What is the VicArts Grants?
The VicArts Grants is a program that invests in the creative endeavours and professional practice of Victoria’s independent artists and arts companies. It provides one-off support for discrete projects and programs that will develop and bring dynamism to Victoria’s arts sector. The program is open to new ideas, new modes of practice and new approaches to delivery of the arts that will build on Victoria’s position as a cultural leader.
Objective
The VicArts Grants program aims to develop a strong, innovative and diverse independent arts sector in Victoria. It does this by:
- Supporting a broad range of independent artists and arts organisations.
- Increasing the availability and accessibility of the arts to the Victorian public and to build audiences.
- Supporting projects and programs in regional Victoria.
- Supporting projects and programs that reflect the diversity of Aboriginal arts and cultural practices in Victoria.
- Supporting projects and programs that reflect diverse communities in Victoria.
- Supporting the interstate and international touring of Victorian artists and Victorian works.
- Assisting artists and arts organisations in building the sustainability and financial viability of their professional practice and engaging in partnerships or collaborations with Victorian industries, organisations or communities.
The VicArts Grants program aims for the best use and a broad distribution of State Government funds across the Victorian arts sector to maximise the benefit for the Victorian community.
Funding
The VicArts Grants program now accepts applications for 2-year funding. In addition to the eligibility requirements above, please note:
- The funding stream will provide 2 x years of continued annual support to a limited number of successful applicants.
- Successful applicants will not be eligible for further support through the VicArts Grants program during the period of the 2-year grant.
- Applications will be accepted for requests to be allocated across a 2-year period (e.g., applicants requesting support of $50,000 will receive $25,000 per year for 2 years).
- Successful applicants will not be eligible to apply for successive 2-year grants.
Successful applicants will adequately demonstrate sustainability and need, along with the aims of the VicArts program by answering the two additional questions outlined in the 2-year application.
Applications will be accepted for requests between $5,000 and $60,000.
Applications for 2-year support can apply for up $60,000 yearly ($120,000 total)
Solo projects (i.e. one artist working alone) will be eligible to apply for up to $20,000.
Applicants will be expected to provide a level of detail in their written application, support material and budget (including levels of co-funding/financial contribution) appropriate to the grant request, and Creative Victoria will not support the entire financial cost of a project/program.
Eligible Projects
VicArts Grants will support a range of projects and programs for example:
- Creative Development of new work, practice based research and experimentation.
- Presentation of new work/s, productions, exhibitions, publications or curated programs and festivals.
- Professional artists collaborating with Victorian Communities.
- National and international residencies/presentations/touring and market development activity.
Applications for VicArts Grants can be for smaller scale, individual projects, through to larger projects or programs that extend over multiple years. Applications are encouraged from a wide range of art forms. These include, but are not limited to, visual arts, literature, dance, circus, cabaret, music, theatre, multidisciplinary and experimental work.
Eligible Applicants
The VicArts Grants program accepts applications from individuals and organisations including arts, non-arts, community and local government.
The primary focus of the VicArts Grants proposal must include Victorian-based individual professional arts practitioners (emerging to established) and/or Victorian-based professional arts ensembles and organisations AND an artistic project/program. Please note:
- Creative Victoria will only accept one application per applicant (including under auspice) in each funding round.
- Auspicing bodies may apply on behalf of multiple applicants.
- State-owned cultural agencies and organisations receiving funding through Creative Victoria’s Organisations Investment Program are not eligible for funding through VicArts Grants (except where acting as an auspice body).
- For the July 2018 funding round, applicants must choose between applying to either VicArts Grants or the Creator Fund.
The VicArts Grants program now accepts applications for 2 year funding. In addition to the eligibility requirements above, please note:
- Applications will be accepted for requests to be allocated across a 2 year period (eg, applicants requesting support of $50,000 will receive $25,000 per year for 2 years).
- Successful applicants will not be eligible for further support through the VicArts Grants program during the period of the 2 year grant.
- Successful applicants will not be eligible to apply for successive 2 year grants.
- The funding stream will provide 2 x years of continued annual support to a limited number of successful applicants.
Timing
Applications close 3 September 2020.
More Information
VicArts Latest Recipients
Abbotsford Convent Foundation, Abbotsford, $39,729: Development of Huru Hara, an immersive art installation exploring a diversity of South-East Asian arts practices and cultures, curated by Thomas Henning and Govin Ruben at the Abbotsford Convent as part of Asia TOPA in 2020.
