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What is the program?

The Victorian Government is committed to promoting the social, cultural and economic benefits of cultural diversity to all Victorians.

The Multicultural Festivals and Events program encourages participation of the whole Victorian community in festivals and events to celebrate and embrace our vibrant multicultural diversity.

The program brings together the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s (VMC) former Multicultural Festivals and Events Grants and the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship’s (OMAC) former Unity Through Partnerships program. This program is administered by OMAC.

The program aims to achieve the following objectives:

• To showcase the vibrancy of Victoria’s multiculturalism through regular celebrations and events that encourage participation of the whole community,
•  To foster cross cultural awareness, understanding, community unity and intercultural relationships,
• To ensure that Victoria’s multicultural communities can celebrate and preserve traditions in meaningful ways, and
• To build the capacity and experience of smaller or newer community groups to deliver events through the development of genuine partnerships between community organisations.  

What funding is available?

The program is divided into three funding streams:

• Schools Cultural Diversity Events ($500 to $2,000) for events to be held during Cultural Diversity Week 2016 (12 – 21 March 2016),
• Small Celebrations and Events (small grants from $500 to $10,000), and
• Large Festivals and Events (large grants from $10,001 to $100,000).

Applications will be accepted for festivals, events and cultural celebrations scheduled to run between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2016.

Please note that the Multicultural Festivals and Events Program is being streamlined into one major round, rather than two rounds in 2016. The next funding round will open in early 2016 for festivals and events to be held between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017.

Who is eligible to apply?

 For projects funded under the Small Celebrations and Events and Large Festivals and Events streams organisations must:

• be a not-for-profit entity or a Local Government Authority (LGA) who partners with a not-for-profit entity (LGAs cannot apply independently),
• if a not-for-profit entity, be registered under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic), and
•  have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).

If your organisation does not meet the above criteria you must nominate an eligible auspice to apply for a grant.  Auspice organisations must meet the above criteria and can include local councils.

 For more information about the program and eligibility requirements please ensure you read the program guidelines prior to submitting your application.

 Primary and Secondary Schools are eligible to apply under the Schools Cultural Diversity Events stream.

 Please note: An application for a festival or event can be submitted under one funding stream only: schools, small or large. Please fill out an application form for each individual festival or event.

 Applicants who have overdue accountability reports for previous grants funded through the VMC and/or OMAC are not eligible to receive funding. To check if you are up to date with accountability reports, please email community.grants@dpc.vic.gov.au.

How do I apply?

Applications close midnight 24 January 2016.

Complete an online application form:

Schools Cultural Diversity Events

Small Celebrations and Events

Large Festivals and Events

 Hard copy application forms are available upon request, and can be submitted to:

 Community Strengthening Team
 Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship  
Level 3, 3 Treasury Place  
Melbourne VIC 3002

 Late or incomplete applications may not be considered.

Further information

 For more information contact community.grants@dpc.vic.gov.au or call 1300 366 356 or visit the Victorian Multicultural Commission website.