List of Grant Sources
Image by Tan McCulloch - Lemon Tree on Dreg Street by Amy May Nunn (2023)
The Grants Database
We have compiled a list of some of the grants that can be applied for each year. The typical application period is listed in brackets.
Grouped loosely by month
Fairfield City Council (NSW: Jan - Apr)
Social Change Through Creativity Grants Program: the awarded projects must meet all of the grant selection criteria and at least one grant priority area. One-off grants of up to $5,000 are available to not-for-profit groups or organisations.
Creative Victoria (Feb & Aug)
Many different funding sources available, in particular the VicArts Grants.
City of Kingston (Feb – Mar)
City of Kingston Arts Grants: Projects must have a public outcome in the City of Kingston.
City of Port Phillip (Feb – Mar)
The Cultural Development Fund (CDF) seeks to: Support artists and/or organisations to develop and realise creative ideas and projects within the City of Port Phillip; Support community managed projects; Generate arts and cultural activity; Build cultural identity; Support and celebrate community diversity; Support heritage initiatives.
City of Stonnington (Feb – Mar)
To assist local community organisations in providing services to the Stonnington community, Council provides Community Grants (annually) and Arts and Cultural Grants (bi-annually).
City of Darebin (Feb – Apr)
Darebin Council offers a range of grants for Community Events, grants for organisations and groups, Arts organisations, and LGBTIQ Community Grants.
City of Yarra (Feb - Apr)
Creative Yarra and Engage Yarra Grants: 2020 - 2021. Applications open from 18 February to 1 April 2019 for 2 years of fixed funding for activities of high cultural and artistic merit.
NAB Community Grants (National: Mar - Apr)
Recognition that philanthropic grants are a critical pillar of revenue for not-for-profit organisations.
Copyright Agency Cultural Fund (National: closes April / ongoing)
The Cultural Fund supports a wide variety of projects which aim to encourage, and provide practical assistance to Copyright Agency’s members and the Australian cultural community. Seems to be mainly for Indigenous groups/people.
City of Melbourne (May – Jun)
Funding to support and empower people and communities to engage, connect and take local action with a focus on local and vulnerable people.
City of Maribyrnong (Jul – Aug)
Council's annual Community Grants Program supports local projects or initiatives with activities that contribute to community strengthening, arts and cultural development, environmental sustainability, revitalising Braybrook, and encouraging wellbeing.
Youth Affairs Council Victoria (Sep / ongoing)
Part of larger Victorian Government funded initiative to support the mental health and wellbeing of Same Sex Attracted and Sex and Gender Diverse Young People.
Mardi Gras (NSW: Nov - Jan)
Parade Entrant Grant Registrations: each registrant can apply for a grant of $1,000 - $5,000 towards the cost of their Parade Entry.
Ongoing / Various application periods
Adelaide Fringe (SA: ongoing)
The Adelaide Fringe Cultural Fund provides 8 grants of $5,000 (+ GST) to independent Australian artists presenting work in the Adelaide Fringe to support them in the presentation of their work.
Arts Queensland (QLD: ongoing)
An overview to the Arts funding schemes provided throughout Queensland.
Arts SA: IMPP (SA: ongoing)
Individual Development: IMPP: Individual Development supports the professional development of individual, independent artists through various grant programs. Mostly for SA residents only. Includes the South Australian Living Artist Publication, which focuses on the production of a major, high-quality book profiling a prominent South Australian visual artist.
ArtsHub, Metro Screen & City of Sydney (NSW: ongoing)
Metro Screen, in partnership with the City of Sydney, is proud to offer the new Digital Escalator program. This program will support cultural, community and arts organisations within the City of Sydney to develop digital video skills and build content creation and distribution capacity, through fully subsidised access to training, equipment, studio/venue/edit suite access, and expert advice and support.
Australian Government – Arts and Culture (National: ongoing)
The $2 million Public Grants Program is open to individuals, organisations and groups, including cultural institutions, arts organisations and artists for collaborative, commemorative arts and culture projects that engage local communities and produce high quality artistic outputs.