Arts Access Victoria, Templestowe Lower, $18,320: Development and presentation of Little Brother, Big Sister, a new Australian play written by Michel Paul Tuomy examining what it is like to live with schizophrenia, as well as the carer-sibling relationship.
Auspicious Arts Projects on behalf of Joel Bray, West Footscray, $28,034: Second stage creative development of a contemporary dance-theatre work by artist Joel Bray exploring themes of colonisation, sex, consent and queerness.
Auspicious Arts Projects on behalf of Katrina Cornwell, Brunswick East, $19,999: Creative development and presentation of Everyone Is Famous, a contemporary theatre piece about living in the age of social media. Created by Riot Stage in collaboration with ten diverse young people to be shown as part of arts festival in 2020.
Auspicious Arts Projects on behalf of Ngioka Bunda-Heath, Brunswick West, $20,000: Development and presentation of Birrpai, a contemporary dance and photography installation examining the work of non-Indigenous ‘culturist’ Thomas Dick from the early 1900s.
Australian Art Orchestra, Newport, $120,000: Presentation of the Australia Art Orchestra’s two-year artistic program in 2020 and 2021, including the creation of seven new works, local and international touring, residencies, and a professional development program for emerging Victorian leaders in music
BalletLab Association Inc (Phillip Adams BalletLab) on behalf of Ryan New, South Melbourne, $16,455: Second stage creative development of SICK, a contemporary dance work critiquing and challenging expectations of artists with disability, by dancer Ryan New in collaboration with BalletLab.
Brimbank City Council, Deer Park, $48,000: Creative development and presentation of Future Lens, a photographic and audio exhibition exploring the under-represented stories of women of colour living in the City of Brimbank.
City of Darebin, Preston, $28,350: To support a skills development program helping ten young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds learn how to become programmers and producers before delivering an event in February 2020.
City of Whittlesea, South Morang, $60,000: Creative development and presentation of Bukjeh, a multi-artform exhibition and theatre work by artist Aseel Tayah based on the stories of refugees. The project will be developed in collaboration with the local community, culminating in seven performances at various venues.
Teneille Clerke, Collingwood, $5,000: Presentation of Fast Fashun an installation exploring ethical fashion. The installation is a collaboration by artists Tenfingerz and Sebastian Berto.
Zoe Croggon, Yarraville, $8,000: Support to attend a two-month visual arts residency at Varda Artists Residency in San Francisco, USA.
Dr Tal Fitzpatrick, Windsor, $10,000: To support Crafting the Next Wave of Resistance, a series of community textile banner-making workshops.
Flinders Quartet Inc, Docklands, $21,000: Development, performance and recording of three new works by First Peoples composer, Deborah Cheetham AO; political commentator, Katy Abbott; and emerging composer, Ella Macens. The project marks the quartet’s 20th year and will include mentoring for emerging composers.
Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park, $16,600: Presentation of Circus Showdown, a professional development opportunity for emerging circus and physical theatre artists to work with, and learn from, experienced circus professionals, culminating in a series of performances at Gasworks.
Gusher, Brunswick East, $15,000: Publication of the fourth issue of Gusher, a print music magazine written and created entirely by women and non-binary people.
Miranda Hill, Fitzroy, $32,878: Presentation of Homophonic!, a concert of new classical music written by queer composers that will tour to a series of regional pride festivals throughout Victoria.
Kill Your Darlings Pty Ltd, Footscray, $28,110: Presentation of a year-long program of activity by Kill Your Darlings, including an online publication, podcasts and in-person events.
Kyneton Contemporary Inc, Kyneton, $38,000: Development and presentation of Kyneton Contemporary Art Triennial 2021 which will showcase diverse artists and their works, across a range of venues in Kyneton, Victoria.
La Mama Inc on behalf of Sarah Kriegler, Brunswick East, $35,000: Development and presentation of The Melbourne Festival of Puppetry 2020, a six-day event held across La Mama Courthouse and Trades Hall during the 2020 July school holidays. The event includes puppet works for children by day and an adult program by night.
Sofie Laguna, Research, $15,000: Completion of Infinite Splendours, a character-driven novel telling the story of Lawrence Loman, a man profoundly damaged in childhood.
