Wyndham Arts Grants 2026

These grants aim to:

• To support the creation of new creative work by local creatives
• To support the research, scoping, and testing of new creative work across the creative sector
• To support the presentation of new creative work in Wyndham
• To support the skills development of local creatives

Examples of support Council may consider funding include, but are not limited to: 

• Research and planning for a new creative work

• Facilitating collaboration between creative partners towards a new work or initiative.

• Development of a community creative participatory work

• Undertake a program of skills development in a creative field

• Engagement of specialist skills to mentor or consult on a new creative work

• Presentation of a new work across any artform in Wyndham City Council area. 

Applications will be assessed against the following key assessment criteria: 

• Meeting Grant eligibility requirements

• Alignment with Grant objectives 

• Articulation of proposed activity and perceived creative merits

• Demonstration of capacity for delivery of the proposed work

Clearly articulated and achievable budget and timeline of activity

Responsibilities of successful applicants

• Develop, deliver, and acquit a creative-led program, project, or practice.
• Sign an agreement, stating desired goals and commitment to work towards agreed outcomes.
• Attend a briefing session with a member of the Arts & Culture Team and regularly report in on activity progress.
• Activities may or may not include some form of public engagement. Applicants may not charge for participation in their activity.
• Provide promotional material to Wyndham Arts and Culture for promotion of any outcomes.
• Acknowledge Wyndham Arts and Culture support on all marketing material.
• Submit a full project debrief and assessment process to be prescribed by Council.
• Public engagement may form part of the project, but no participation fees may be charged.

Download the Wyndham Arts Grants Guidelines 2026 

Step 1. Download and read the Wyndham Arts Grants Guidelines 2026 

Step 2. Talk to an Officer from Wyndham Arts & Culture about your proposal by arranging a call arts@wyndham.vic.gov.au

Step 3. Prepare any documentation to support your application

Step 4.  Apply 

Applications open: 9:00am, Wednesday 19 November 2025

Applications close: 3:00pm, Wednesday 14 January 2026

Outcomes will be announced on Wednesday 28 January 2026

For questions about the application or guidelines, contact Wyndham Arts & Culture

arts@wyndham.vic.gov.au

By submitting an application for a Wyndham Arts Grants (‘grant’), you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. If your application does not comply with these terms and conditions, it will not be valid and will not be considered. 

These terms and conditions should be read in conjunction with any relevant grant information, such as your application form and the information published on Council’s website.

1. ELIGIBILITY

1.1 To be eligible for a grant, applicants must:

a) Live in Wyndham or group majority live in Wyndham or be able to demonstrate a connection to Wyndham; and
b) Be 18 years of age and over,
c) be compliant with all relevant local, state, and federal legislation.
d) speak to an Arts Officer about your application prior to submission.

1.2 Applications will not be accepted from:
a) Council staff, Councillors, and their immediate family members.
b) applicants that have failed to provide satisfactory acquittal reporting for any previous Council funding; or
c) applicants that are currently declared bankrupt or who are undergoing any form of insolvency event.

2. APPLICATIONS

2.1 To apply for a grant, you must submit a properly completed application form via Smarty Grants between 9:00am on Wednesday November 17, 2025, and 3:00pm Wednesday January 14, 2026. Applications received outside of this period will not be accepted.

2.2 Council will not seek to correct errors in applications. Applications will be assessed as they have been submitted.

2.3 Council reserves the right to request further information when considering applications, and the right to reject any application that is ineligible or does not meet the assessment criteria.

3. ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS

3.1 Applications will be assessed by a panel of Council staff who will make recommendations to the relevant Manager.

3.2 The Manager will determine the outcome of all applications that have been recommended by the assessment panel.

3.3 Council reserves the right to approve a lesser or greater amount of funds applied for. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application.

4. NO LOBBYING

No consideration will be given to applications submitted by applicants who have canvassed or lobbied Councillors or Council staff in relation to their application. 

5. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS

Successful applicants:

5.1 must enter into a funding agreement with Council and comply with the terms and conditions of the funding agreement.

5.2 will be required acquit the grant within 30 days after the conclusion of the project. The applicants must provide a 2-page maximum report on activities and outcomes, provide information on how the funds were expended, numbers of participation and video or photo documentation. They will also be required to complete a Culture Counts survey provided by Council. The particulars of the evaluation process will be outlined in the funding agreement.

6. CONFIDENTIALITY

6.1 Applications are confidential and will only be disclosed in accordance with these terms and conditions, or as required by law.

