Applicants that reflect creativity, inclusion, sustainability, knowledge and economic prosperity are encouraged to apply.
Grants and sponsorships help recipients to deliver quality programs, events, products and services which are of great benefit to Melbourne and Melburnians alike and which bring a wide range of environmental, social and economic returns to the city.
What types of grants are available?
Organisations running arts projects, events and festivals are eligible to apply for a range of grants and sponsorships. Individuals can also apply for arts grants.
Grant programs include:
- Aboriginal Arts Grants
- Annual Arts Grants and Residencies
- Business Events Sponsorship Program
- Community funding and grants
- Event Partnership Program
- Multi-year Arts Grants Program
- Quick Response Arts Grants
For more information, see
Funding for business, social enterprises and microbusinesses is available through:
- Small Business Grants
- Social Enterprise Grants
- Business Events Sponsorship
- Precinct Business Association Program
For more information, see Business grants and sponsorships.
Businesses may also be eligible for other City of Melbourne grants and sponsorships through arts funding opportunities , grants for events and festivals or community funding and grants.
Grants for community organisations, including sport and recreation grants:
- Aboriginal Community Grants
- Community Events Grants
- Community Inclusion Grants
- Community Meals Subsidy Program
- Connected Neighbourhood Small Grants
- Inclusive Sport and Recreation Grants
- Operational Support Grants
- Social Investment Partnership Grants
- The Couch – International Student Centre
*Through a negotiated agreement, the City of Melbourne is funding the Salvation Army 614 $180,000 during 2024-2025, to deliver The Couch – International Student Centre.
For more information, see Community funding and grants.
| Grants or sponsorship type | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Aboriginal Arts Grants | Funding of Aboriginal arts projects, supporting developments and activities taking place in the City of Melbourne within the calendar year. |
| Aboriginal Creative Residency | The residency at Boyd studios provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander artists with a valuable opportunity to spend time researching, experimenting, developing and creating new work. |
| Aboriginal Community Grants | Community-led projects that promote community connection, cultural and social inclusion, access and participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. |
| Annual Arts Grants and Residencies | Funding of arts projects, arts residencies, supporting developments and activities taking place in the City of Melbourne within the calendar year. |
| Arts Grants - Multi-year Arts Grants Program | Multi-year arts grants provide three year funding for small, medium and large arts organisations. |
| Arts Grants - Quick Response Arts Grants | For artists and small to medium arts organisations across all disciplines who need support to successfully deliver their project to the public or to develop new work. |
| Business Event Sponsorship Program | Business events or conferences held in the City of Melbourne municipality that promote Melbourne as a destination. |
| Community Cool Places Grants | Funding for the operation of facilities designed to keep communities cool during times of extreme heat. |
| Community Events Grants | Grants of up to $10,000 to support local events that benefit the community through encouraging connection and belonging. |
| Community Inclusion Grants | Support for not-for-profit organisations to run projects that promote community connection, social inclusion, and access and participation. |
| Community Meals Subsidy Program | Subsidies are available to not-for-profit organisations that support older people to meet and share a meal on a regular basis. |
| Community Use of Town Halls | Allows not-for-profit community organisations to apply for in-kind support for use of the Melbourne Town Hall, North Melbourne Town Hall or the Meat Market in North Melbourne. |
| Connected Neighbourhoods Small Grants | Provide funding for projects that support diverse communities of a particular neighbourhood through increased community connection, access and participation. |
| The Couch – International Student Centre | Negotiated funding with Salvation Army 614 to support international students with a dedicated safe place, access to free cooked meals, volunteering and employment opportunities, and community connection through events and activities. |
| Event Partnership Program | A sponsorship program supports and enables free, accessible and inclusive events that generate unforgettable, captivating, and innovative experiences. |
| Fishermans Bend Innovation Challenge External link | Win $70,000 towards implementing technology idea to benefit communities in Australia’s largest urban renewal project. |
| Heritage Grants Program | Any owner of a building within the heritage overlay located in the City of Melbourne, and planning restoration works that will be visible from the public realm |
| Inclusive Sport and Recreation Grants | Inclusive Sport and Recreation Grants are delivered by the City of Melbourne to provide opportunities for children and young people to participate in community sport and to support individuals participating at an elite level to achieve their sporting goals. |
| Operational Support Grants | Grants for local volunteer-run community organisations that support community connection, social inclusion, access and participation for City of Melbourne residents. |
| Precinct Business Association Program | Annual financial support for recognised precinct trader associations within the City of Melbourne municipality as per guidelines. |
| Signal Screen and Sound Commissions | Signal will commission up to ten young and emerging artists aged 16 to 25 to produce their screen or sound work for highly visible showcase in the city. |
| Small Business Grants | Creative and innovative small businesses currently located or intending to move to the City of Melbourne municipality, including previous applicants. |
| Social Investment Partnership Grants | Funding that supports the development and delivery of projects and programs that provide equitable opportunities that enable, empower and build the capacity of our diverse community. |
| Social Enterprise Grants | Social enterprises currently operating or intending to operate in the City of Melbourne municipality, including previous applicants. |
| Urban Forest Fund | Matched-funding from $10,000 to $500,000 is available to support new greening projects on private property with public benefits, such as tree plantings, biodiversity plantings and green roofs and walls. |
External assessment panel members review, assess and provide objective, independent recommendations to Council in relation to funding for grants and sponsorship programs. Panel members ensure that guidelines and assessment criteria endorsed by Council have been applied consistently and equitably for all applications.
