal communities, individuals, organisations and local governments

Supports projects enabling Western Australian Aboriginal people and organisations to undertake on Country activities that foster intergenerational transfer of knowledge, preservation of culture and strengthening of communities. Eligible activities include language, stories, dance, cultural leadership, and community wellbeing.

CITS: Creative Learning — Collaborations Round 1

Closes: 15 October 2026, 4pm AWST For: WA schools, arts organisations and creative practitioners partnering on school-based programs

The Creative Learning program funds creative learning partnerships between WA schools and creative practitioners, embedding arts-based practice into students’ learning across curriculum areas beyond arts subjects. The Collaborations category offers grants of up to $60,000. This is a strong pathway for CTV network members who work with schools or want to develop education-sector relationships.

CITS: Regional Performing Arts

Closes: 29 October 2026, 4pm AWST For: Individuals, groups, organisations and regional local governments

Two categories are available: Made in WA, supporting the development of new performing arts works for regional audiences (up to $150,000), and Playing WA, supporting the touring of existing WA-produced shows to regional and remote communities (up to $150,000).

CITS: Contemporary Music Fund Development Program

Closes: 3 December 2026, 4pm AWST For: WA contemporary music artists, bands and music industry professionals

Up to $20,000 for professional development, sector development, national and international touring and showcasing, and recording and promotional activities for homegrown WA contemporary music artists. Priority goes to music broadly understood as popular that is currently being written, recorded and performed.

CITS: Creative Industries Travel and Trade Program

Closes: 3 December 2026, 4pm AWST For: WA individual artists, groups and small creative businesses

Grants of up to $5,000 for regional and national travel opportunities and up to $10,000 for international opportunities. This program is specifically designed to support WA creative practitioners to respond to and capitalise on significant career and business opportunities that involve travel. Relevant for anyone in the network with a festival invitation, market opportunity, residency or professional development activity coming up.

Creative Australia: Multiple Programs Closing 13 October 2026

Creative Australia has a cluster of programs closing on 13 October 2026, covering music, touring, international engagement and fundraising. The most relevant to the CTV network are:

Contemporary Music Touring Program: Up to $50,000 for national tours by musicians performing original Australian contemporary music. For WA music artists with a national touring project, this is a strong pathway.

Music Australia Export Development Fund: Three categories — International Performance and Touring (up to $75,000), International Professional and Artistic Development (up to $15,000), and International Market and Audience Development (up to $10,000). All three are matched funding programs for Australian contemporary music artists pursuing international opportunities.

Playing Australia Project Investment: Supports performing arts tours reaching regional and remote communities across Australia. Relevant for WA touring companies with projects of national reach.

International Engagement Fund: $5,000 to $30,000 for reciprocal international exchange activities with confirmed partners. Relevant for any CTV network member with an active international creative partnership.

Creative Australia: ACF Boost 2027

Closes: 19 October 2026 For: Independent artists, small groups and arts organisations using the Australian Cultural Fund

ACF Boost is a matched funding program. Artists and organisations running a fundraising campaign through the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) can access a matching contribution from Creative Australia, helping lever private sector support. This is worth knowing about if any network members are planning a crowdfunding or philanthropic campaign for a project.

Creative Australia: Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups (Next Round)

Closes: 1 December 2026 (expected) For: Australian individual artists and groups across all art forms

Creative Australia runs two rounds of Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups per year. The September 2026 round closed 1 September. Based on the established twice-yearly pattern, the next round is expected to close in late November or December 2026. Registration in Creative Australia’s Application Management System takes up to two business days, so registering now is worth doing.

At a Glance

Opportunity	Who it is for	Deadline
WA Innovation Booster Grant	WA startups and SMEs	Check wa.gov.au now
WA Commercialisation Bridge Grant	WA innovators	Check wa.gov.au now
Screenwest: BTL Location Assistant Attachment	WA early-career practitioners	15 October 2026
Screen Australia: First Nations Feature Development	First Nations practitioners	22 October 2026
Screen Australia: First Nations TV Drama Development	First Nations practitioners	22 October 2026
Screen Australia: First Nations Documentary Development	First Nations practitioners	22 October 2026
Screenwest: Bill Warnock Talent Accelerator	WA writers	26 October 2026
Screenwest: Producer Talent Accelerator	WA producers	26 October 2026
Screenwest: Scripted Project Development Round	WA writers and producers	2 November 2026
Screen Australia: Future Leaders Delegation, BitSummit 2027	Australian gamemakers	5 November 2026
Screen Australia: Narrative Content Production	Producers	3 December 2026
Screenwest: Year-round programs (9 funds)	WA screen practitioners	30 June 2027
Screen Australia: Always-open programs	Australian practitioners	Always open
Lotterywest: Arts Infrastructure and Grassroots	Arts organisations, community	Ongoing
Industry Growth Program	Creative tech SMEs	Ongoing

Creative Australia: Arts Projects, Individuals and Groups	Australian artists and groups	Late November/December 2026
CITS: Contemporary Music Fund Development Program	WA music artists	3 December 2026
CITS: Creative Industries Travel and Trade Program	WA artists, groups, small businesses	3 December 2026

CTV curates this funding intelligence for the benefit of our network. Details are verified at time of publication but programs can change without notice. Always confirm guidelines and eligibility directly with each funding body before applying.