Artist Opportunities

Deadly Fringe x Fed Square Public Art Commission 2026

We’re on the lookout for bold and ambitious ideas in any artform that respond to Fed Square as a site. We specifically want artistic projects that will have a huge impact on audiences and draw in the public to become key participants in the artwork.

From the applications, a panel will select one brilliant idea to receive a huge $150,000 to develop and deliver the work, which will be centred at the heart of the 2026 Melbourne Fringe Curated Program and presented at Fed Square.

Given the ambitious scope and nature of the commission, this opportunity is aimed primarily at established First Nations artists with experience in creating works of scale, or who have enough experience to demonstrate their capacity and readiness to create a significant, exciting and complex public artwork that engages the people of Melbourne. The selected work must be creatively led by First Nations artists and/or community and must be operating within best practice protocols for First Nations cultural and intellectual property in the arts.

Find Out More Below and Apply Here!

Info Pack – PDF Version

Info Pack – Word Version

FAQs – PDF Version

FAQs – Word Version

Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 20th July, 2025.

How it Works

Cash to Create

Cash to Create opportunities all have one thing in common: they financially support artists so artists can get creating.

Throughout the year applications will be opened for commissioning opportunities including our Club Fringe Commissions, Fringe of the Hub Commissions, ShowSupport and Melbourne Civic Commission. Check back regularly to see how the Fringe Fund can support you to make great art.

Cash for Equity

Cash for Equity is our way of levelling the playing field and making sure that anyone with an amazing idea can have their voice heard at Melbourne Fringe.

Melbourne Fringe acknowledges that people facing financial hardship or structural disadvantage are met with barriers that prevent engagement with the arts and the amplification of their artistic voice. This includes First Nations peoples, Deaf and Disabled people and people who identify as people of colour or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse.

Cash for Equity aims to remove barriers to access. We provide concessions on registration fees, support for audience accessibility services, and bespoke support through Microgrants of $100-$500 that are allocated to alleviate pressures on artists from our communities of focus.

Supporting Artists

Joining us as a Fringe Fund donor will make an incredible impact on the lives and work of independent artists. You’ll be backing big bold ideas, supporting bright emerging talents and helping elevate vital voices as they make exciting and meaningful contributions to the cultural life of our city.

You can add your name to the family of supporters already generously donating directly to the Fringe Fund here – or if you’ve got your own big, bold idea about how to support the Fund, reach out! We’d love to chat.