NIDA Open Equity Scholarships
Apply for a NIDA Open Equity Scholarship
The NIDA Open Equity Scholarship offers over $50,000 worth of complimentary tuition to help young people and adult emerging artists who are experiencing financial or other disadvantage to achieve their full creative potential.
The NIDA Open Equity Scholarships are available throughout the second half of the year and are open to all adult students aged 18+ and primary or secondary school students nationally, regardless of previous experience or professional ambition.
Applications can be made by individuals or by an organisation on behalf of a young person or emerging artist identified as a suitable scholarship applicant.
If you or someone you know wants to experience a NIDA Open course and would like some support to achieve this goal, we want to hear from you!
Nominate yourself Nominate someone else
When: Term, holiday or online courses across the second half of the year.
Where: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or online where a NIDA Open course is being offered. See the location links below to view all courses on offer.
Who: Student in the following age brackets are eligible to apply:
• Children in school grades 3–6
• Young people in school grades 7–12
• Adults aged 18+ in face-to-face classes
• Adults aged 18+ in online classes
Application closing date: Application deadline to be confirmed.
Limited places are available in each round and location. If your application is not successful, it will be automatically reconsidered in the next round and you won’t have to reapply. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit and in consideration of support needed.
Application process
If you are an organisation nominating a young person or emerging adult artists:
You are required to:
1. Write a short statement about why the person you are nominating would benefit from this opportunity. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide access for young and emerging artists who may not be able to afford enrolment fees due to economic or social disadvantage.
2. Consider how your organisation or community may need to provide additional support, should it be required, to ensure the young person gets the most out of their NIDA Open experience.
3. Suggest which course in your local area or online for ages 16+ the person you are nominating would most like to attend.
Nominate a person for a NIDA Open Equity Scholarship
If you are nominating yourself:
You are required to:
1. Write a personal statement about how you would benefit from this opportunity.
2. Submit one short letter of support from a community leader: teacher, elder, employer, local artist, etc. The support letter should detail why you should receive a financial scholarship to support your participation, what you will gain from this experience – on a personal or professional level – and how the community will be supporting you to attend if needed.
3. Suggest which course in your local area or online for ages 16+ you would most like to attend.
Locations
Equity Scholarships are available for any holiday or term short course offered by NIDA Open in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or online. Applicants choose the course they would like a scholarship for.
Follow the links below to see which courses are being offered.
Children grades 3–6
Young People grades 7–12
Adults ages 18+
Online Adults ages 18+
What comes next
Successful applicants will be notified by phone and email after the application deadline for their chosen round.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email after the application deadline for their chosen round.
If you have a question about the NIDA Open Equity Scholarship program, please contact us on 1300 450 417 or email at open@nida.edu.au.
Terms and conditions
Please read carefully:
Equity scholarships recipients are selected by NIDA Open staff. We will do our best to provide support to as many young and emerging artists as possible, however there are location limits and a combined total limit to the value of $7,000 in each application period. The decision of NIDA staff is final and no further correspondence shall be entered into.
The full cost of tuition for your nominated course is covered by this scholarship. Costs of travel, accommodation, food and any additional supports required remain at the participants' expense.
This scholarship opportunity is available to Australian citizens and residents only.
All applicants must be able to attend and fully contribute to the course for the entire scholarship period as awarded. The scholarship place cannot be postponed or transferred to another person.
Successful applicants may be asked to complete a short interview about their experience for use on NIDA’s online channels, marketing materials or in other media communications. Participants may decline to be interviewed for personal, cultural or legal reasons.
Applications close strictly at 11.55pm on the published closing date for each round. Letters of support must also be received by the closing date.
Applications will be assessed by the Program Management team, Senior Program Manager, Business Manager and Director of Public Programs.