The City of Melbourne is offering Aboriginal artists a significant opportunity to showcase their talents and share their stories through a new grant program. This initiative aims to support a diverse range of artistic expressions, from performance and music to visual arts and writing, with grants of up to $20,000 available for public presentations.
Key Takeaways
- Grants of up to $20,000 are available for Aboriginal creatives.
- Projects must be presented to the public within the City of Melbourne.
- The application deadline is September 28, 2025.
- Projects must be completed between January 1 and December 31, 2026.
Eligibility and Project Focus
To be eligible, applicants must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists or arts organizations. A strong connection to the City of Melbourne is required, which can be demonstrated by residing within the city, maintaining a studio there, or developing a project directly linked to the area. Projects must be completed and presented within the City of Melbourne council boundaries between January 1 and December 31, 2026. Applicants should not have any outstanding grant acquittals or debts with the City of Melbourne.
Ineligible Projects and Organizations
Several types of projects and organizations are not eligible for these grants. These include projects occurring outside the City of Melbourne, those already funded by other city programs, or applications for the same project submitted multiple times. Projects curated or presented by City Council programs such as Arts House, ArtPlay, and Signal, or commissioned by the YIRRAMBOI Festival, are also excluded. Furthermore, professional development activities, permanent murals, non-arts-specific podcasts, commercial ventures, ongoing workshops, accredited courses, fundraising events, and competitions are not supported. Applications from political organizations, government departments, and City of Melbourne employees will not be considered. Any project or applicant found to be in breach of anti-vilification laws or community standards will be rejected.
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on three core criteria: creative excellence, access and inclusion, and project viability.
- Creative Excellence: This assesses the artistic merit and strength of the proposed idea.
- Access, Inclusion, and Equity: This criterion considers diversity in background, ability, gender, and age; the project’s reach to underrepresented audiences; provision of free or low-cost access; utilization of new or unexpected venues; and encouragement of varied participation methods.
- Project Viability: This evaluates the achievability of the project timeline, the realism of the budget (including artist fees), the identification of key artists, the quality of supporting materials, and the necessary cultural permissions for any Indigenous content not created by the applicant.
Required Support Materials
Applicants are required to submit artistic CVs for key artists, samples of their work, and venue booking details or communication, unless the project is intended for online presentation. Optional materials that can strengthen an application include a detailed project timeline and letters of support from peers or industry professionals.
