Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks announced more than $1.5 million in grants to support 115 diverse projects spanning design, dance, literature, film, fashion, visual arts and music, which will create more than 1000 job opportunities for Victorians.
The Creative Projects Fund supports Victorian artists, creative collectives and small businesses to bring their projects to life.
Grants back the development of new creative work, projects that drive innovation, professional development and career-making opportunities, and initiatives to reach new audiences and markets.
To increase equity of access to these opportunities and ensure projects reflect the diversity of Victorians, the latest round of the program included streams for First Peoples, creatives who are deaf or have disability, and a separate focus area for creatives who have not previously received Creative Victoria funding.
One third of the recipients are based in regional or outer-metropolitan areas.
Funded projects include an app sharing First Peoples stories and soundscapes through a walking tour of Shepparton and storytelling and digital media workshops to equip young people with skills for creative careers.
A Diversity Writers Room will develop the skills of emerging screenwriters from under-represented cultural backgrounds, providing practical experience and developing an original screen project, while a new residency program will provide a platform for artists and writers with complex mental health conditions.
Funded projects are also set to drive innovation and sustainability in sectors such as retail, fashion and textiles.
From the development of a modular, relocatable retail fit-out prototype to a fashion swatch library that combines tactile samples with QR-coded digital resources.
The grants will also support new works of literature, fashion collections, an array of theatre, dance, music and theatre productions, exhibitions and creative experiences designed for children.
Mr Brooks said the state’s creative economy provided employment to more than 327,000 workers – from performers and producers to designers, editors, technicians and beyond. Behind every worker is a family – and that’s why we’re backing the people who power our creative state.
“The Creative Projects Fund is part of our work to back the careers of local artists and creative workers, foster new ideas and voices, and bring diverse creative opportunities to Victorians of all ages, across the state,“ Mr Brooks said.
“Victoria is home to so many incredible artists, designers, filmmakers, writers, performers and many other creatives, whose talent, persistence and hard work fuel our creative industries and our vibrant cultural life
For more information, visit creative.vic.gov.au
