From children’s literacy and digital media skills courses for teens to mentorships and artist residencies, the Victorian Government is investing in the future of the state’s creative industries sector.
Acting Minister for Creative Industries Natalie Hutchins announced two-year grants for small creative organisations to create a big impact for their community, through the latest recipients of the Creative Ventures Program.
“We are backing small businesses and collectives that are the engine room of our creative industries,” said Acting Minister for Creative Industries Natalie Hutchins.
“Across our suburbs and regions, we are helping build careers of Victorian artists and creative workers, platform new and diverse voices, bring original new work to the stage, and provide young people with vital skills and career pathways.”
The Government’s investment of more than $2 million is supporting 11 creative ventures including small organisations, micro businesses and creative collectives to deliver important programs and create innovative works over the next two years.
Spanning the state, the recipients include 100 Story Building, a social enterprise that boosts creativity and literacy for children and young people, which will faciliate new writing and publishing programs for young writers at their new centre in Footscray.
Dandenong’s Connection Arts Space and Way Over There Collective will host a new residency program and more professional development and exhibition opportunities for artists in Melbourne’s South East, while Motherless Collective (MoCo) will showcase the work of First Nations LGBTQIA+ creatives to metro and regional audiences.
Warrnambool’s One Day Studios will offer training in digital media production to disadvantaged young people and create career pathways into the creative industries, while arts and cultural hub Dumawul will support First Peoples artists living on Djandak-Dja Dja Wurrung Country with professional and creative development opportunities.
FLOW Festival, led by a collective of Deaf and Hard of Hearing artists and leaders, will present an inclusive and vibrant program showcasing the talents and perspectives of the Deaf community. Sibling Archirecture will undertake research into the design of spaces for neuro-divergent and sensorially diverse people.
Wantok Music Foundation will collaborate with Victorian musicians of Timor Leste heritage and Timor Leste artists, while MILKE will advance the careers of independent producers through a mentorship program, workshops and resources, and Beat Entertainment will deliver a two-year program of bold, original works.
An initiative of the Creative State 2025 strategy, the Creative Ventures Program is open to creative entities with up to 10 staff.
For more information including the full list of recipients, visit: www.creative.vic.gov.au
Image: Artists Lane – courtesy of Creative Victoria