The Creative Projects Fund supports projects led by Victorian professional artists, creative practitioners, groups/collectives and creative micro to small organisations which can include projects collaborating with creative and non-creative personnel (such as technicians, publicists etc).

Funding can be used to:

• Develop new creative content, products, or experiences and/or
• Present/launch creative content, products or experiences to local, national, and international markets and audiences.

What funding is available?

The 2023/24 round of the Creative Projects Fund is now closed.

We accept requests for funding ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.

Accessibility costs

If you are applying for the Deaf and Disabled stream, you can apply for general project costs, plus up to $3,000 to cover any specific costs that will help improve accessibility involved in the project.  Refer to the Guidelines for further information.

Who can apply?

This program accepts applications from the following Victorian based creative practitioners that meet Creative Victoria’s general eligibility and the following program eligibility:

• You are an individual and/or collective/group or micro to small organisation.
• You have an active ABN. If you do not have ABN, you can apply for ABN online or apply for the grant through an auspice body with an ABN.
• If you’re a collective that isn’t legally constituted, you must outline a confirmed auspice arrangement
• Unincorporated associations without an active ABN will need to either apply under auspice, or have an individual apply on behalf of the group.
• We only accept one application per applicant (including under auspice. Auspice organisations may apply on behalf of multiple applicants.)

The primary focus of your proposal must include Victorian professional artists, creative practitioners, collectives, groups or organisations AND a creative project that addresses the program’s outcomes.

• We encourage applications from across creative industries, including but not limited to cabaret, circus, contemporary dance, design, digital games, fashion, literature, multidisciplinary and experimental work, music, physical performance, screen, sound art, theatre, visual arts and craft.

This program has three streams:

• First Peoples creatives stream
  Applications led by Victorian First Peoples creatives will be assessed in alignment with Aboriginal self-determination by an assessment panel of First Peoples creative industries peers.
• Deaf and Disabled creatives stream
  Applications led by Victorian Deaf and Disabled creatives can choose to be assessed by either a mixed panel of creative industries peers with lived experience of deafness and disability (the Deaf and/or Disabled panel), the First Peoples assessment panel or a creative discipline peer assessment panel.
• General stream
  All other applications will be assessed by specific creative industries peers depending on the creative discipline assessment panel chosen.

Please note:

• Applications from non-First Peoples creative entities that contain First Peoples activity may also be reviewed by a First Peoples panel to ensure cultural protocols are demonstrated in the applications.
• If you are eligible to apply to more than one stream (for example, First Peoples and Deaf and Disabled), please speak to program staff about which stream you are choosing to apply through, and which assessment panel you would like your application reviewed by.

Key dates

Applications for this program are now CLOSED.

Round opened: Thursday, 7 December 2023

Round closed: 3pm, Thursday, 1 February 2024

It takes approximately 12 weeks from the closing date until the funding results are available.

How can I apply?

Applications closed at 3pm on Thursday 1 February 2024.

Watch Creative Victoria staff’s top 10 tips for applying on Vimeo here.

To  view saved or submitted applications, please log directly into the DJSIR Grants Portal.

Find general information on using the grants portal, including how to register and FAQs about the portal.

Need some help with your budget?

Creative Victoria staff have put together this handy video, walking you through how to fill out the budget and answering some budget related frequently asked questions.

Applicant drop-in sessions

Creative Projects Fund: Applicant drop-in session from Creative Victoria on Vimeo.

Guidelines and tools

After you apply

Once you submit your application on the Online Grants Portal you'll receive an email acknowledgement.

You'll be notified by email of the outcome approximately 12 weeks after the published closing date.

See Information for applicants.

Successful applications

If your funding application is successful, you'll receive a funding agreement outlining the conditions for funding, payment information and reporting requirements.

See Information for current recipients.

Notification of funding outcomes

There is a high level of demand for Creative Victoria funding, so we recommend that you plan for contingencies if your application is unsuccessful (e.g., other funding sources). Please don't make commitments based on the assumption that you'll receive funding until you've received written confirmation of your final funding outcome.

Funding recommendations are subject to approval by the Minister for Creative Industires. Feedback on your application is provided at Creative Victoria's discretion and may not be available when you receive notification of your funding outcome.

Payment of Grants

Program funding payments are conditional on you meeting your obligations under your Funding Agreement with the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, including fulfilling any payment milestone outcomes or deliverables set out in the Funding Agreement.