Flourish Arts Grants 2026
Merri-bek City Council is committed to strengthening and investing in the creative community of Merri-bek and recognises the importance of continual support for the sector.
These grants aim to help Merri-bek's arts and culture sector flourish and be sustainable.
Objectives:
- To support local artists and arts organisations to flourish and be sustainable.
- To strengthen the capacity of local artists and arts organisations.
- To support local artists and arts organisations to explore new ways of engaging audiences.
- To build connection and engagement through community led arts and cultural activities.
- To support and encourage more people to be involved with arts and culture in Merri-bek.
Grant Categories:
- Individual Artists (up to $5,000)
- Arts Organisations (up to $10,000)
Funding Preferences:
We will give preference to applications which:
- Showcase Merri-bek as a vibrant arts location.
- Encourage and champion diversity and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Isander culture.
- Show respectful partnerships with other artists, community groups and/or organisations.
- Clearly show how the initiative will impact and/or grow Merri-bek's arts sector.
- Encourage environmental sustainability in line with Council’s Zero-Carbon 2040 Framework
- Align with identified priority groups from the Merri-bek Human Rights Policy 2016 – 2026.
Merri-bek Human Rights Policy Priority groups:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities
- People with Disability
- LGBTIQA+ Communities
- Migrant and Refugee Communities
- Women
Applications close 11.59pm Monday 25 August 2025.
Before completing this application, applicants are required to:
- Read the Flourish Arts Grants 2026 Guidelines.
- Please see the SmartyGrants Help Guide for Applicants which can be found here.
You can save, close and return to your application at any time prior to submission. Once an application has been submitted a confirmation email will be sent to you which includes a pdf copy of the application for your records.
After submission, no changes can be made without assistance from the Arts Merri-bek team.
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