Creativity drives culture

The Greater Geelong community values

The contribution of the arts to community vibrancy, diversity, and inclusiveness;
Spaces that support and celebrate local artists through public exhibitions;
Modern facilities that allow the region to host world-class events;
Start-ups and innovation;
Involvement with local art, music, heritage, contemporary culture and Wadawarrung culture;
Preserving our heritage and encouraging creative design.

Success will be achieved by

Investment in a diverse range of local community festivals and events;
Development of creative industries and a culture of thinking outside-the-square;
Attracting creatively oriented and artistic industries to the region;
Creative re-use of heritage assets.

Latest project

Creative Seed Grants

Grants to support artists and creatives to initiate, explore or activate new ideas or new approaches to their work.

What's changed?

This grant is available to applicants whose primary practice is within the arts, creative and cultural sector.

Key dates

This grant is now closed.

Grant guidelines

Of the three Creative City Grants (Creative Seed, Arts Projects, or Creative Commissions), you may submit only one application per financial year. This means you’ll need to choose the grant that best fits your creative proposal, as multiple applications across these three categories are not permitted within the same year.

To confirm the eligibility of your organisation and activity, please read the grant guidelines before applying.

2025-26 Creative Seed Grants Guidelines 653 KB | DOCX

2025-26 Creative Seed Grants Guidelines 428 KB | pdf

Who can apply?

This grant is available to applicants whose primary practice is within the arts, creative and cultural sector.

To apply for this grant, you must be a resident or operator within the City of Greater Geelong and one of the following:

incorporated not-for-profit organisation
unincorporated group with an auspice
registered charitable organisation
business
individuals operating as sole traders (with an active ABN)

What can you apply for?

Projects designed to spark innovation and encourage fresh thinking and seed early-stage concepts with strong potential to grow, influence, or create meaningful impact.

Activities may include visual arts and craft, music, performing arts, literature and writing, design, screen and media, digital media and creative technology, cultural heritage and collections, community arts and cultural development.

How much can you apply for?

There is a total grant pool of $25,000 available.

Applicants may ask up to $2,500.

How to apply

Read the grant guidelines.
Check you are an eligible applicant.
Check your activity is eligible.
Get in touch with us - please discuss your activity with us before applying.
[email protected] or phone 03 5272 5560
Collate your supporting documents.
Answer the questions in the application form.
Don't forget to hit the submit button.

We recommend you click Save Progress every 10 to 15 minutes when you are filling out a form. If you leave your computer idle for 20 minutes without saving your work, and then return, the session duration may have ended (or been timed-out).

2025-26 Arts Projects, Creative Commissions and Creative Seed Grants Information Session

On 7 August the 2025, the Arts Projects, Creative Commissions and Creative Seed Grants Information Session was held.
Here is the presentation.

Creative City Grants 2025-26 665 KB | pdf