First Nations Grant Writing Support

Amrita Hepi’s A Call to Dance. Image by Anthony Gattari

Andrea James’ Sunshine Super Girl. Image by Jhuny-boy Borja

Got a big idea that you want to take to the next stage? Need some funding but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’re ready to apply and want some feedback on your application?

Performing Lines Producers Dean Cross and Thom Smyth are offering totally free consultations for First Nations artists wherever you are in Australia.

We can help you with advice on planning and drafting your application, feedback when you’re ready to hit submit, or put you in touch with people who can help out further.

We are offering two sessions per artist by phone or video chat to help get your project happening and things looking a bit clearer and more manageable.

We have limited capacity and support is offered on a first come, first served basis until Friday 28 August.

You must be an independent First Nations artist or producer
You must be based in Australia
Our primary skills are in performing arts projects. Only general advice and referrals can be offered to artists outside of the performing arts.

Get in touch! Send us an email to dean@performinglines.org.au and thom@performinglines.org.au and let us know a tiny bit about your project (one paragraph is fine!) and how we can help. We’ll get in touch and arrange a time to chat.

About Us

Performing Lines produces provocative contemporary performance by Australia’s most audiacious independent artists.

We curate a portfolio of work that is propelled by pressing questions and new ways of seeing the world. We champion the unconventional, the marginal, the rebellious and the new.

Our purpose is to champion risk and to ensure that the breadth and plurality of Australia’s creative potential is represented and celebrated.

Performing Lines is led by Executive Producer Marion Potts, and manages teams in Sydney, Perth and Hobart, with a network of producers and presenters around the country and the world.

Dean Cross

Dean was born and raised on Ngunnawal/Ngambri Country and is of Worimi descent. He is a trans-disciplinary artist with a background in contemporary dance performance and choreography. He has worked with some of Australia’s leading companies like Lucy Guerin Inc., Legs on the Wall, Tasdance, Opera Australia and QL2 Dance.

As a visual artist Dean has exhibited extensively across Australia and beyond. His work is held in numerous significant private and public collections including the National Gallery of Victoria, The Art Gallery of South Australia and the Queensland University of Technology Art Museum.

Thom Smyth

Thom Smyth is a queer white man originally from Whadjuk Noongar boodjar in WA. He is a Producer at Performing Lines, joining the company as Marketing Manager in 2014. He was Director of Perth-based arts marketing company Little Shout, was Marketing Manager for Proximity Festival – Australia’s only one-on-one performance platform – and Marketing and Communications Manager for The Blue Room Theatre and Barefaced Stories. He has worked as a publicist for numerous productions and events with PICA, Chunky Move, Fringe World and more.

He has a Bachelor of Communications (journalism/politics) from Edith Cowan University, completing his studies with a secondment at The Jakarta Post in Indonesia. He ditched aspirations of Canberra press gallery glory to work with ambitious and inspiring artists. He hasn’t regretted that choice.