City of Ballarat launches Creative Inspiration Grant

The City of Ballarat has launched the Creative Inspiration Grant, a grant-making program for the arts, culture and creative sector to help kickstart or further implement a new idea. 

Specifically designed as seed funding for artists, makers, creatives, producers, performers and artisans, the Creative Inspiration Grant forms part of the City of Ballarat’s Creative City Strategy. 

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said the Creative Inspiration Grant is a first for our municipality.  

“It’s intended as an ongoing grant program providing $1000 to artists, creatives, producers, performers, creative industries, makers and artisans who are living, working or studying in the City of Ballarat,” Cr Moloney said.   

“The City of Ballarat recognises upwards of 20 different sectors, trades and practices as creative industries and practitioners. 

“Ballarat has a highly engaged creative and performing arts sector, based on employment of 2137 ‘creatives’ from 2011 to 2016. The industry has been hard hit by COVID-19, with a high proportion of people employed in the creative sectors reporting a significant loss of confidence in the ability of their practice to survive. 

“Our Creative City Strategy is about supporting tactical thinking and new ideas.  

“The artist or maker who is looking for a footing to get started, or who needs an injection of funding to deal with an obstacle, is a powerhouse of energy. We want to support that energy and this grant program will help us do that.” 

The City of Ballarat is partnering with Regional Arts Victoria who will administer the grants process and help assess and evaluate three grant rounds in 2021 and 2022. 

Regional Arts Victoria Regional Partnerships Acting Director Malcolm Sanders said Regional Arts Victoria has had a long relationship with the City of Ballarat and is excited to be working together to deliver this important new grant program for local artists.  

“There is no shortage of great creative ideas in the city, and I have no doubt these new financial opportunities will help spark some brilliant new work,” Mr Sanders said. 

The inaugural round for the Creative Inspiration Grant opens on 1 November. Further information can be found at creativeballarat.com.au.