Arts grants

Merri-bek Arts Projects Grant 2027

Merri-bek City Council is proud to support a thriving arts community.  

The Arts Projects Grant enables artists, groups and organisations to develop and deliver innovative projects that benefit the wider Merri-bek community and strengthen the municipality’s reputation as a leading centre for the arts.  

Arts projects can include the development or presentation of creative outcomes across all artforms.  

Grant Objectives

• Sustainable Practice   
  To empower local artists, groups and organisations to thrive and sustain their creative practice.  

• Impact & Cultural Participation   
  To support and encourage artist-led creative projects that foster cultural enrichment and participation in Merri-bek.   
• Artistic Merit  
  To support local artists, groups and organisations to explore new ideas and bring bold, innovative projects to life.  

Grant Categories

There are two grant categories:  

• Individual Artists (up to $6,000)
• Arts Organisations (up to $12,000)

You can only apply under one category. 

Applying for an Arts Projects Grant

Open: Wednesday 5 August, 10:00am

Close: Wednesday 2 September, 11.59pm

Please read the Merri-bek Arts Projects Grant Guidelines (PDF 847Kb)

You need to submit your application via the online portal 

Apply via Smarty Grants.

Application Support

You can contact the Arts Development Officer to discuss your project and grant application:   

Email: artsgrants@merri-bek.vic.gov.au   
Phone: 03 9240 2486 

You can also book a 30-minute meeting with the Arts Development Officer to receive support with your application. These meetings are conducted via Microsoft Teams. 

Make a booking for an online meeting 

Information Session

An online information session will be held on Wednesday 12 August 2026, 6.00pm. 

Book a spot in the online information session 

Grant Writing Workshop

A grant writing workshop to support your application will be held on Thursday 20 August 6.00pm.

Book a spot in the grant writing workshop

Helpful templates and documents

• Example budget template   (XLSX 20Kb)
• Child Safe Standards template  (DOCX 24Kb)

Merri-bek Arts Projects Grant: Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the Merri-bek Arts Projects Grant only for Merri-bek residents?

  Individual artists must live in Merri-bek. Arts organisations must be based in Merri-bek. Groups or collectives can apply if at least one member is based in Merri-bek. You must supply a Merri-bek-based residential or business address in your application.

   

• Can I get a Merri-bek Arts Projects Grant for an activity outside of Merri-bek?

  No. The grant can only fund activities that take place in the Merri-bek Local Government Area.  

• I want to apply for an individual artist grant; do I need to be auspiced?

  No. Individual artists do not need to be auspiced to receive a Merri-bek Arts Projects Grant.

• I want to apply for a grant for an organisation; am I eligible?

  To be eligible, organisations must be not-for-profit incorporated companies or associations, or First Peoples businesses and/or organisations, whose primary output is in the arts. Informal groups or collectives can apply through an auspice organisation.

• I am a for-profit arts organisation; can I apply?

  For-profit arts organisations are not eligible to apply, unless they are First Peoples-owned.

• Do applicants need an ABN?

  Yes. Individual artists must be professional creative practitioners with an ABN. Organisations must have an ABN or apply through an incorporated auspice organisation that has an ABN.

• Do applicants need Public Liability Insurance?

  If your application is successful, you will need to obtain Public Liability Insurance. We recommend including a quote or other evidence that you have sought insurance advice with your application.

• What does it mean to be incorporated?   

  Incorporation gives your group its own legal identity, separate from its members. For more information on incorporation, refer to the following helpful guide:  
  Consumer Affairs Victoria’s guide for clubs and community groups: Should your club incorporate?   

• What is auspicing?

  An auspice organisation takes legal and financial responsibility for the grant on behalf of you or your group. They will sign your grant agreement, receive and distribute funds under the grant agreement, ensure activities or events are completed, and submit accountability and evaluation reports with you and on your behalf. Your group or organisation will still be known as the grant recipient. 

  Important information on auspice organisations:     

  • The auspice organisation you choose must be incorporated and have an ABN.    
  • The auspice organisation accepts legal and financial responsibility for the grant and will need to meet all eligibility criteria and provide Public Liability Insurance coverage for the project(s).  
  • Grant money will be paid to the auspice organisation, not the applicant.    
  • Most auspice organisations will charge a percentage of the grant for this service.    
  • Applicants applying through an auspice organisation need to provide the organisation’s contact details, ABN, most recent financial report, and evidence of the auspice agreement.     
  • You may apply through an auspice organisation if your group does not wish to purchase Public Liability Insurance. In some cases, your project may be covered by a venue’s Public Liability Insurance if the entire activity takes place at that venue. 

