By Mayor Tony Stevenson
Every year, we at the council have the pleasure of being able to support community groups and artists across the Yarra Ranges to deliver projects, events and festivals through our Grants for Community program.
The Yarra Ranges is known for its vibrant community and culture, thanks to community-led events and festivals – those that are emerging as well as those well-established, such as the Warburton Film Festival, Belgrave Lantern Parade, and Celebrate Mooroolbark.
Community members involved in these events and festivals know that one of the hardest parts of getting a project off the ground is securing funding, getting certainty that it can all go ahead.
That’s where the council’s grants program comes in.
Community groups and creative individuals can apply for up to $10,000 to deliver projects across community development, festivals and events or arts and heritage, throughout the 2020 calendar year.
This is a platform for local groups, not-for-profit organisations and individuals to lead projects that identify and respond to the aspirations of the community.
We get a fantastic variety of applications each year for festivals, events and community-based programs, and I’m proud that we were able to support many of these with $425,000 in funding this year.
It’s always an extremely competitive program – sadly, we can’t fund every one of the great projects that our selection panel considers – but if you’ve got an idea for making your community a better place, the council wants to hear about it and help make it a reality.
Our Grants for Community Program is open for applications now and closes on 15 July.
We also have our Small Grants Program, which provides up to $1000 in funding or in-kind support for activities that help bring about social inclusion, wellbeing and participation, or that foster community leadership and capacity-building.
Visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/grants for more information and to apply.
