Council will provide almost $500,000 in funding for festivals, events and community projects, through its 2022 Grants for Community program.
At their meeting on 26 October, Councillors voted to approve funding for 68 community projects within the 2022 Grants for Community Round.
The annual grants program provides funding to local not for profit community groups and artists, of up to $10,000, for projects across three key focus areas:
- Community Development
- Arts and Heritage Development
- Festivals and events
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Fiona McAllister, congratulated the 2022 grants recipients.
"Every year, our Grants for Community program encourages, supports and sustains cultural, social and community projects," Cr McAllister said.
"This year, our teams sought to inspire creative and innovative ways for our community to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19 and respond to the impacts of the June storms.
"Community projects provide countless opportunities for connection between our residents, groups and visitors; they give us a chance to enjoy world-class art, to dive deeper on issues or to become more resilient together. Arguably, there's no time in recent memory where that's been more crucial.
"Supporting these projects through grants gives groups certainty that they can bring their ideas to life and have support and guidance from Council along the way.
"We've funded some phenomenal ideas in this year's funding round and we're all looking forward to a year of events, festivals and projects coming to life in our own backyard. Congratulations to our 2022 Grants for Community recipients."
Projects funded under the 2022 round include:
- A range of carer workshops, hosted by Mount Evelyn Community House, including positive mental health, self-care, resilience and leisure workshops.
- A series of cultural awareness and mental health initiatives, being run by the Belgrave South Junior Football Club, for the club and the wider community
- A community workshop run by Japara Neighbourhood House, to assist mobility scooter or powered wheelchair users to practice skills and develop confidence in navigating through our community's pathways
- A LGBTIQA+ peer-focused support group for young people in the Yarra Ranges, run by the Rotary Club of Upper Yarra
- A mural to celebrate the centenary of the Belgrave CFA, which will occur in 2023
- Funding for several exhibitions, workshops and art events, such as exhibitions at Burrinja, the Yarra Valley Open Studios and sessions at the Dandenong Ranges Music Council, among many others
- Support for festivals including the Warburton Film Festival, the Lantern and Light International Children's Film Festival, the Blacksmiths and Artisans Festival, the Yarra Ranges Downhill Festival, the Hills Regrowth Festival, River Folk Festival and Selbyfest, among others.
Council also provides funding of up to $1000 for projects run by not-for-profit business associations and community groups through its monthly Small Grants program.
