Arts and Culture grants

The Arts and Cultural Annual Grants program reflects the City of Stonnington's vision to be vibrant, imaginative and creative. Spanning a broad range of art forms and practices, this grant supports inclusive, innovative, engaging, empowering, resilient and environmentally friendly projects.

Collectively, these place value on the importance of our creativity and cultural identity and strengthen the social, community and economic development of the City of Stonnington.

For more information, view our Arts and Cultural Grants Program Policy(PDF, 641KB).

Grant purpose

The City of Stonnington Arts and Cultural Grants:

  • provide one year of funding or in-kind support for arts organisations, cultural organisations, community groups, emerging artists, and established artists to deliver appealing and contemporary cultural and creative projects
  • connect communities through equitable, inclusive and accessible creative arts practice, activity, participation, location and attraction
  • embrace and support the knowledge, experience and cultures of different groups, including First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people living with disability, and LGBTIQA+ people
  • raise the profile of arts and cultural activity throughout Stonnington
  • recognise the importance of utilising environmentally sustainable practice at project development and delivery stages
  • promote the City of Stonnington as an exciting, attractive, safe, bold, and desired creative destination for community residents and those outside the boundaries
  • support arts organisations, cultural organisations, individuals, and groups to sustainably grow and succeed
  • encourage shared connections and networking between members of the local arts and culture ecosystem
  • support promotion and celebration of arts and cultural programs with a wide audience
  • evaluate the outcomes and impacts that creative arts and cultural projects have at personal, social, and economic levels.

Grant applications and guidelines

Applications for the 2025-26 Arts and Culture Grants are now closed. 

Later applications cannot be accepted or assessed. 

Triennial

The Triennial Grant program will not be available for 2025/26. You’re welcome to apply for the other categories that are available.

Over $20,000 grant

The Arts and Cultural Annual Grants program (Over $20,000) reflects the City of Stonnington's vision to be vibrant, imaginative and creative. Spanning a broad range of art forms and practices this grant supports inclusive, innovative, engaging, empowering, resilient and environmentally friendly projects.

Collectively these place value on the importance of our creativity and cultural identity and strengthens the social, community and economic development of the City of Stonnington.

For more information please view the Annual Arts and Cultural Grant Guidelines - Over $20,000(PDF, 493KB)

Apply now

Up to $20,000 grant

The Arts and Cultural Annual Grants program (up to $20,000) reflects the City of Stonnington's vision to be vibrant, imaginative and creative. Spanning a broad range of art forms and practices this grant supports inclusive, innovative, engaging, empowering, resilient and environmentally friendly projects.

Collectively these place value on the importance of our creativity and cultural identity and strengthens the social, community and economic development of the City of Stonnington.

For more information, please view the Annual Arts and Cultural Grant Guidelines up to $20,000(PDF, 396KB)

Apply now

Chapel Off Chapel Venue In Kind

The Arts and Cultural Annual Grants program (Chapel Off Chapel Venue In-Kind) reflects the City of Stonnington's vision to be vibrant, imaginative and creative. Spanning a broad range of art forms and practices, this grant supports inclusive, innovative, engaging, empowering, resilient and environmentally friendly projects.

Collectively, these place value on the importance of our creativity and cultural identity and strengthens the social, community and economic development of the City of Stonnington.

For more information please view the Annual Arts and Cultural Grant Guidelines - Chapel Off Chapel Venue In Kind(PDF, 263KB)

Apply now

Venue In Kind

The Arts and Cultural Annual Grants program (Venue In-Kind) reflects the City of Stonnington's vision to be vibrant, imaginative and creative. Spanning a broad range of art forms and practices, this grant supports inclusive, innovative, engaging, empowering, resilient and environmentally friendly projects.

Collectively, these place value on the importance of our creativity and cultural identity and strengthens the social, community and economic development of the City of Stonnington.

