Creative Australia has named the 16 artists awarded a 2025 Creative Australia Fellowship.

The Fellowship grants $80,000 for established artists working in music, theatre, literature and visual arts over two years in order to support the development, expansion and sustainability of their creative practice. With additional investment from First Nations Arts, Writing Australia and Music Australia, this year marks the program’s largest round to date.

Lior sings Compassion at Canberra International Music Festival 2024. Photo © Peter Hislop

Singer-songwriter Lior is amongst this year’s Fellows and will use the Fellowship to develop a brand-new symphony for children with Nigel Westlake – with whom he collaborated on the song cycles Compassion and Ngapa William Cooper. He will also create a brand new album with Melbourne-based percussionist Neda Rahmani.

Relocating to Los Angeles, Gamilaraay songwriter Thelma Plum will write and record new works with internationally renowned creatives. Warnindhilyagwa woman Emily Wurramurra will collaborate with artists across Australia, Canada and the Philippines on her next body of work.

Hip hop artist L-FRESH The LION will draw on international models to develop a purpose-driven music space in South West Sydney. Music broadcaster Ash McGregor will create a new multimedia project, Listen Up, to help international and domestic audiences connect with Australian music. Singer-songwriter Dan Sultan will travel to the UK to record a new album.

Theatre Fellowship recipients include artist and theatremaker Samara Hersch, who will collaborate with Australian organisations Back to Back Theatre, Chamber Made and Shopfront Arts Co-op on three new works commissioned by European institutions Thalia Theatre, TR Warszawa and State Theatre Leipzig.

Gamilaraay and Muruwari playwright, actor and singer Maurial Spearim will develop the first two works in her A Woke Mob Trilogy, reflecting “the love, joy, pain and truth of First Nations people.”

Palestinian storyteller and theatremaker Aseel Tayah will further develop her children’s works Thalia and Ardna with guidance from Australian and international mentors.

Choreographer and dancer Victoria Hunt will undertake a year-long choreographic research program.

Also among this year’s cohort are Yawuru artist Robert Andrew; multimedia Wiradjuri-Scottish artist April Phillips; multimedia artist and Nharangga, Kaurna and Trawlwoolway man Daen Sansbury-Smith; critic and writer Fiona Murphy and writers Isobelle Carmody and Jennifer Mills.

“From its very first meeting, the Music Australia Council determined that providing significant, career-shaping support to artists would be a priority,” said Director of Music Australia Millie Millgate.

“Our investment in six Fellowships in this round reflects that commitment, giving artists and creative practitioners the time and resources to grow their careers and reach new audiences.”

More about Creative Australia’s 2025 Fellowships can be found here.