Major Names Including Kate Miller-Heidke and Rob Collins Throw Support Behind AusArt Day

More than 300 artists and organisations from across Australia are calling on the public to rally behind them for the first national AusArt Day, taking place this Thursday, October 23rd.

The national giving day for the arts invites Australians to show their support by making a donation, big or small, to help sustain the creative work they love.

Beloved names including singer Kate Miller-Heidke, actor Rob Collins, Collingwood AFL captain Darcy Moore, actor Angourie Rice, and Queensland deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie are among the heavy-hitters lending their voices to the campaign.

Miller-Heidke will support Woodford Folk Festival's push to raise money to secure land around the festival site, protecting it for future generations, while Collins (known for Total Control, Top End Wedding, and Glitch) will be participating in the all day telethon at Brown's Mart Theatre in Darwin.

Rice (best known for playing the lead in the 2024 film Mean Girls) will be joined by Moore as ambassadors for the Melbourne International Film Festival's campaign to support screenings in 2026, while Bleijie, a former Elvis impersonator, will be lending his voice to the QLD Youth Orchestra Big Band.

AusArt Day is being supported by Creative Australia, which is providing microgrants, and matched funding, as well as resources, workshops, and advertising materials, to help participants prepare their campaigns.

Over 500 artists and arts workers took part in workshops between April and September to share insights on how to run a national giving day, with topics ranging from effective marketing strategies to financial sustainability.

Creative Australia Chair and AusArt Day Ambassador Professor Wesley Enoch AM said: “AusArt Day celebrates the creativity which makes our nation great and we’re inviting all Australians to get behind it. We’ve got artists and arts organisations in every part of the country taking part, so it’s easy to find one that means a lot to you.

“We’re asking people to show their support by making a donation, liking and sharing a favourite art organisation’s campaign on social media or volunteering your time or skills. Every little bit makes a massive difference to supporting and growing the arts.”