For more information view the Annual Arts and Cultural Grant Guidelines - Venue In Kind(PDF, 264KB)

Apply now

Have any unanswered questions? Find information about auspices, funding, project changes, marketing support, public liability insurance, event permits and more on our Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Assessment process

Applications are assessed against grant criteria by a panel of internal and external arts industry professionals who shortlist recommendations for Council.

Success rests on the merits of the application against the assessment criteria and competition with other applications. In some cases, the panel will recommend part-funding of an amount less than requested based on the application and supporting documents.

All applicants have been notified in writing of the success of their application, following Council endorsement in August 2025.

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a contract agreement with the City of Stonnington Grant Policy.

Assessment criteria

Applications are assessed on a weighted average scoring system.

Theme Criteria (what we are looking for) Weighting (%)
Artistic merit
  • Extent to which the project's purpose, artistic approach, and desired outcomes are clearly described.
  • Extent to which the project embraces and celebrates innovation, originality, high standards, lessons learned, accessibility, social differences, and equity.
  • Demonstrates previous or emerging strengths in arts and cultural ability and achievements and engagement with relevant artists. This includes the submission of support letters and relevant artistic support material.
 30
Capacity and viability
  • Shows strong financial and operational management planning, through the provision of a realistic budget (including other sources of income and reasonable artist fees), project timeline plan and marketing plan.
  • Shows planned resource and support confirmation, through details of tentative venue booking(s), contingency planning, project collaborator(s) if required (e.g. artists, partners) and public liability insurance.
 20
Community engagement and reach
  • Extent to which the project will enhance social cohesion, wellbeing, and a sense of inclusion through participation and/or attendance by members of diverse communities.
  • Extent to which the project event is likely to attract attendance from local community members, state-wide and/or national audiences.
 20
Benefit and value
  • Demonstrates the project will be respectful of environmental sustainability.
  • Extent to which economic returns on investment are possible, through partnerships with local businesses.
  • Extent to which the project may lead to potential career advancement, skill development and/or creative practitioner network development.
 20
Alignment with Council Plans and Values Shows alignment with the City of Stonnington Council Plan. 10

Successful grant recipients 2025-2026

Grant recipients will develop work across a diverse range of art forms that will increase the art experiences for the community. Their work will contribute to the City's cultural vibrancy while sustaining our local arts and cultural profile.

A total of 8 applications were endorsed by Council. The successful recipients were awarded support from the $148,000 total pool of funds across the 5 grant categories:

  • $52,814 committed to ongoing Arts and Culture Triennial Grant applications
  • $54,202 awarded to Arts and Culture Over $20,000 Grant applications
  • $20,284 awarded to Arts and Culture Up to $20,000 Grant applications
  • $14,600 awarded to Arts and Culture Chapel Off Chapel Venue in Kind Grant applications
  • $6,100 awarded to Arts and Culture Venue Hire in Kind Grant applications.

Triennial

Applicant Project Funding
Duldig Studio Museum & Sculpture Garden Making a Difference - Inspiring Creative Journeys Part
Firestation Print Studio PrintClub & Studio Outreach Workshops Full

Over $20,000

Applicant Project Funding
NotFair Art Foundation NotFair Art Fair 2025 Part
Melbourne Shakespeare Inc Plays in the Park 2026 Part
Stonnington Symphony Stonnington Symphony Sunday Series 2025 - 2026 and 2026 Classics Kids Part

Up to $20,000

Applicant Project Funding
Guillym Davenport Hurricane - Short Film Part
Melbourne Writers Festival Melbourne Writers Festival events at Vision Australia Library Part

Chapel Off Chapel Venue In-Kind

Applicant Project Funding
Australian Tap Dance Festival 2025 Australian Tap Dance Festival Full
Michael Ward The Haunting of Spook Mansion (By Ghosts) - a new play Full

Venue In-Kind

Applicant Project Funding
Heirlume Productions Sweet Charity (Musical) Part
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