Victorian Music Development Office
Closes Monday 3 March, 9am AEDT
For small to medium sized music businesses

A Grant Stream – VMDO are offering 20 grants of up to $1000 each, specifically to be spent on something that will help you control your finances better. Hardware, software, platform subscriptions, advice… the kind of micro-investment you’re always meaning to make, but always end up using the money for something else.

A Consultation Stream – VMDO have secured a number of one-hour consultations, offered by leading music companies. Consultations are free. The consultations are a financial health check - you can discuss tax planning, royalty accounting, business structure, or any number of other topics with which you need help, with some of the most established entertainment accountancy and law firms in the Victoria.

Applicants may apply for one or both of the streams and they will be assessed independently.

Creative Brimbank
Closes 3 March 5PM
For theatre makers and dramaturgs

Artists and Creative Producers are invited to submit an application for the 2025-26 Bowery Theatre Residencies which close 3 March 2025.

A Bowery Theatre Residency provides a professional development, creative development and performance space for artists to make and present new work in the Bowery Theatre and at St Albans Community Centre (STACC) with and for the Brimbank community. We offer a Cash Contribution For the Mid-career or Established Artists of up to $10,000 or for Young and Emerging Artists, up to $5,000.

Community Broadcasting Foundation
4 March 2pm AEST
For presenters and broadcasters

The Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) is a proud champion of community broadcasting – Australia’s largest independent media sector.

In the past year, the CBF granted more than $18.7 million to help 173 organisations communicate, connect and share knowledge with their communities through radio, television and digital media.

Applications for our Round 1  2025/26 Content, Development & Operations and Specialist Radio Programming grants are now open.

Creative Australia
Closes 4 March 3PM
For touring performers and productions

Playing Australia Project Investment supports organisations to undertake performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia.

The program supports costs associated with touring to regional and remote areas of Australia. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested. Touring activity must be confirmed prior to seeking investment through this category.

Creative Australia
Closes 4 March 3PM
For touring musicians

This program provides up to $50,000 to support national tours by musicians performing original contemporary music.

The tour must comprise of performances in at least three venues or locations outside of the performer’s hometown. Tours that include regional and remote destinations, or which assist performers residing in regional and remote areas to tour, are a priority for funding.

Grants are available from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the number of tour venues or locations in regional or remote areas.

Creative Australia
Closes 4 March 3PM
For individual artists and groups

Up to $50,000 for a range of activities and projects, both national and international, across all art forms.

This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities.

Creative Australia
Closes 4 March 3PM
For arts organisations

This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities.

Organisations that undertake arts programs, projects, or that provide services to artists, are welcome to apply.

Organisations can propose a single project, a suite of projects or an annual program of activity.

Grants are available from $20,000 to $100,000. Supported activities must last no longer than two years from the proposed start date.

West Space
Closes Friday 6 March
For curators

West Space is looking for a Curator to join their team.

Since 1993, West Space has evolved as a distinct organisation combining an artist-centric ethos with the supportive infrastructure of a contemporary art institution. We provide a personalised approach to the experience of contemporary art, presenting rigorous and experimental projects and take part in conversations around some of the most vital ideas in current practice.

West Space’s Curator is instrumental in our support of artists. They work on the research, curation and administration of our robust and inclusive artistic program as part of a collaborative team.

Gasworks Arts Park
Closes 9 March
For visual artists

The residency will enable the development of studio practice, collaboration and creative exchange, in addition to mentoring and career guidance from the Visual Arts Manager at Gasworks. The studio space on offer will accommodate an individual artist in a shared building with 3 other full time professional artists in separate studios.

This Studio Residency program has been created to provide emerging and mid-career artists with an affordable studio space to continue developing their practice in return for the opportunity to contribute to the community through creative engagement and collaboration.

Geelong Arts Centre
Closes 10 March 9AM
For theatre makers

Launchpad is an initiative under Geelong Arts Centre’s Creative Engine program. The initiative gives artists the opportunity to rehearse, test and present new work to audiences in a professional theatre setting.

Launchpad will provide up to three artists or creative teams with access to The Open House for up to two performances or presentations, with an additional five rehearsal days in the centre’s studio spaces.

Selected artists will also receive technical, marketing, front-of-house and ticketing support, along with general artistic development support from Geelong Art Centre's programming team.

Artists will take 100% box office sales (less booking fees, credit card charges and GST) and will have consultation with the Programming team to help determine ticket prices.

City of Melbourne
Tuesday 11 March, 5pm AEDT
For painters and muralists

City of Melbourne in partnership with Hero Apartment Building Owner’s Corporation invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the sixth commission in the partnership series. This billboard-scale public art commission will be displayed on the front of the Hero Apartment Building, located on the corner of Russell and Little Collins streets, in central Melbourne.

