Arts and culture project grants

• Grant round opens 20 July 2026.
• Grant round closes at 11.59pm on 30 August 2026.
• Applicants notified of outcome by late October 2026.
• Grants presentation ceremony on 25 November 2027.
• Projects can start from 1 January 2027.
• Projects must be completed by December 2027.
• Acquittal of grants are due within 2 months of the outcome.

Applicants must:

• have appropriate auspice support (unless you are applying as an incorporated organisation)
• have an ABN, or be willing to complete a statement by supplier
• hold public liability Insurance of up to $20,000,000 at the time of project commencement and throughout
• work, live or provide significant evidence of practice in the Banyule community (individuals), or
• provide support, programs or services to people living in Banyule (groups).

Additional requirements for groups

Applicants must:

• provide a current detailed profit and loss statement or a detailed, current financial statement (bank statements are not appropriate and should not be submitted); and
• be either a legally constituted not for profit entity, a charity or benevolent trust, or a public not-for-profit company.

You can speak to a Council officer if you would like to discuss insurance options.

Applications must be submitted through Smarty Grants. Register and start a new application: you can save and return to your application at any time.

Project submissions will be assessed by a panel made up of 2 artists from the Banyule community and will score applications against 4 criteria. The panel will then recommend or not recommend the project for funding.

Final decisions will then be made by a Council manager based on assessment panel reccomendations.

Criteria

Your project will be assessed on:

• benefit to the Banyule community (25%)
• creative and artistic merit (25%)
• value for money (25%)
• likelihood of success (25%).

Read the grant guidelines for a full breakdown of these criteria, including key prompts.

You will need to report on how your grant funds were used, including:

• benefit to the community;
• benefit to your practice or organisation;
• audience or participant numbers;
• key creative and community outcomes; and
• key learnings for you as an artist or creative practitioner.

To successfully acquit your grant, you must submit receipts for your expenses.