The Victorian Government has announced the 2025-26 State Budget, find out what’s in it for the creative industries.
Announced on 20 May, the 2025-26 Victorian Budget continues the Victorian Government’s track record of investment in the creative industries, with initiatives totalling $552.2 million. This investment will predominantly roll out over the next four years.
Funded initiatives include:
- $475.3 million over 5 years to support the operations of Victoria’s iconic public creative and cultural institutions - including Arts Centre Melbourne, Museums Victoria, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Recital Centre, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Geelong Arts Centre and State Library Victoria. This initiative increases the base funding for these institutions, providing them certainty over the next four years, while continuing to offer Victorians the experiences they love and providing world-class venues and opportunities for local artists.
- $50.2 million over 2 years to back Victoria’s screen industry, including through the Victorian Screen Rebate and the Victorian Production Fund which help to fuel a pipeline of local, national and international projects across film, television and digital games, as well as visual effects, animation and post-production work. Funding is also provided to continue to support screen festivals including the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and the Melbourne International Film Festival’s Bright Horizons Award.
- $17.1 million over 4 years to continue initiatives that support Victoria’s arts and creative industries. This includes investment in First Peoples creative organisations, events and careers, investment in diverse Victorian creative organisations, and in touring and other creative activity in regional and outer suburban communities. This initiative also provides funding for Melbourne International Games Week which is now established as the leading event of its kind in the Asia Pacific and an important platform for our local games industry.
- $9.6 million over 2 years to protect and conserve the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building.
These new or renewed initiatives bolster Creative Victoria’s year-round work to support and champion the state’s creative industries.
Find out more about the Victorian Budget 2025-26