Terms of reference
In 2025 Council endorsed the following external assessment panel members for a term of four years.
- Adam Fawcett
- Alana Kushnir
- Amanda Page
- Amanda Western
- Andrew Atchison
- Andrian Pertout
- Aneke McCulloch
- Anna Nalpantidis
- Anni Hagberg
- Anthony Crowley
- Arlie Alizzi
- Bec Cole
- Ben Juers
- Benjamin Andrews
- Brendan McCleary
- Brent Lukey
- Brett Ashby
- Bronislaw Kozka
- Miss Caitlin Dullard
- Carl Polke
- Carla Gottgens
- Cat Woods
- Catherine Jones
- Charlie Owen
- Chelle Destefano
- Claire Bridge
- Claire Lehmann
- Clare Bartholomew
- Clare McKenzie
- Dale Collier
- Dave Graney
- David Earl Ralph
- David O'Toole
- Derrin Brown
- Dorothy Di Stefano
- Emily Ryan
- Erin Casler
- Eugene Ball
- Freya Waterson
- Freyja Wild
- Gabriela Georges
- Gareth Hart
- Gennet Makonnen
- Geoffrey Lim
- Georgia Ketels
- Guy Blackman
- Hannah Schneider
- Hella Ibrahim
- Ian Paradine
- Jacqueline Felstead
- Jade Armstrong
- James Hewison
- Jamila Djafar Khodja
- Jen Valender
- Jeremy Eaton
- Jessica Row
- Jim Rimmer
- Jingwen (Jina) He
- Joel Stevens
- Joseph Franklin
- Joseph O'Farrell (JOF)
- Josephine Mead
- Julia Powles
- Julie Collins
- Karen Berger
- Kate Lefoe
- Kiat Chen Lau
- Kimberly summer
- Kirsty Hillhouse
- Kristian Chong
- Lilith Lane
- Linda Studena
- Lisa Anderson
- Lisa Stewart
- Luisa Gioffre-Suzuki
- Luke Phillips
- Lyndal Jones
- Lysander Fury
- Madeleine Flynn
- Mamie Bishop
- Mark Pritchard
- Merinda Dias-Jayasinha
- Michelle Wild
- Mike McLeish
- Monique Grbec
- Myf Powell
- navera ari
- Neil Cabatingan
- Nick Batzias
- Nick Pages-Oliver
- Noe Harsel
- Pablo Alvarado
- Penelope Bartlau
- Phaedra Gunn
- Phip Murray
- Pip Grummet
- Polash Larsen
- Rae Howell
- Rashmi Gore
- Richard Jackson
- Rick Bridgman
- Ronny Ferella
- Roslyn Oades
- Roy Mcpherson
- Sacha Hulsebosch
- Samantha Thompson
- Sarah Barton
- Sarah Werkmeister
- Sasha Leong
- Dr Sian Mitchell
- Sophia Cai
- Suhasini Seelin
- Tara Daniel
- Thomas Alexander Middlemost
- Tiara Shafiq
- Valentina Tansley
- Veronica Sullivan
- Victor Griss
- Vincent Alessi
- Viviana Sacchero
- Wendy Jasper
- Alvaro Maz
- Anthony Lam
- David Powell
- Denise Hall
- Francesca O'Brien
- Francesca Valmorbida
- Hiren Savjiyani
- Ishani Chattopadhyay
- Joss Evans
- Liam McFadden
- Martin Bailey
- Pablo Alvarado
- Paul Pellegrino
- Richard Milne
- Ricky Phoon
- Roberto Daniele
- Sophie Krantz
- Tony Fisher
- Wendy Jasper
- Andrea Johannessen
- Bec Carey-Grieve
- Elle Morrell
- Emily Fuller
- Felicity Young
- Gabriela Georges
- Janet Liu
- Jennifer Odgers
- Jez Hunghanfoo
- Karyn Freeman
- Linda Studena
- Lucy Saaroni
- MIRIAM Suss
- Munkhjargal Davaa
- Natasha Ross
- Nevena Spirovska
- Peta Christensen
- Ross Couper-Johnston
- Sam Elkin
- Suhasini Seelin
- Tony Fisher
When applying for a grant, be wary of cold-callers or websites that charge for grant-related services – this assistance is available for free. Visit the ACCC External link for tips on how to protect your business or project.