6.2 Applicants acknowledge and agree that their names, their grant details, and the amount of funding requested and/or awarded may be made publicly available by Council and may be utilised in reports to Council and for use in grant-related marketing material.

7. GENERAL

7.1 Council accepts no responsibility for late, lost, incomplete, invalid, or corrupt applications.

7.2 Council reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time, without prior notice.

7.3 Council’s decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into. 

Ayelet Brooks to explore the potential of banana fibre as a sustainable material, researching its properties and applications, and implementing it in both artistic and craft-based practices.

Jess Fairfax to research and create a new podcast called ‘Things That Make You Go, Awe’. From eel migration to nature's symbiotic relationships, the podcast aims to explore the wonders of this world, bringing a sense of fulfilment to the listener, and an appreciation of the planet we live on.

Samantha Gehrich to explore the use and application of household textile waste/preloved clothing as new material to design elevated re imagined garments and products. Research and develop a small range of zero waste and ‘use what you have’ sewing patterns aimed at all skill levels of sewing and those new to it.

Monika Makour to research and experiment with visual storytelling techniques through photography and styling, building toward a cohesive creative folio that reflects their evolving artistic direction.

Netcapz – John Gai to produce a powerful music video that raises awareness about youth crime and cultural identity in Wyndham and Melbourne. Through music, storytelling, and the involvement of local youth and creatives, the project fosters community dialogue and empowers young voices for positive change.

• Thembelani Khumalo - As an African Australian music artist affiliated with Graded Solutions, an independent music label based in Wyndham Vale, Thembelani’ s project aims to create and promote Afro beats music within the local community.  
• Wintana Kidane - Will support the development of an innovative media platform aimed at creating engaging and inspiring content that resonates with Black and Brown communities in Australia, providing a safe space to spotlight their stories and experiences through podcasts and online content. 
• CEEBS - This project will support research and development of the comedy web series 'CEEBS', to be undertaken by Wyndham-based creator, writer, performers Betiel Beyin and Leigh Lule. This process will inform the completion of 17x 1-minute episodic scripts for production in the later half of 2024 and include a table read of the series open for our creative community to attend.
• Meredith Jones - Will support participation in a workshop and mentoring to learn resin moulding and casting techniques, as well as pay for equipment and materials to independently produce a line of resin cast art toys.  
• Max Lazaridis – A contribution towards development of a short film which explores the duality of identity and the concept of parallel universes through a visual journey of an individual evolving when wearing outfits designed by Max.  
• Rod Pilois – Will support research and development of new musical works in contemporary music and world music styles, such as African, Afro-Cuban, Middle Eastern and Latin-American styles. 
• Jasmeet Kaur Sahi, Amal Laala & Zoe Jones – Will support research and community outreach aimed at the forming a west-based artist-led collective with an online presence and to explore the scope of gathering and sharing in-person and online resources and programs in the shape of creative workshops, labs and networking events for artists of the west. 

Bittersweet Productions - an emerging media production platform. They have been operating as a podcast channel for over 3 years, sharing their experiences as Black women navigating life in Australia and sharing the stories of established and emerging creatives and inspiring individuals in the diaspora, with an aim to create a sense of belonging and relatability. The develop funds will be directed towards research, benchmarking and output expansion with  an aim to creating a greater reach and impact.

Ammar Yonis - To support the development of a short film created by local creatives. 

Rachel Morley - Expand Rachel’s practice as a visual artist to explore public art and develop participatory artworks in her local community in Tarneit. Funding for mentorship and time towards research and the establishment of partnerships for future projects.

John Mathet - To develop an ongoing  art program for young people aged 12-25, residing in Wyndham and working through Youth Services. 

• Jumess Dinanga – Around The Black Chair:  Funding towards photoshoot and printing costs of images for a new exhibition titled Black Boys Blues.
• Connor Overden-Shaw – Skills development: Focus on the technical aspect of sewing and garment construction, learning and understanding the machine and how to create patterns. With a view to creating a photography work using garments developed.
• Clive Gono – Public Art Mentorship: To undertake a mentorship in Public Art making with two mentors.
• Melissa Murphy-Vella – Raku Firing Program - Develop Raku Firing (Ceramics) technics and program for Wyndham residents
• Xiang Li  - A River Runs Through It -  In support of an upcoming exhibition, the grant will be used for research, artist time in creation, a short video that documents the art project to engage the audience
• L2R Dance – Girl Gang – Development of a dance group in Wyndham for young women.
• Sagalee Aba-Omer – LOCATIONest Equipment purchases to support work. Contribution towards purchase of specialised equipment to support practice development and advancement of a photography project title LOCATIONest.