Note: The COVID-19 Quick Response Grants have now opened and the Creative Business grant amount has increased. Please see our COVID-19 Quick Response Grants article from 9 April, 2020. 

We have announced a $7.46 million funding package to support our community and businesses through COVID-19.

Yarra is proud to be home to an active creative community. We know how important it is for artists, creative organisations and creative businesses to continue with their work. It’s also important for the community to be able to engage in art as part of everyday life.

This package includes grants for artists, creative organisations and live music venues, which will help recipients adapt, create and develop during this period of physical isolation.

Creative tenants in Yarra-owned buildings will also receive a six month rent waiver as part of this package.

Creative Community grants

Open to artists, musicians, performers, producers, community artists, not-for-profit arts organisations and community groups to create and present work. Individual artists can apply for up to $1000 and organisations can apply for up to $5000.

Creative Business grants

These will be open to creative businesses, including live music venues, commercial galleries, rehearsal studios and sole-trader creatives. Businesses can apply for up to $2,000 as a standalone grant or up to $5,000 as a matched grant. This grant is designed for creative businesses to respond, adapt and undertake development in the social distancing climate.

We will let you know later this week when these grant programs will open. We will notify applicants of the outcome within two weeks of their submission.

Both grant programs will run until 30 June 2020 or until the pool is exhausted.