Other Funding Resources

Show Me The Money!

So, you’ve got an amazing arts project in mind. You are confident, inspired, people are excited about it… and now you need the money to get it off the ground.

How do you get from planning a project, to making it happen?

Grant Directories

These fantastic searchable directories will lead you to thousands of individual grant opportunities.

Try searching on your project key words eg: “funding”, “music”, “youth”

Starting points: Key sources of Youth Arts funding

As a starting point, here are the direct links to a few key organisations who are most likely to fund young artists.

Click the links to reach their websites

  • For Youth Arts projects in WA try
    YCulture
  • For regional arts funding, in any artform, check out Country Arts WA
  • For Arts ongoing or once off arts projects promoting healthy messages in WA try Healthway
  • Supporting artists, arts projects and organisations in WA Arts WA For various types of community funding including arts and youth projects try
    Lotterywest
  • Australia Council has grant programs in the following areas: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts; Community Cultural Development; Dance; Literature; Music; New Media; Theatre and Visual Arts & Craft.
  • For youth initiaitives anywhere in Australia see Foundation for Young Australians
  • The Film and Television Institute can help you develop and submit your grant proposals. It also runs a Members Production Group which makes short films using free equipment from FTI.
  • The Australian Film Commision funds the Australian film industry, including film projects, events and festivals.
  • A variety of Community Arts Projects are supported by Community Arts Network WA
  • Organisations wanting funding for youth music events can try Rampage
  • You can Join Propelarts to receive our fortnightly e-zine which regularly includes funding opportunities.
  • The Office of Multicultural Interest funds projects and events that facilitate positive interaction among the citizens of our diverse community.
  • For funding, development and promotion of your arts exhibition, contact Art On the Move
  • Festivals Australia
    provides assistance to regional and community Australian festivals for the presentation of quality cultural activities.
  • The State Literature Centre supports writers groups and writing festivals across the whole of WA.
  • Visit your local council and speak to officers who work in the arts, cultural development, community development, heritage or recreation sections depending on the activities you have in mind.

Beyond Grants

Getting a grant is fantatsic but it is not the only source of funding available in the arts.

Consider these options:

Sponsorship
Sponsorship is usually received from a business or community organisation not offering a formal grant program.

Large corporate sponsors based in the capital cities are most likely to support a few high profile events or organisations.

For a smaller event, try local businesses or service clubs like Rotary or Lions Apex, or your local Chamber of Commerce

Project generated income
This is money made as a result of your arts project. For example, ticket sales, art sales.

It is a good idea to think of drawing income from additional areas which will support your core good or service. For example

  • if you are selling tickets to a show could you sell programs or food and drink at the venue for additional income?
  • if you are presenting an exhibition could you produce and sell posters, greeting cards or other merchandise featuring your work as well as the originals?

In kind support
This is free support from people (for example, volunteers) and organisations (such as borrowing someone’s sound system or asking the local council for a free venue)

Sharing resources - splitting costs
Arrange with your contacts to share resources. Trestle tables, a public address system, display boards and numerous other resources can be shared by several organisations.

Individuals or small groups may even want to team up with other complimentary artists to get your arts happening and share the costs, For example three artists could create a joint exhibition and share the organisation and costs. A group of independent musicians could team up to create a joint gig where you all perform.

Contra
Contra deals involve trading use of your resources with other people or organisations.

For example you may offer your artistic skills, or loan of equipment in return for someone else loaning you resources, letting you use their office or setting up your website.

Creative enterprise
This is income generated as a result of an arts business. For example, this could include fees you charge as a designer to design a logo, or the fees your business charges to run circus workshops and so forth.

Support for young people for getting a small busienss started is available from Small Business Development Corporation or teh Young Business Network

Donations
Certain arts projects or organisations may attract direct donations from people within the community who wish to support it.

Some artists and groups even have a patron who will provide regular income or seek funds on your behalf.

Residencies and Scholarships
Some educational institutions, foundations and artistic organsiations have artist-in-residence programs where you are provided with all your living expenses plus a living wage so you can concentrate on your arts.

Fundraising activities
Try raffles, social events, auctions, and quiz nights etc.

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