Multicultural Festivals and Events Program (Round 1) in Australia

Deadline: 5-Apr-23

The State Government of Victoria has announced grants of up to $50,000 to support multicultural festivals and events program.

Funding Priorities

The MFE Program recognises the importance of being able to celebrate cultural diversity and inclusion, regardless of background or location.

• Rural and regional organisations and events
  • Eligibility as a rural or regional organisation is based on your organisation being located outside the metropolitan Melbourne area, as defined by Regional Development Victoria’s list of Victoria’s regions.
• New and emerging community organisations and events
  • New and emerging community organisations provide settlement support and services. They also play a critical role in developing strong community infrastructure and building capacity of their members.

Funding Information

Funding will be offered in 3 streams:

• Small stream – up to $2,000
• Medium stream – between $5,000 and $15,000
• Large stream – between $15,001 and $50,000

Activities

All events must meet the objectives of this program by showcasing and sharing cultures and traditions, and by being accessible and free to attend by the broader Victorian community. Festivals and events supported under this program can be held as a standalone event across one day, or as a series of two or more events across a weekend or month, with the same focus. They will be held between 1 July 2023 and 31 December 2023. The types of activities that will be considered include:

• Celebrations of significant cultural days.
• Multicultural performances and cultural exhibitions.
• Events that promote cultural dialogue and understanding across communities.

Face-to-face events

• Organisations planning face-to-face events are encouraged to consider digital elements (for example, live-streaming) to extend the reach of their event to audiences across the state.

Digital events

Digital events will only be supported in the small and medium stream. Digital festival and event types can include:

• Video development and programming.
• Podcast development and programming.
• Online workshops and tutorials.
• Virtual exhibitions or performances, or screenings of concerts.
• Commissioning online work/s by one or more artists.
• Website interactivity.

If your digital event application is successful, you will not be able to adapt your event to a face-to-face event.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this program, your organisation must:

• Have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Have no overdue final reports from previous Fairer Victoria-funded grants, including from Multicultural Affairs, by 5 April 2023.
• Be a legal entity that is either not-for-profit or a social enterprise.
  • Not-for-profit legal entity
    • You must clearly validate that your organisation is a legal entity by showing your organisation is either:
      • Registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 as an incorporated association (this entity type is considered not-for-profit).
      • Registered as a company under the Corporations Act 2001 via the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
      • Incorporated through an Act of Parliament.
    • If you are not an incorporated association, you must also clearly validate that your organisation is not for-profit by showing that your organisation is either:
      • Registered with the Australian Charities and Not for-profits Commission.
      • Eligible through your organisation’s constitution, rules or governance documents.
  • Social enterprise
    • If your organisation is a social enterprise, it must have a clearly stated purpose or mission that is related specifically to supporting multiculturalism. Social enterprises must attach their constitution with their application and must still be a legal entity (for example, a company). Social enterprises:
      • Are led by an economic, social, cultural or environmental mission that is consistent with a public or community benefit.
      • Derive a substantial portion of their income from trade.
      • Reinvest the majority of their profit surplus in the fulfilment of their mission (at least 50%).

For more information, visit State Government of Victoria.