Melton artists and creatives are invited to apply to the Allan Labor Government’s Creative Projects Fund.

The program supports independent artists and creative workers to build their skills and careers, develop new creative work and experiences, and take them to local, national or international audiences and markets.

Grants of $5000 to $20,000 are available to Victorian professional artists, creative practitioners, collectives, groups and organisations working in all creative disciplines – from design to dance, fashion to film, theatre, augmented and virtual technologies, visual art, music, literature and more.

In 2022, the first round of the program supported more than 100 creative projects statewide which have collectively employed 896 individuals – including providing an important boost to creative professionals in early stages of their careers.

These projects included a film by author and filmmaker Santilla Chingaipe; a children’s apparel line celebrating Indigenous Pride by Haus of Dizzy; and a new theatre work by (it’s no) drama, a South Gippsland-based theatre group for people with and without disability.

The Fund aims to support a wide range of ideas and perspectives, reflecting the diversity of the creative industries and Victoria’s wider community. It includes dedicated streams for First Peoples and Deaf and Disabled applicants.

Applications are also encouraged from culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTIQA+ and regionally based creatives.

The Creative Projects Fund invests in the creative people and ideas that fuel the state’s $38.4 billion creative industries, and is an action of the Victorian Government’s Creative State 2025 strategy.

Applications for the General, Deaf and Disabled and First Peoples streams open on Thursday 7 December 2023 and will close at 3pm on Thursday 1 February 2024. For more information or to apply, visit creative.vic.gov.au/funding-opportunities.

Quotes attributable to Member for Melton Steve McGhie

“The Creative Projects Fund helps professional artists and small creative businesses to develop new work, bringing their ideas to life.”

“Through this fund, we are backing our local talent, and helping to take Melton’s stories and creativity to audiences and markets across the state and around the globe.”