The Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation has announced $250,000 in grants to support performers, companies and creative development projects across Australia, alongside the naming of Brisbane playwright Elaine Acworth as the 2025 winner of the $20,000 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award.

L-R: Diana Simmonds, Chair of Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award Trustee’s Panel with Elaine Acworth and SBWF grant recipients Nicholas Paine and Claire Styles (Dead Puppets Society). Photo supplied

The announcements were made at the Foundation’s annual Christmas gathering at its Neutral Bay headquarters on Thursday evening, ahead of its 40th-anniversary year. The awards were presented by Fine Music 102.5 announcers Simon Moore and Peter Poole.

From 88 applications – double last year’s intake – the Foundation selected 17 grant recipients for 2026, with support spread across theatre, dance, puppetry, opera and professional development.

Queensland’s Dead Puppet Society received the largest grant of $35,000 to develop Echo, while other recipients included Polyglot Theatre (VIC), Bangarra Dance Theatre (NSW), Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Sydney Youth Orchestra and The Last Great Hunt (WA).

Individuals supported include composer Felicity Wilcox (NSW), theatremakers Sandra Long and Louise...