We fund arts and cultural activities in Yarra through our Annual Grants Program, our Small Grants Program and other initiatives such as Creative Yarra Triennial Grants and the Room to Create Responsive Grants.
To be notified of upcoming grant opportunities, subscribe to our Yarra City Arts monthly newsletter.
We fund arts and cultural activities in Yarra through our Annual Grants Program, our Small Grants Program and other initiatives such as Creative Yarra Triennial Grants and the Room to Create Responsive Grants.
To be notified of upcoming grant opportunities, subscribe to our Yarra City Arts monthly newsletter.
Our annual grants provide financial and in-kind support for community initiatives and projects.
Grant applications closed on July 31 2024. Successful applicants will be notified in November 2024.
To apply, you can visit the City of Yarra SmartyGrants. website and create an account if you don't already have one.
Join our mailing list to receive regular updates about Yarra’s grant programs, as well as skills and training opportunities.
For information about the funding priorities and maximum grant amount for each category, view the Guidelines.
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.
Our annual grants provide financial and in-kind support for community initiatives and projects.
Grant applications closed on July 31 2024. Successful applicants will be notified in November 2024.
To apply, you can visit the City of Yarra SmartyGrants. website and create an account if you don't already have one.
Join our mailing list to receive regular updates about Yarra’s grant programs, as well as skills and training opportunities.
For information about the funding priorities and maximum grant amount for each category, view the Guidelines.
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.
The Small Project Grants (SPG) respond to funding requests throughout the year, providing an opportunity for applicants to engage with Council and gain an understanding of the grants process. The grants allow organisations and individual artists to access funding quickly, (usually within four weeks from the grant submission).
There are three categories currently available in the SPG program:
Arts and Culture (up to $2,000)
Community Projects (up to $1,000)
Sustainability Arts Grants (up to $1,000)
To find out more, and how to apply, visit our small projects grants page.
The Small Project Grants (SPG) respond to funding requests throughout the year, providing an opportunity for applicants to engage with Council and gain an understanding of the grants process. The grants allow organisations and individual artists to access funding quickly, (usually within four weeks from the grant submission).
There are three categories currently available in the SPG program:
Arts and Culture (up to $2,000)
Community Projects (up to $1,000)
Sustainability Arts Grants (up to $1,000)
To find out more, and how to apply, visit our small projects grants page.
The Room to Create Responsive Grant Program funding pool opened on the 1st of July 2024 and closed in September 2024 once all funds in the pool had been expended. Applicants can only receive one Room to Create Responsive Grant per financial year, 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.
The Room to Create Responsive Grant Program offers quick response grants, intended to help creative spaces and live music venues stay in Yarra.
The funds may be used for goods and/or services that will assist the creative space to operate in Yarra. For example, funds can be used for:
Applicants who have not been funded in the previous rounds will be prioritised.
To find out more, and how to apply, visit our responsive grants page.
Applications were invited from eligible organisations for creative infrastructure related projects that would make a significant impact to their venue or place of making. Organisations with joint Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status and Tax Concession Charity (TCC) status were invited to apply up to $12,000 for goods and/or services that will assist the creative space to operate in Yarra. Funding is for projects which take place between 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025.
For more information on the program please visit the Room to Create page.
The Room to Create Responsive Grant Program funding pool opened on the 1st of July 2024 and closed in September 2024 once all funds in the pool had been expended. Applicants can only receive one Room to Create Responsive Grant per financial year, 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.
The Room to Create Responsive Grant Program offers quick response grants, intended to help creative spaces and live music venues stay in Yarra.
The funds may be used for goods and/or services that will assist the creative space to operate in Yarra. For example, funds can be used for:
Applicants who have not been funded in the previous rounds will be prioritised.
To find out more, and how to apply, visit our responsive grants page.
Applications were invited from eligible organisations for creative infrastructure related projects that would make a significant impact to their venue or place of making. Organisations with joint Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status and Tax Concession Charity (TCC) status were invited to apply up to $12,000 for goods and/or services that will assist the creative space to operate in Yarra. Funding is for projects which take place between 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025.
For more information on the program please visit the Room to Create page.
The Yarra Arts Fellowship is a $10,000 grant is awarded to an individual artist.
The grant is intended to help an artist focus more easily on their practice by reducing financial pressures associated with maintaining a creative practice.
There will be one Yarra Arts Fellowship awarded for 2025.
Why did we create this grant?
The City of Yarra is a creative city, bustling with live music, street festivals, creative venues and hubs, galleries, studios and creative communities that all contribute to its unique ecology. Our Arts and Culture Strategy 2022-2026 recognises that artists are essential to a thriving Yarra.
Supporting our local artists ensures we continue to nurture and grow our creative community, with flow on benefits for community engagement, health and wellbeing, community pride and economic benefit.
What are the grant dates?
Applications closed 31 June 2024.
Application outcomes will be announced in late 2024.
The fellowship will take place from January 2025 until December 2025. During this period, it is expected that the grant will contribute to any outcome which may take place during this time.
What this grant be used for?
The grant can be spent on costs that contribute to the everyday development of a creative practice (e.g. studio costs, hire of equipment, purchase of materials, skills development etc).
How do I apply?
Submit your application and review the guidelines at the SmartyGrants page.
The Yarra Arts Fellowship is a $10,000 grant is awarded to an individual artist.
The grant is intended to help an artist focus more easily on their practice by reducing financial pressures associated with maintaining a creative practice.
There will be one Yarra Arts Fellowship awarded for 2025.
Why did we create this grant?
The City of Yarra is a creative city, bustling with live music, street festivals, creative venues and hubs, galleries, studios and creative communities that all contribute to its unique ecology. Our Arts and Culture Strategy 2022-2026 recognises that artists are essential to a thriving Yarra.
Supporting our local artists ensures we continue to nurture and grow our creative community, with flow on benefits for community engagement, health and wellbeing, community pride and economic benefit.
What are the grant dates?
Applications closed 31 June 2024.
Application outcomes will be announced in late 2024.
The fellowship will take place from January 2025 until December 2025. During this period, it is expected that the grant will contribute to any outcome which may take place during this time.
What this grant be used for?
The grant can be spent on costs that contribute to the everyday development of a creative practice (e.g. studio costs, hire of equipment, purchase of materials, skills development etc).
How do I apply?
Submit your application and review the guidelines at the SmartyGrants page.
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.
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.
The Creative and Engage Yarra 2022-2023 Grant Program is now closed.
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.
Successful applicants for Creative and Engage Yarra 2022-23 are:
Funded organisations include Liquid Architecture, Abbotsford Convent Foundation, Drummond Street Services, SEVENTH Gallery, The Boîte, Contemporary Sculpture Association, Polyglot Theatre, un Projects, All the Queens Men, Dancehouse, Kids’ Own Publishing and Make It Up Club.
The total amount provided for this program is $460,000.
You can read the full report here (PDF)
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.
The Creative and Engage Yarra 2022-2023 Grant Program is now closed.
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.
Successful applicants for Creative and Engage Yarra 2022-23 are:
Funded organisations include Liquid Architecture, Abbotsford Convent Foundation, Drummond Street Services, SEVENTH Gallery, The Boîte, Contemporary Sculpture Association, Polyglot Theatre, un Projects, All the Queens Men, Dancehouse, Kids’ Own Publishing and Make It Up Club.
The total amount provided for this program is $460,000.
You can read the full report here (PDF)
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.
