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Published on 05 November 2026
Eligible community groups, organisations, sporting groups, businesses, event organisers and schools can benefit from a range of grant and sponsorship opportunities available through Northern Grampians Shire Council.
Council opened Arts and Culture Grant and Creative Education Fund applications on November 1 and will host information sessions in St Arnaud and Stawell next week.
The ‘All things Art and Culture’ sessions will include information about:
Arts and culture – what is happening across the shire.
Grants – Arts and Culture Grants and Creative Education Fund.
Planning public art projects – planning considerations, public art review process and assessment.
Grampians Arts Trail – how to get involved in the trail.
The St Arnaud session will be on Monday, November 9 in the Perry Room, St Arnaud Town Hall, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
The Stawell session will be on Wednesday, November 11 in the Stawell Entertainment Centre foyer, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
Mayor Karen Hyslop encouraged anyone interested in arts and culture opportunities in the municipality to come along to an information session.
“As well as providing details about grants, the sessions are also a fantastic opportunity to come together, share your group’s creative projects and ideas, meet new people and build connections,” she said.
People can visit council’s website to register for catering purposes (for the St Arnaud event click here and the Stawell event click here).
Arts and Culture Grants are open for applications of up to $5000 to support projects and activities that:
Increase participation in community activities that centre around arts and culture.
Raise the profile through strengthening visibility of arts and culture.
Celebrate place through activation.
Funded projects could be part of the 2027 Grampians Easter Arts Trail, which will feature both permanent and temporary arts and culture related attractions across the shire.
Council’s Creative Education Fund is designed to help support primary, secondary and specialist schools to provide creative opportunities for students across the shire.
Successful schools will receive $700 towards their project or initiative.
“Each year, council offers a wide range of sponsorship and grant opportunities to help turn some of the fantastic ideas of our community members and groups into a reality,” Cr Hyslop said.
“If you are planning an event, looking to upgrade facilities, launch a program or need some help running your administration, I encourage you to take a look on council’s website to see if we have funding available to help you make these things happen.”
Other grant opportunities available now include Community Events Grants, Minor Grants, Community Sponsorship and Community Events Sponsorship, which will remain open until their allocations are exhausted.
Cr Hyslop encouraged people to speak with council’s Community Development Team by calling (03) 5358 0512 or emailing community@ngshire.vic.gov.au to ensure they applied for the most suitable funding stream.
Council’s Tourism Events Sponsorship program provides funding and support to event organisers to stage tourism events that boost economic growth in the shire.
Applications for up to $10,000 are open until June 1, 2027.
Aims of the program include:
Attract significant visitor numbers to positively impact the Northern Grampians Shire and tourism economy.
Enhance the vibrancy and diversity of visitor experience.
Celebrate existing tourism assets or aim to establish new tourism experiences.
Actively promote the region into intrastate, interstate or international markets.
Are financially sustainable long-term.
Contribute to Northern Grampians Shire's liveability and wellbeing.
Strive for continuous improvement and innovation.
People can call council's Tourism and Events team on (03) 5358 8700 or email ngsc.event@ngshire.vic.gov.au for more information or to discuss their application.
Information about all council grant and support opportunities are available on council’s website, here.
“The website provides several fantastic resources for our community, including an external grant finder and grant writing tips and support,” Cr Hyslop said.
“I encourage you to jump online and have a read over the opportunities available to see if your group or organisation is eligible.”