Rupert Bunny Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship

Overview

The Rupert Bunny Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship (RBFVAF) was established in 2005. The RBFVAF aims to support a contemporary visual artist with an identifiable commitment to visual arts excellence. The successful Fellow will have a desire to extend their arts practice to a new level, expand their imagination and make a contribution to the City of Port Phillip through either or all of the following: 

• Conduct research and development that increases or expands a professional artist's skills or thinking, particularly towards producing a major artwork or work.
• Produce an artwork or artworks that make a significant contribution to the field of contemporary visual art and exhibit within the City of Port Phillip.
• Travel or take up a residency that enables the outcomes of any of the other objectives of the Fellowship.
• Donate artwork to the Port Phillip City Collection.

The Rupert Bunny Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship is overseen by a Reference Committee who provide strategic advice, expertise and recommendations to Council on the dispersal of Rupert Bunny Funds according to the VCF-RBF Deed of Trust.

The City of Port Phillip is recognised for its rich cultural diversity and acknowledges that artists play a vital role in sustaining a creative city. The City believes in supporting the development of exceptional artistic thinking and talent.

Grant value

The RBFVAF grants an acquisitive award of $30,000 in support of professional development and excellence in contemporary visual art.

Key dates

• Applications open: 9 am Wednesday 22 July 2026
• Applications close: 5 pm Sunday 30 August 2026

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be:

• Individuals who live, work or volunteer in the City of Port Phillip
• Individuals applying with a not-for-profit auspice organisation
• Individuals applying on behalf of an unincorporated group with a not-for-profit auspice organisation
• Able to provide an ABN or an Auspice Organisation ABN
• Proof of public liability insurance to $20m (through your auspice organisation) for public outcomes

Engaging with an Auspice organisation

The City of Port Phillip will require successful applicants who are individual artists to engage an auspice organisation to assist to manage the grant. Find out more on how to work with an auspice organisation (DOCX 42KB)

Applicants are required to submit a letter of confirmation from their auspice organisation with their application as support material. Applicants should contact an auspice organisation a minimum of 10 working days before the application due date with a brief project description and draft budget if possible.

For the City of Port Phillip creative grants programs, the key auspice organisations supporting artists are:

• Auspicious Arts Projects
• Multicultural Arts Victoria for multicultural projects or artists from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)

An auspice organisation may charge a small administration fee. This fee will be paid for by Council, however applicants should include in their budgets oncosts such as Superannuation and Workcover/Insurance. 

Application Supplementary Material

Please read the instructions about application supplementary material in the Guidelines and Application Form carefully.

How to apply

The City of Port Phillip uses the SmartyGrants online grant application system.

Apply for the 2027 Rupert Bunny Visual Arts Fellowship

To find out how to register, apply for a password and for tips on navigating the form, check the Help Guide for Applicants. Please read the key instructions in the Help Guide and the application form carefully.

Help Guide for Applicants (smartygrants.com.au)

Applications in Other Formats

If a written submission or online form are not accessible for you, please email Coordinator Visual Art and Activations at rbf@portphillip.vic.gov.au or call 03 8563 7862.

We will aim to work with you to provide accessible application processes including accepting applications in a variety of formats such as text documents, video and audio files.

RBFVAF Application Guidelines 2027 (PDF)

RBFVAF Application Guidelines 2027 (docx)

Contact us

If you have any queries about navigating the online application, do not receive a submission confirmation email, or to discuss a project idea, our team is here to help.

Phone: 03 8563 7862
Email: rbf@portphillip.vic.gov.au

All applicants should contact the Coordinator Visual Art & Activations to discuss their project proposal. 

You may contact us through the National Relay Service on 133 677 (ask for 03 9209 6777).
Alternatively, you could download Deaf-owned Relay Service Convo.

For Translating & Interpreting Services, please call 13 14 50.

Access and Support for your Application

If this information is not accessible to you and you need this in an alternative format, such as large print, audio or Braille; or if you require accessible formats for submission, please email rbf@portphillip.vic.gov.au or call 03 8563 7862.

For general Council information about the National Relay Service, language translation and Auslan interpreter services, visit accessibility and disability inclusion.