Cultural Development Fund - Festivals and Events
Overview
The arts are an essential part of the cultural diversity, creativity and prosperity of our communities.
The Cultural Development Fund (CDF) grants program has been developed by Council to support artists, arts and cultural organisations and creative community projects in the City of Port Phillip.
Projects should contribute to the Council Plan strategic directions to guide our program priorities for the future. Projects will be evaluated according to how well they meet these priorities:
- Vibrant: with a flourishing economy, where our community and local business thrive, and we maintain and enhance our reputation as one of Melbourne’s cultural and creative hubs.
- Inclusive: a place for all members of our community, where people feel supported and comfortable being themselves and expressing their identities.
CDF-Festivals and Events program objectives:
- Leverage and support events that drive economic growth by increasing visitation and tourism to the City, enhancing its reputation as a destination.
- Support organisations to develop and manage vibrant festivals and events in the City of Port Phillip that showcase our places and spaces, meeting community and industry needs.
- Support capacity building, mentoring, partnerships or collaborative development.
- Support and engage diverse communities of all ages and backgrounds, by developing events that engage with the wider Port Phillip community, introducing new experiences and connections.
Grant value
CDF-Festivals and Events is a two-tiered funding stream for incorporated, not for profit arts, cultural or community organisations to deliver festivals and events.
- Tier One - $5,000- $10,0000
- Tier Two – $10,001 to $20,000.
The CDF-Festivals and Events grant has been developed by the City of Port Phillip to support arts, cultural, trader and community organisations to develop festivals and events in the City of Port Phillip that engage our community, foster social connectivity and/or drive visitation and support local economic benefit.
This fund is intended for seed and development funding and applicants are encouraged to seek out other sources of sponsorship and in-kind contributions to complement the support of council.
Applications can include events that occur in public space, venues and may have some online event component (but not fully online).
Applicants to the CDF-Festivals and Events grants may apply for up to $20,000 per event with funding allocated according to tier categories.
Key dates
Applications open: 9 am, Tuesday 27 February 2024
Applications close: midnight, Thursday 4 April 2024
Applicants will be notified in August 2024
Funding is available for events occurring between January and December 2025
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible to apply, applicants must be:
- Incorporated not for profit arts, cultural or community organisations. Organisations from outside City of Port Phillip may apply if the festival or event is held in the City of Port Phillip and engages significantly with Port Phillip participants and community
- Have organisational Public Liability Insurance to the value of $20 Million
- Able to provide an ABN
- Funded events must be based in the City of Port Phillip.
Applications for the 2024/25 program are now closed.
Making your event accessible
We are committed to equitable participation in events, programs and activities in our community. The Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Fact Sheet for Arts Grants Applicants contains resources you can explore when applying for a grant to help include the people with disability when organising, planning and budgeting for your event or program of activities:
Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Fact Sheet for Grant Applicants (PDF 158 KB)
Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Fact Sheet for Grant Applicants (DOCX 129 KB)
Access and support information
For general Council information about the National Relay Service, language translation and Auslan interpreter services, visit accessibility and disability inclusion.
For Access support contact, contact ASSIST.
Planning for your event
If you are organising an event in an open space, discuss your event with Council’s Events Team before applying for your event.
Applicants planning events in outdoor public space will be required to apply for a City of Port Phillip Event permit.
For information and contacts refer to the City of Port Phillip Outdoor Events page.
Previously funded projects
In 2024-25 Council awarded $116,500 for 11 successful projects.
- CDF Festivals and Events 2024 25 Grant Recipients DOCX 61 KB
- CDF Festivals and Events 2024 25 Grant Recipients PDF 134 KB
In 2023-24 Council awarded $113,463 for 9 successful projects.
- CDF Festivals and Events 2023 24 Grant Recipients DOCX 61 KB
- CDF Festivals and Events 2023 24 Grant Recipients PDF 134 KB
In 2022-23 Round 2 Council awarded $74,200 for 13 successful projects.
- CDF Festivals and Events 2022 23 R2 Grant Recipients DOCX 61 KB
- CDF Festivals and Events 2022 23 R2 Grant Recipients PDF 134 KB
In 2022-23 Round 1 Council awarded $68,000 for 6 successful projects.
Contact Us
Applicants are encouraged to speak to the Fund officer before submitting their application.
For all enquiries, please contact us via ASSIST on 03 9209 6777 or send a service request online.