• Who could auspice my application?

  You may be able to approach a larger organisation to auspice your grant application. 

  • Auspicious Arts 

  • Local neighbourhood houses: Merri-Bek Neighbourhood Houses

  • An incorporated community organisation you have worked or partnered with.     

  • A peak body or governing association for your field (e.g. Arts Access Victoria) 
• Do I need other sources of income for my project?

  Yes. Your project budget must show other income sources, such as in-kind support, personal contributions, estimated sales income, or other grants, and demonstrate why you need this grant.

• What is in-kind support?

  In-kind support is non-cash support that helps cover project costs, such as donated catering or equipment. Volunteer hours can be included and should be calculated at $25 per hour.

• Can I apply for more than one grant from Merri-bek Council?

  A specific project can only receive one Merri-bek Council grant. However, arts organisations running different projects may apply for different grants for separate activities. For example, an arts studio may receive a Merri-bek Arts Projects Grant to produce a catalogue documenting their resident artists and a Merri-bek City Council Community Grant to undertake renovations. 

• Can I apply for other arts grants as well as the Merri-bek Arts Projects Grant?

  Yes. You can apply for non-Council arts grants for the same project, such as grants from Creative Victoria, Creative Australia, or other funding bodies.  

  In your Merri-bek Arts Projects Grant application, your budget must show why you need this grant. If you are waiting to hear about other grant applications, you must also show that your project can still go ahead if those applications are unsuccessful. 

• Can I get help with my online grant application?

  Yes. The Arts Development Officer can discuss your grant proposal and application, as they are not part of the selection process. Please see the Application Support section above.

• Is there an alternative submission format?

  We can accept video applications if you prefer to speak about your proposal, show a PowerPoint presentation or video, or use Auslan or a language interpreter to communicate your proposal. Council can also pay for an Auslan or language interpreter to support you with submitting your application. 

  The SmartyGrants application form includes a section where you can upload a 5 to 10 minute video to answer the four application questions. You can also add videos to the support material URL that you provide in the grant application. 

  However, questions about your contact details, tax status, legal status, and project budget must still be answered in writing. 

  If you have language, technical or access barriers to completing the online form, please contact the Arts Development Officer by emailing artsgrants@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or by phone on 03 9240 2486. 

• What support material do I need to provide?

  You need to provide a website or social media link that documents your work. This can include images, showreels, sound clips, written material, published work, or an online CV. If you have Instagram, then you can include a Linktree in your profile bio.  

  We suggest you provide up to three (3) support letters for your proposal. They can be from other artists and collaborators, or from organisations or venues that have presented your work or are linked to your proposal. You can also attach the following materials in the section called ‘Additional Support Material’:  

  • Images and biography statements of 50 to 100 words for all artists involved in the project 

  • Artist CV, listing your previous creative work  

  • Digital portfolio (as a PDF, keeping the file size manageable)  

  • Detailed budget explaining the project costs in full (make sure this is balanced and matches the budget question in SmartyGrants) 

  • Child Safe Policy or Statement of Commitment to Child Safety (if your project involves children) 
• What are the Child Safe Standards?

  If your project or program will involve children as participants or audience members, you must show that you comply with the Child Safe Standards by uploading your organisation’s Child Safe Policy or Statement of Commitment to Child Safety. Victorian organisations that provide services or facilities for children — meaning anyone under 18 years old — are required by law to comply with the Child Safe Standards to protect children from harm. A Child Safe Standards template for artists and organisations can be accessed here. 

  For further information, refer to the Child Safe Standards. 

• How are successful recipients chosen?

  Council is committed to an equitable and transparent assessment process:  

  1. The Arts Development Officer will assess each application for eligibility. This Officer will be the main contact for questions and assistance while applications are open. Eligible applications will be submitted to a decision-making panel. This Officer will not be on the decision-making panel.   
  2. 2. A panel of at least two (2) Officers from across Council and one (1) external representative will assess the eligible applications against the assessment criteria outlined below. The panel will be chaired by the Unit Manager Arts and Culture. All applications from First Peoples will be assessed by a First Peoples assessor.  
  3. A report from the panel with funding recommendations will be provided to the Director Community for endorsement. 
• When will I know if my grant application is successful?

  We aim to notify all applicants of the outcome by December 2026. Applicants will be notified by email.

For more information you can contact our Arts Development Officer by email at artsgrants@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or phone on 03 9240 2486.

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