YIRRAMBOI calls for Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to submit expressions of interest for 2027 commissions.
Melbourne’s leading First Nations arts festival returns with commissioning opportunities for bold new works across theatre, dance, music, visual art and experimental practice. YIRRAMBOI 2027 continues the platform’s eight-year legacy of showcasing the future of First Nations arts through world premiere presentations that challenge conventional expectations.
Selected artists receive $17,000 for creative development plus $17,000 for presentation, totalling $34,000 per commission. Projects can be at any development stage but must be fully realised for presentation by May 2027, with work-in-progress showings required by December 2026.
YIRRAMBOI 2027 Commissions
- Where: Victoria-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists
- When: Applications close 19 October 2025, midnight AEST
- Value: $34,000 per commission ($17,000 development + $17,000 presentation)
- Eligibility: Independent artists, collectives, community groups, arts organisations
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Application formats accommodate diverse accessibility needs through written, video, Auslan or audio submissions via SmartyGrants. Alternative methods include phone calls or online meetings transcribed by festival organisers, reflecting Yirramboi Festival’s commitment to inclusive participation.
Expressions of interest require project titles and summaries, artist biographies, creative development timelines, budgets detailing commission fee usage including artist fees and accessibility considerations, plus examples of previous work. Shortlisted applicants will pitch projects to selection panels either in person or online.
YIRRAMBOI prioritises Victorian First Peoples, d/Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent and regional artists while maintaining focus on authentic cultural expression through evolutionary and experimental practices. Previous commission recipients cannot reapply, ensuring opportunities reach new voices within Victoria’s First Nations arts community.
Creative Lead Sherene Stewart describes commissions as acts of sovereignty that create dialogue, disrupt systems and provide platforms for stories told on First Nations terms. Festival programming emphasises works that plant legacy seeds extending well beyond individual festival presentations.
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