Grants for Surf Coast creatives

Lorne textile artist Kim Weibenga used her seed funding to explore a dying technique for her Elizabethan collars, which were exhibited during Melbourne Fashion Week. Photo: SUPPLIED

THE Surf Coast Shire is investing in local creatives through seed funding grants that are open for applications in the new year.

Up to $3,000 for solo artists and $5,000 for collectives is available to those who successfully apply for the DEVELOP grants that open to the public on February 1, 2023.

The Artist and Creatives Grants stream is designed to allow artists from all disciplines to develop new directions in their work and career.

“We understand that thriving depends on the right conditions and the thing that often gets in the way of making great art is artists not having enough money – or time,” Cr Libby Stapleton said.

“The Surf Coast Shire is considered Australia’s fourth-largest regional creative hotspot and we recognise that it’s a significant economic driver for us.”

Council is strongly encouraging First Nations artists and artists from diverse or marginalised groups such as LGBTQIA+ and culturally and linguistically diverse communities to apply and is holding a series of free online and in-person grant workshops during January to assist people with the application process.

“We know there are some really fabulous, well-known artists living here in the shire, as well as equally talented, yet largely undiscovered artists here too,” Cr Stapleton said.

“Now is the time to start thinking about making a submission.”

The seed grants have a successful track record helping local creatives foster their next project; Aireys Inlet novelist Gregory Day used the funding to help write his seventh novel and Winchelsea’s Louise Hall created a print making workshop studio that she opened to the community.

“In all of these cases, this funding has helped support the gestation period that helps bring the best creative ideas to life,” Cr Stapleton said.

Applications for the 2023 Artists and Creative Grants: DEVELOP open on February 1, and close at 5:00 PM on February 28.

For more information about the grant writing workshops and how to apply, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/seedfund