Image (above). Studio Arc dance students
Photographer: Jett Leduc.
2023/4 Creative Inspiration Grant recipient - Paula Maki (Meraki Minds)
Photographer: Love Drum.
Creative Inspiration Grant
The City of Ballarat is pleased to relaunch the Creative Inspiration Grant.
The new Creative Inspiration Grant is valued at $45,000 annually and will provide nine (9) successful applicants funding of $5,000 each (excluding GST).
The value of the Creative Inspiration Grant has increased from $1,000 to $5,000 for each successful recipient. The overall pool of funds has increased from $30,000 to $45,000 in the 2024/5 financial year. The new Creative Inspiration Grant will have one round in each financial year.
The Creative Inspiration Grant is designed to provide suitable financial support to artists, creatives, producers, performers, creative industries, makers and artisans who are living, working or studying in the City of Ballarat.
The intent of the Creative Inspiration Grant is designed to ‘nurture the spark of creativity’ which is one of the central themes of the Creative City Strategy. It aims to support new creative initiatives, projects, events and creative practices taking place within the City of Ballarat municipality.
Past recipients have produced live music events showcasing local music acts and created the beginnings of new theatre performances. Artists have created new exhibitions, funded new jewellery lines, creative workshops for the wider Ballarat community to participate in. How can $5,000 support your new project or creative business?
The 2024/25 funding round closes on the 10pm, Sunday 1 June 2025.
who can apply?
To be eligible to apply you must meet all of the following criteria:
• Live, work or study in the Ballarat municipality.
• Be incorporated or auspiced by an incorporated organisation*.
• Have your activities take place within the City of Ballarat.
• Comply with the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 and the Victorian Child Safe Standards, which align with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
Funding priorities
The Creative Inspiration Grant is designed to support new creative and cultural works, projects, initiatives or activities. Preference is given to those initiatives which are delivered within the Ballarat municipality.
It is open to all art sectors including visual arts, creative installations, public art, performing arts, theatre, dance, music, literature, film, digital work, photography, sculpture, craft and design.
Applicants can be emerging artists, mid-career or professional artists.
Grant application tips
Here are a few tips to support your Creative Inspiration Grant application:
Read the application carefully and complete all required information.
Be clear and concise. Avoid jargon. Just tell us what you need!
Provide evidence that you can achieve what you are asking to have funded.
Provide support documentation in your application. Include letters of support for your project, share the quotes for your expenses and provide examples of your previous work.
Make sure you submit it on time!
The Creative Inspiration Grant logo has been designed by Matt Brown of Tako Design