Creative Excellence Program

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Join Creative Excellence Program 2026

The Creative Excellence Program (CEP) is a year-long professional leadership program for experienced creative practitioners working across culture, design, education, health, enterprise, policy, and related fields.

The program is designed for women whose creative practice already operates at a professional level and who are seeking to strengthen their authority, extend their impact, and contribute to system-level change across industries and communities.

CEP is not a training course or incubator. It is a standards-aligned leadership pathway that supports practitioners to consolidate practice, deepen inquiry, and operate with confidence across complex institutional, public-interest, and cross-sector environments.

Application Process – What to Expect

Step 1: Check your eligibility
Make sure the CEP is the right fit for your professional stage, practice area, and creative ambitions.

Step 2: Submit your Expression of Interest
Start by submitting your details via the online form.

Step 3: Receive confirmation and complete your full application
You’ll receive an email with a link to complete the detailed application form, including your selected discipline and inquiry focus.

Step 4: Secure an endorsement
Provide a brief statement of support from a current manager, collaborator, or peer who can vouch for your leadership and impact.

Key Program Details

• Subsidised places will be made available through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and philanthropic supporters
• Priority access will be offered to regional, rural, First Nations, and community-based creatives as part of our equity commitment
• 10-month program featuring 10 in-person days of immersive learning, collaboration, and leadership development
• Led by inspiring subject matter experts from Australia and around the world
• Practice-based learning — undertake two creative inquiries to deepen your impact and grow your leadership
• Choose your discipline from 9 Creative Fields (Arts, Storytelling, Design, Health, Policy, Education, Enterprise, Ecology, and more)
• Designed for real-world benefit — build your portfolio, amplify your influence, and connect with a national peer network

Creative Practitioners – What You Gain

Invest in your creative leadership
Take time to reflect, refine your voice, and reconnect with the purpose behind your practice.

Elevate your impact
Apply evidence-informed, practice-based methods to create meaningful change across your field, organisation, or community.

Expand your influence
Join a national cohort of like-minded creative practitioners. Build lifelong relationships and become part of the growing CEP alumni network.

Unlock future opportunities
Graduates are eligible to apply for the Creative Excellence Fellowship, a pathway to lead a real-world project that advances practice, supports industry transformation, and delivers public value.

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