Stage one:
Please note an artwork proposal will not be required at this stage. Artists are required to submit the following:
1. a short statement including a brief artist biography and outline of your creative practice (approximately 200 words)
2. a maximum of 3 images of recent work (minimum 300dpi)

Stage two:
Three shortlisted artists will be paid $1000 to develop an artwork proposal.

Stage three:
One selected artist will receive $5000 to deliver a final artwork file.

Hume City Council
Tuesday 11 March 2025, 5pm
For artists across disciplines

Time is ticking to apply for the 2025 Arts Grants Program! This is your chance to secure funding to develop your creative practice, deliver an exciting project, or attend professional development opportunities. 

Grants of up to $3,000 are available for smaller-scale activities, while up to $20,000 is on offer for larger projects that make a big impact on the Hume community.  

Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your skills, bring your ideas to life, and contribute to Hume’s vibrant arts and culture scene. 

Applications close Tuesday 11 March.

Polyglot Theatre
Closes 28 March 5PM

Polyglot Theatre is seeking new Board Directors to support the company in achieving its strategic vision. Polyglot values different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds, and is actively placing diversity as a priority through this recruitment process. The company particularly encourages applications from First Nations people, people with disability, people from a range of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people who identify as LGBTQIA+. A policy is in place to reduce barriers to participation on Polyglot's Board, with a range of supports available for eligible members.

Creative Australia
Closes 1 April 2025, 3pm AEDT
For translators and publishers

International publishers may apply for a contribution towards the translation of works by living Australian authors of creative writing such as fiction, poetry, writing for children and young people, graphic novels, and narrative non-fiction (defined as autobiography, biography, essays, histories, literary criticism, or analytical prose).

Australian publishers may also apply to support the translation of non-English language works to English, providing they are using an Australian translator.

Contributions of AUD $5,000 per successful applicant are available.

Creative Australia
Closes Tuesday 1 April, 3PM

This initiative is part of Creative Australia’s First Nations First industry development programs in response to extensive community consultation on priorities and needs of the sector in response to Pillar 1, First Nations First – Revive, the Australian Government’s shared vision for Australia: a place for every story and a story for every place. These new initiatives aim to elevate existing programs and deliver new funding that build on a 50-year legacy of First Nations leadership and investment at Creative Australia.

First Nations Arts: d/Deaf and/or Disabilities Project Fund supports projects and professional development opportunities across all art forms, nationally and internationally. It is open to:
- Australian First Nations d/Deaf artists and arts workers
- Australian First Nations artists and arts workers with disability
- Australian First Nations d/Deaf artists and arts workers groups
Australian First Nations artists and arts workers with disability groups
- Australian First Nations organisations.

Creative Australia
Closes Tuesday 1 April, 3PM

The International Engagement Fund supports Australian artists and creative workers to undertake reciprocal exchange projects with confirmed international partners. This includes creative collaboration and development; cultural exchange and knowledge sharing; labs and practice-exchange models.

Activities can take place in-person, online, or in a combination of in-person and online (hybrid).

International organisations working with Australian artists or creative workers are eligible to apply.

Only one application can be made to this category per closing date.

Funding amounts are available between $5,000 to $30,000.

McClelland
Closes Friday 27 June, 11:59PM
For artistic sculptors

McClelland is delighted to be showcasing the medium of sculpture with the launch of this $20,000 acquisitive award for an original sculpture, thanks to the generous support of Rick Amor.

Rick Amor was born in Frankston and has an extensive body of work and is a highly regarded sculptor.

In 2025 this award will be granted to an outstanding original, maquette which will become part of the McClelland collection.

There is a paid entry fee of $30
Exhibition dates: 15 November 2025 — March 2026

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Ongoing

The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a small grants program funded from Australia's aid budget. It has the flexibility to work with local communities in developing countries on projects that reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development consistent with Australia's national interest.

It sits alongside Australia's longer-term country and multilateral development strategies and with its wide geographical reach plays an important role in supporting local community efforts towards poverty reduction across the globe.

EastWeb
Open four times a year
For organisations and groups

We make grants of between $2000 and $5000 four times a year.

In 2024, we will be trialling some proactive granting, providing unrestricted organisational funding to organisations and groups that work in our focus areas. Advisory Board members will be recommending and reviewing organisations to support.

We’re especially keen to support organisations that are First Nations led, or refugee and asylum seeker led, and organisations that are youth-led

First Draft
Ongoing
For early career Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander curators

The First Peoples Curators Program supports early career Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander curators with new skills, professional presentation and development opportunities, and access to key industry networks.

Successful applicants receive: $1500 curator fee per exhibition; $600 artist fee per artist capped at $3000; access to travel fund up to $1000 if regional or interstate based; a fully subsidised six-week exhibition and more.

Australian Children’s Television Foundation
Ongoing

We engage with Australian producers and writers at the earliest stages of development, investing small amounts across a broad range of projects. Projects are assessed for quality and potential.