Auspicious Arts Projects (SA: ongoing)
Maintain a comprehensive calendar of grants opportunities around the country.
Belconnen Arts Centre (ACT: ongoing)
Every year graduates from the ANU School of Art are awarded an exhibition at Belconnen Arts Centre as part of the Emerging Artist Support Scheme (EASS). Periodically, other schemes are also announced, such as the Artists in Residence program.
Budget Direct (quarterly)
Sponsorships of $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000 to community-building organisations to help build happy, healthy neighbourhoods.
Create NSW (NSW: ongoing)
Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program 2019/20 provides funding opportunities for arts and cultural organisations, professional artists and arts/cultural workers across a wide range of artforms and disciplines.
Government of WA (WA: ongoing)
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries: provides funding for the culture and the arts sector. The 'Arts 15k-plus' grant program offers between $15,000 and $60,000 funding for artists, creative industry professionals and organisations to deliver a one-off project or a program of activity. The 'Arts Organisations Investment Program' is an open and competitive multiyear funding program to support Western Australia’s arts, cultural and creative sector organisations.
Hobsons Bay Council (various)
Hobsons Bay Community Grants. Hobsons Bay libraries also have several publications relating to grants which may assist. They are: The Complete Community Fundraising Handbook, Winning Grants Funding in Australia, How to Manage your Grant After Winning it!, How to: Find Money Fast, Effective Letters: 50 of the Best, Small Sparks Neighbourhood Grants Case Studies
Ian Potter Foundation (National: ongoing)
The Ian Potter Foundation makes grants across a broad range of sectors and endeavours. Our grants are managed through nine program areas: Arts, Community Wellbeing, Education, Environment & Conservation, Health & Disability, International Learning and Development, Medical Research, Science, Travel, and Conference.
Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation (various)
Various grants are available, including: Eldon and Anne Foote Donor Advised Program Grants; Innovation Grants; Exploration Grants; Feed Melbourne Grants; and Thrive Grants.
Merri-bek City Council (various)
Project grants up to $5000 (applications open February - March), Operational grants up to $10,000 per year (applications open February - March) and minor grants (open most of the year)
National Film and Sound Archive (National: ongoing)
Take Three: an initiative to support Australian tertiary students and emerging filmmakers/artists by providing up to three minutes of footage/audio, and ten stills, free of licence fees for use in their projects.
The Small Grants program supports projects proposed by individuals and or organisations and or communities who would otherwise be limited by the constraints of other funding programs. They also have a Large Grants Program.
Queensland Government (QLD: ongoing)
Arts Business Innovation Fund: provides a $1 million investment for not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations.
The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction supports published Australian authors working in fiction, and recognises exciting and exceptional new contributions to local literature.
RE Ross Trust (ongoing)
Impact Area A: Improved outcomes for the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised Victorians. Impact Area B: Improved outcomes for children and young people at risk (0-18 years). Impact Area C: Improved access to and achievement of equality and excellence in public education, arts and culture. Impact Area D: Protection and preservation of Australian flora and fauna.
Regional Arts Victoria (ongoing - two rounds p.a.)
The Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund program supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote Australia. Project Grants of up to $15,000 are available twice yearly; Quick Response up to $1500 for individuals and $3,000 for organisations are available throughout the year.
Screen Australia (National: ongoing)
Features Development: Access to Screen Australia’s development funds is highly competitive so it is in your interest to apply for funds only when you are thoroughly prepared and can submit the strongest application for consideration.
Screen Australia (National: ongoing)
Documentary Development: Screen Australia’s Documentary Development program assists experienced documentary makers to achieve planned outcomes for the development of their projects.
Victoria Law Foundation (ongoing)
For the first time ever, Victoria Law Foundation is opening up our grants funding to arts sector organisations for Law Week projects and events!
VMC: Victorian Multicultural Commission (various)
Various grants available at different times, including: Community Harmony; Capacity Building and Participation; Multicultural Festivals and Events; and Community Infrastructure and Cultural Precincts.