Grant opportunities for creative communities

Wollongong City Council is offering event organisers, community bands, choirs and community arts organisations the chance to apply for financial support towards their next project.

Under Council’s Financial Assistance policy, community members may apply for funding to support events and projects that benefit the community. The grants on offer to the community are small cultural grants, sponsorship of community events, and contribution to bands and choirs.

“These grants have a broader impact than simply providing financial assistance to an event,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“These grants help bring communities and new people together that perhaps would never have had the opportunity to otherwise collaborate. It’s exciting to be able to offer these grants to our community once again, and I encourage people to consider whether an event that’s in the planning might benefit from financial support from Council.’’

The small cultural grants are relevant to a broad range of activities that aim to enliven our city, build our creative industries and encourage people to get involved. This includes activities like music, performing arts, visual arts and craft, and cultural projects which will fall under one of the following three categories: Community Cultural Development Projects; Professional Development, Marketing and Minor Capital Acquisitions; and New Initiatives.

The contribution to bands and choirs grant is open to not-for-profit bands or choirs that are based in, and operate in, the Wollongong City Council area and perform at public events. The sponsorship of community events is a broader category that each year supports events like community celebrations, cultural gatherings and state or national sporting events. This program aims to encourage a wider range of events in our city, particularly those that bring social and economic benefits to the local area.

In addition, support grants are now available from Wollongong City Council’s Wollongong Heritage Fund for those who own a property that has a local heritage listing. This program encourages conservation projects in heritage places and helps to conserve items that have local cultural significance.

These four programs are accepting applications until 31 March 2020.

Furthermore, applications for NAIDOC week grants are open until 8 May 2020 which provides small grants for not-for-profit groups holding community events during NAIDOC week.

Cr Bradbery said that is imperative that we support our community in developing an array of events that people can enjoy and participate in, and also give back to our community.

“We have a number of programs to help individuals or groups with financial or in-kind support. It’s our aim to support our community, so that everyone has the chance to experience a diverse range of activities,’’ he said.

“Such events often inspire others to try something new which is where the real value in supporting a variety of community events becomes apparent.’’

Listed below are the most recent grant recipients for these areas:

Sponsorship of Community Event recipient

• Walk for Brain Cancer
• Rainbow Run
• Mountain to Mountain Challenge

Contribution to Bands and Choirs

• Wollongong Harmony Chorus
• Sing Australia
• City of Wollongong Brass Band.

Small Cultural Grants

• Wollongong Writers Festival
• Circus Monoxide
• The Rainbow Underground

For more information and to apply for any of these grants go to Grants and Sponsorships on Council’s website.