Jamie Marina Lau, Nunawading, $19,000: Development of the novel Gunk Baby exploring the writer’s upbringing through the story of Leen and her new massage business in a local shopping centre.
Larissa Linnell and Eva Abbinga, Northcote, $19,999: Creative development of Shroud of Remembrance, a community artwork recognising women affected by violence, to be presented at a arts festival in 2020.
LIMINAL, Brunswick West, $78,600: Delivery of Liminal Magazine, a magazine that profiles and supports emerging and established Asian-Australian creative practitioners. Funding will enable two years of the online publication, the annual print publication, and a chapter book series.
Multicultural Arts Victoria Inc on behalf of Victoria Chiu, Northcote, $22,000: Final development and premiere season of What Happened In Shanghai, a contemporary dance production with live music and video art, by choreographer Victoria Chiu and artists from Australia and China.
Kevin Murray, Brunswick, $10,150: Creative development and presentation of Mohabbat – Objects of Love, an issue of Garland magazine focused on the creative practice of southern India, to be published in March 2020.
Music in Exile, Thornbury, $30,000: Support of Music in Exile, an organisation that supports culturally and linguistically diverse artists, to connect five artists from their program with other contemporary musicians to explore and develop a range of musical styles and new collaborative works.
Christine Mwaturura, Hawthorn, $12,385: Development of Single Black Female The Podcast, a comedy-drama exploring themes of immigration, race, culture, socio-economic privilege and female sexuality.
Photo Australia Ltd. on behalf of Hoda Afshar, Richmond, $19,400: Presentation of Whistleblowing as truth telling, a photography, video and sound work exploring the relationship between truth and censorship, by visual artist Hoda Afshar to be presented at a photography festival in 2020.
Print Council of Australia Inc., Fitzroy, $21,000: Development of Superpowers, a series of artworks and essays exploring energy that will be created by pairing four artists and four writers. Essays will be published in art journal Imprint, and artworks will be shown in local and interstate exhibitions. The group includes First Peoples artists and culturally and linguistically diverse artists.
Sister Sessions, Richmond, $8,965: Presentation of Sister Sessions Volume 6 – My Style Showcase, a program facilitating mentorships and studio space for female dancers, as well as costumes and support from lighting and staging technicians that will culminate in a showcase of performances.
Adam Simmons, Northcote, $23,215: For composer Adam Simmons to present his jazz work Wu Xing – The Five Elements in Tianjin and Shanghai, China. The performance is inspired by Chinese philosophy, composed by Adam and performed by jazz trio Origami with special guests Wang Zheng-Ting, Pete Lawler and Sean Healy.
South Gippsland Shire Council, Leongatha, $120,000: A two-year program of professional development, creation and presentation of works by ‘(it’s no) drama’, an inclusive theatre group involving people with and without disability.
Dr.Priya Srinivasan, Keysborough, $18,770: Development of S3, an intercultural dance and theatre work exploring stories of three kinds of women through the ages, referencing mythical, historical and contemporary stories.
TarraWarra Museum of Art, Healesville, $59,557: Creative development and presentation of The TarraWarra Biennial 2020 – Last Glimpse of the Land, including a public program that will feature seven Victorian artists and one Victorian-based artist collective.
TCB art inc., Brunswick, $62,000: To support TCB Art Inc, an artist-run gallery space that showcases and supports experimental work from emerging and established Victorian artists, to develop a two-year program in 2020 and 2021.
Centre for Projection Art Inc, Fitzroy, $36,000: Creative development of a residency and mentorship program for emerging artists at the Centre for Projection Art in 2020.
The Pulse, Geelong, $20,000: Presentation of Market Street Studios, a pilot project using music and hip hop to empower young people from diverse backgrounds to create original works in Geelong. The program includes mentoring, writing workshops, access to recording facilities plus technical guidance.
University of Melbourne on behalf of Chris Kohn, Rosanna, $60,000: For rehearsal and presentation of the world premiere season of the theatre work La Belle Epoque at Arts Centre Melbourne in 2020.
Darrin Verhagen, Ferntree Gully, $5,150: Creative development of Our Stories, a suite of recorded audio stories for residents in aged care, featuring music and vivid narrative intended to activate memory and imagination. Designed by composer Darrin Verhagen and performance artist Moira Finucane.
