Through the STIMULATE Creative Grant program, Yarra Council is investing in a creative-led re-imagination of our community. This funding comes on top of a number of other grant schemes we have introduced to support the creative sector during the pandemic.

STIMULATE Creative Grants are for artists, community groups, sole traders and creative organisations or businesses to create new work, present new ideas and/or to present on a new platform. Partnerships and collaborations by grant recipients are encouraged.

The grants range from up to $5,000 for individuals to up to $50,000 for partnerships. There is a total pool of $200,000 available.

Download the STIMULATE Creative Grant Guidelines

Applications can be submitted on SmartyGrants

Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 4 October 2020.

Please note: This program is now closed.

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 $5,000. This grant is designed for creative businesses to respond, adapt and undertake development in the social distancing climate. The program pool is $60,000.

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 $2000 and organisations can apply for up to $5000. The program pool is $125,000.

Applications for Round 1 and Round 2 are now closed.

Our annual grants provide financial and in-kind support for community initiatives and projects. 

2022 Grants open on 21 June 2021

The next round of annual grants will open on 21 June 2021 and close on 15 August 2021. 

 We will be holding some information sessions on the grants. 

Annual Grants Information Sessions:                                    
 
Monday 7 June 
2:30pm-3:15pm 
Bargoonga Nganjin Community Room , 182-186 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North. 
 
Tuesday 8 June 
2:30pm-3:15pm  
Fitzroy Library, Meeting Room 1, 128 Moor St, Fitzroy. 
 
Monday 14 June 
1:00pm-1:45pm  
Richmond Town Hall, Meeting Room 1, 333 Bridge Rd, Richmond. 

2021 Annual Grants 

The 2021 annual grants have closed and the grant recipients can be viewed below.  

Join our mailing list to receive regular updates about Yarra’s grant programs, as well as skills and training opportunities.

Guidelines

For information about the funding priorities and maximum grant amount for each category, download the Annual Grants 2021 guidelines.

How do I apply?

The application form can be viewed on SmartyGrants. 

Annual grant streams and categories

The annual grants are split into a number of different streams and sub-categories:

Arts and Culture

• Arts Development
• Festivals & Events
• Community Arts
  
  

Community Development

• Community Strengthening
• Community Support
• Community Celebrations
• Social Enterprise

Climate Action (Tier 1 and 2)

Community Housing

Family, Youth and Children

• Family & Early Years
• Youth & Middle Years
  
  

Sports and Recreation

• Participation Initiatives 
• Sport and Recreation Equipment
• Coach / Volunteer Training & Education

Past grant recipients

Over $930,000 in funding was awarded for 143 projects running in 2021.

The funded programs address a wide variety of local needs and promote connectedness and well-being across Yarra.

View the list of successful applications Annual_Grant_Recipients_2021_Report (PDF)

Have a question?

If you have a question about the annual grants, you can ask us online, or call us on 03 9205 5170 or 03 9205 5146. 

Celebrate Yarra Triennial Grants are available by invitation only.

The Celebrate Yarra Triennial Program 2020-22 includes:

• Victoria Street Lunar Festival
• Johnston Street Fiesta
• Gertrude Street Projection Festival

The total amount provided for these grants is $105,000 per annum.

Applications now open for Creative and Engage Yarra 2022-2023 Grant Program

Organisations and individual artists can now apply for two consecutive years of fixed funding from the Biennial Arts and Cultural funding streams Creative Yarra and Engage Yarra in 2022–2023.

The grants are designed to provide security and reduce administration costs so that we can enable creative activity to be developed over a two-year period, support our creative organisations to build greater capacity and to deliver the best outcomes in our City.

Organisations that meet the eligibility criteria can apply for up to $30,000 per annum, while individual practitioners that meet the eligibility criteria can apply for up to $15,000 per annum.

The round is now open and closes on Sunday 13 June 11:59pm with decisions expected in late July. The complete guidelines are now available via the link below.

Creative and Engage Yarra 2022-2023 Guidelines

Information Session: Tuesday 11 May 6-7:30pm

Location: Community Room, Bargoonga Nganjin North Fitzroy Library, 182-186 St Georges Rd, North Fitzroy.

Applications should be made via the online application form. Applications close Sunday 13 June 11:59pm.

Successful applicants for Creative Yarra 2020-21 are:

• un Projects :  art + ideas
• Centre for Centemporary Photography (CCP)
• Liquid Architecture : Polyphonic Social; Polythinking; Ritual Community Music
• Play On Arts Ltd
• Mr Alister McKeich : Experiences of Homelessness - Photo Documentary Project and Outdoor Exhibition
• Bus Projects

The total amount provided for this program is $130,000

Successful applicants for Engage Yarra 2020-21 are:

• All the Queens Men : LGBTI+ Elders Dance Club and Victorian Seniors Festival events
• Schoolhouse Studios : Schoolhouse Studios Community Knowledge Program (SSCK)
• Drummond Street Services : Reach Youth Music Studios (RYMS)
• Jesuit Social Services : Story Lab

The total amount provided for this program is $100,000.

Got a Question?

If you have a question about Creative Yarra and Engage Yarra grants, you can ask us online, or call us on 9205 5170 or 9205 5146. 

Yarra is often referred to as an “engine room” for the arts because of the many small to medium sized arts organisations that make up much of our creative footprint. There are over 50 live music venues, more than 60 galleries and artist run spaces, and numerous creative hubs and studios.

Room to Create Responsive Grants

The Room to Create Responsive Grant Program provides quick response grants, intended to help creative spaces and live music venues stay in Yarra.

The Program pool is $25,000 per annum and funding is capped at $2,000 for a standalone grant or at $5,000 for a matching grant – when the applicant is able to make a matching contribution towards the project. Applications are now open and will remain open until all funds have been allocated. 

Yarra City Arts provides a total of $25,000 per annum in funding through Arts and Culture Small Project Grants (SPG). These are quick response grants for community groups, not-for-profits and artists running projects in Yarra.

Applicants may receive one Small Project Grant per financial year, for amounts between $100 and $1,000. The assessment process is fairly quick, taking around three to four weeks from your submission date.

The Arts and Culture category of Yarra's Small Project Grants 2020/21 is now open. Head to the Small Project Grants page for more details.