The Victorian Government is investing in 81 diverse creative organisations across the state, powering our renowned creative scene, and ensuring Victorians have access to the best creative opportunities, experiences and events.
The program provides funding over 2-4 years to creative organisations that show leadership in the creative industries and deliver significant social, economic and cultural benefits to the state.
In line with the Victorian Government’s newly released Creative State 2028 strategy, the latest cohort of organisations includes a focus on amplifying First Peoples storytelling and creative practice, creative opportunities for young people, and making creative experiences more equitable and inclusive for Victorians from a range of backgrounds.
Ten organisations will enter the program for the first time including First Peoples film festival Birrarangga, Kids Own Publishing - a publishing house for work by kids for kids, and Warrnambool’s Find Your Voice Collective, an inclusive arts organisation that engages people of all ages and all abilities in creative experiences.
Eight First Peoples led organisations have received investment including contemporary art gallery Black Dot Gallery, Agency Projects, Baluk Arts, Koorie Heritage Trust and The Torch which delivers visual arts programs and cultural support to First Peoples people currently in, or recently released, from Victorian prisons.
The funded organisations span the state with 17 regionally based recipients including Shepparton’s Kaiela Arts, Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, Arts Mildura, Castlemaine live arts organisation Punctum, East Gippsland Art Gallery and Wodonga’s Hothouse Theatre.
The government is investing in a range of organisations that create work for and with young people, including Footscray hip hop dance collective L2R Next Gen Inc, Western Edge, Polyglot Theatre, Bendigo-based Arena Theatre and youth music organisation The Push.
The program is backing Victoria’s calendar of creative festivals and events, including Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne Fringe, Shepparton Festival, Melbourne Writers Festival and Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
Industry peak bodies such as Arts Access Victoria, Music Victoria, Multicultural Arts Victoria and Regional Arts Victoria are also receiving support to continue their important work to strengthen Victoria’s creative sector.
For more information and the full list of recipients here.