Development Funding 2024

The ACTF accepts development funding applications at any time via the ACTF Funding Portal. Turnaround time for assessment and decisions will vary depending on volume of applications received, and whether the ACTF requires further documentation or information from you once your application has been submitted.

Support Act
Ongoing
For those working in all genres of music

Crisis Relief Grants and support are available to musicians, managers, crew and music workers across all genres experiencing financial hardship as the result of illness, injury, mental health, older age or another current crisis that is impacting their ability to work in music.

Grants are assessed for a current issue impacting ability to work in music and, if approved, will be provided through direct payment of bills or other personal expenses related to the crisis, rather than cash grants. Evidence of a current crisis will be required.

Creative Australia
Ongoing

The Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) is a fundraising platform for Australian artists. Through the ACF, artists upload their project, start their fundraising campaign and invite art lovers and supporters to donate with 100% of donations going directly towards artists’ creative projects. Through the ACF you can offer tax deductibility to your donors. The ACF has helped raise millions of dollars for Australian artists, enabling a wide range of projects to come to life and offering support to Australia’s cultural sector.

Screen Australia
Ongoing
Filmmakers, screen producers.

International Pitching Events and Talent Labs provides support to producers selected for competitive overseas pitching events in order for them to secure finance, production and marketplace partners for Australian projects, or for key creatives invited to attend premium overseas talent labs to enable professional development and to build international industry networks. $5000 to $20,000 funding available.

City of Greater Dandenong
Individuals and Organisations

The Community Response Grants Program allows individuals and non-profit community organisations to apply for small responsive grants to help them to achieve their goals and ambitions.

Individuals can apply for up to $500, and non-profit community organisations can apply for up to $2000.

Creative Australia
Ongoing
Entrepreneurs

Ignite Small Business Start-Ups offers free, personalised support to help you start or expand a thriving small business, providing expert guidance, creative marketing strategies, assistance with business basics and legal compliance, access to skilled volunteers, and flexible meeting options. This grant is ongoing (no closing date).

The Awesome Foundation
Ongoing
Creators and projects

The Foundation distributes $1,000 grants, no strings attached, to projects and their creators. At each fully autonomous chapter, the money is pooled together from the coffers of ten or so self-organizing “micro-trustees”.

You can apply to any chapter although sometimes preference is for projects in the chapter's local area. This grant is ongoing (no closing date).

Regional Arts Victoria
Ongoing
Artists and arts workers, small projects

Quick Response Grants are intended to assist regional artists, arts organisations and communities to take up professional or skills development or small project opportunities.

This program is for projects that fall outside the scope of other funding opportunities. It is open to applications on an ongoing basis throughout the year. The grants will fund professional development opportunities for artists and arts workers or small project opportunities.

VicScreen
Ongoing
Screen practitioners, filmmakers and crew

VicScreen's Industry Development program supports organisations to deliver professional skills development activities in Victoria, to promote and support gender equality, diversity and inclusion.

Grants of up to $50,000 per applicant are open to support activities of the successful applicants. Organisations must have screen industry experience. Applications can be received at any time.

City of Whittlesea
Ongoing
For outcomes that benefit the Whittlesea community.

The City of Whittlsea are offering grants for individuals monthly up to $1000 for small grants, medium grants of up to $20,000 monthly and large grants quarterly of up to $40,000 for social enterprises, not-for-profit community groups, organisations and businesses to undertake activities that have a broad community benefit.

The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation
Ongoing
Visual Artists

A Canadian philanthropic grant that supports early career visual artists between the ages of 18 and 41 years, in representational styles of drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture, for a work, project or course of study.

All nationalities may apply. First grant amount is $17,000 (Canadian). This grant is ongoing throughout the year (no closing date).

City of Port Phillip
Until funds are exhausted
Live music support scheme

Through this initiative, council will pay a contribution towards artist fees to encourage local venues, promoters, and event managers to plan live music events and engage local performers.

All applicants must be applying for musicians to perform at venues and events based in the City of Port Phillip.

The Pollack-Krasner Foundation
Ongoing
Visual Artists

For painters, sculptors and artists who work on paper, including printmaker. Up to $30,000 to create new work, acquire supplies, rent studio space, prepare for exhibitions, attend a residency and offset living expenses.

Grants are intended for a one-year period of time. The size of the grant is determined by the individual circumstances of the artist. Professional exhibition history will be taken into consideration. Artists must be actively exhibiting their current work in professional artistic venues, such as gallery and museum spaces.

AFTRS
Ongoing
Film, Television and Radio School

To inspire creativity and innovation, The Australian Film, Television, Radio School want to work with students from diverse backgrounds.

To achieve this, they offer a range of scholarships that recognise excellence and assist with the costs associated with higher education.

A variety of financial support options, which you may be able to access include AFTRS Scholarships.