Annual Arts Grants and Residencies

[Music with text on screen 'We asked previous arts grant recipients if they had any tips for future applicants] 

[Speaker Joel Bray] Make the effort to go to one of the City of Melbourne's grant writing workshops. They actually really help you. 
[Speaker Rochelle Fong] Dive really deeply into why your project is urgent, who it's for and why it's so important to you.
 

[Speaker Laura Elizabeth Woollett] Be specific about what you want to do and why you're the person to do it. I think it's 

[Speaker Melbourne Women in Film Festival - Sian Mitchell] important to make your proposal sound like something you are uniquely passionate about and uniquely qualified to carry out. 
Make sure your idea is really focused and that the aims and objectives for the project are also really clear, and reflect the strategy for the city of Melbourne. 

[Speaker Sapna Chandu] Start preparing early, I wish I would do that more often rather than ending up at 11:59 trying to submit your application and having a breakdown.
[Rochelle Fong]Make sure that your project is coming from a place of care authenticity and fire.
 

[Speaker Lisa Sewards] Raise any issues or questions that you have so you're fully armed with all the information that you require to complete the application. 
[Speaker Rochelle Fong] You don't have to use fancy bureaucratic language to get your ideas across so just focus on conveying the essence of what you want to say and the stories that you want to tell. 
[Speaker Joel Bray] Make sure anything that you've proposed in your proposal is paid for in the budget and is included in your timeline and vice versa.
[Speaker Sian Mitchell] Having the logistical details down is a really good idea so where are you going to hold your project, what venues are you going to be at, who are your sponsors, who are your partners.
[Speaker Lisa Sewards] I obtained a referee from a peer in the arts industry and i also obtained one from the gallery itself where I was holding the exhibition. 
[Speaker Sapna Chandu] Ask people to read over your application who can give critical feedback on how it sounds. 
[Speaker Rochelle Fong] And whatever the grant outcome remember that is not a reflection on your worth as an artist.

[Music. Text on screen Akosia - City of Melbourne Grant Recipient]

Hi my name is Akosia and I'm a Melbourne based singer-songwriter.

I get a lot of inspiration from the writings of Chinua Achebe and also from Sade - she's like my forever muse. I'm always trying to be like the greats that have come before me and really bring something new, but also encourage people to truly be themselves by being myself in my art as well [Music and images from photoshoots and fashion] 
The City of Melbourne grant was really important for me last year. It provided me with positive affirmation that I'm onto something good and it gave me a lot of energy and it actually paid for studio time and space. 
I've been writing a lot of music and I was writing a lot of new music last year, and it helped me take an important step into finishing off my EP and I'm really excited to release it soon.[Music]

Text on screen: City of Melbourne offers a range of grants, residencies and support for artists to develop and deliver work in the city.  Learn more about funding and opportunities for artists at melbourne.vic.gov.au/artsfunding. City of Melbourne logo.)

1 January and 31 December 2025.​

No, but if you are applying for an online project or for a creative development only then you must demonstrate a connection to City of Melbourne.

No, but it must be presented at a venue located within City of Melbourne boundaries. You must tell us where you plan to present the project and your application will also need to include venue hire costs. Your application will be strengthened by the inclusion of a tentative venue booking quote or evidence that you have communicated with the venue manager about hiring the space.​

Yes. You may need to apply for a permit to use outdoor spaces managed by the City of Melbourne such as a park or laneway, however a permit is not required for the grant application.

Please discuss your project with a program manager before submitting your application. You can contact the arts grants team weekdays 9am to 5pm on 03 9658 9658 or emailing artsgrants@melbourne.vic.gov.au. 

No, you can only submit one application to each round.​

Annual Arts Grants recipients will be notified in early October 2024. Successful applicants will receive funding once all required information and documentation is provided (this include funding agreement) as promptly as possible.​​

​No. Projects that are currently being funded by another City of Melbourne program are ineligible to apply to our annual arts grants program.

​Students may apply for funding. However, the proposed activity must not be associated with the completion of a course of study.

You can find information on artist fees for different art forms and roles from the following organisations:

• National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)Opens in new tab – visual arts
• Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA)Opens in new tab – performing arts
• Musicians Union of AustraliaOpens in new tab – musicians
• Australian Society of AuthorsOpens in new tab – writers
• Australian Writers’ GuildOpens in new tab – writers in the areas of television, radio, screen and stage.