Check out the following links and resources to help you find creative, arts and small business grants and tenders Australia-wide. You can also learn more about how to catch one (or many!) from us through our Grant Song workshop, and our grant articles.
Not all of the following are arts-based, but some of the business and community ones might help!
GRANTS
A grant is a gift (usually of money) given for the common good, with a particular purpose. Grants are most commonly made by government and philanthropic organisations to nonprofit organisations, but may also be made to individuals for arts development, research study or start-up business. Check out the Grant Glossary here.
Grants and Assistance – www.business.gov.au/grants-and-assistance
Business.gov offers help in looking for grants that are applicable to small business in Australia. While the government generally doesn’t offer funding just to start a business, there may be other forms of assistance available to help you out.
Australia Council for the Arts & Grant – www.australiacouncil.gov.au/funding
OzCo offers a grants program that supports a diverse range of artists, artistic practice, organisations and arts activity. It’s now easier and simpler to apply for grants.
Philanthropy Australia – www.philanthropy.org.au
Philanthropy Australia is the national peak body for philanthropy and is a non-profit membership organisation. Subscription to either their hard copy or online directory gives you access to a listing of their members which are foundations and trusts which provide funding.
The Funding Centre – www.fundingcentre.com.au
The Funding Centre provides free help sheets, services, newsletters, books and training to help community groups improve their fundraising abilities and become healthier and more viable. It’s the place where not-For-Profits go for funding, apparently!
Copyright Agency Cultural Fund – www.copyright.com.au/culturalfund
The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund provides grants for Australia’s creators. CAL is authorised to allocate 1.5% of its income to development projects that will support the Australian publishing and visual arts industries. This Cultural Fund supports a wide variety of projects which aim to encourage, and provide practical assistance to Copyright Agency’s members and the Australian cultural community.
The Export Marketing Development Grant – www.austrade.gov.au
Are you looking to promote your creative work overseas? The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme is a key Australian Government financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters. This grant reimburses up to 50% of eligible costs in relation to promoting your product in overseas markets – and yes, it’s available to creatives as well.
The Grant Guru – grantguru.com.au
Fee for service business (although much of the good stuff is free), Grant Guru is run by a team of grant specialists working in business and community grants. They know how grants work, where to find them and how to successfully apply for them. The team has experience assessing grant applications, advising policy makers and also submitting grant applications.
Magic Electricity Box – magicelectricitybox.com
Our friend and Creative Plus Business advisor Irene Lemon runs Magic Electricity Box, which helps individuals and small community based organisations to learn about grants, devise strategies to support their proposals and give guidance and tips on the written application. For a fee, you can get personalised information and support on your grant writing and application journey.
TENDERS
When organisations are looking for a business to supply goods and services, they will often put together a Tender document of Expression of Interest (EOI) to find the best business that meets their needs and provides the best value for money. Tendering is the process of making an offer, bid or proposal, or expressing interest in response in response to this kind of invitation. Creative businesses are increasingly being invited to offer competitive tenders.
How to Find Tenders – www.business.gov.au/info/run/tenders-and-contracts
A government funded tendering website that contains important information about the tendering process, and explains best how to understand a potential client, and how to plan, prepare and submit your tender.
AusTender – www.tenders.gov.au
AusTender provides centralised publication of Australian Government business opportunities, annual procurement plans, multi-use lists and contracts. You need to register to use AusTrade, but this service is free. You get automatic notification of business opportunities and are allowed electronic lodgement of tender responses into a secure electronic tender box.
State Based Tendering websites:
Tenders VIC – www.tenders.vic.gov.au
SA Tenders & Contracts – www.tenders.sa.gov.au
Tenders WA – www.tenders.wa.gov.au
NSW eTendering System – tenders.nsw.gov.au
NT Tenders ONLINE – www.dob.nt.gov.au/business/tenders
ACT Procurement Solutions – www.procurement.act.gov.au
QLD eTendering Website – www.hpw.qld.gov.au/qtenders
Local governments and councils also have Tendering websites, usually linked to their home pages. See the following City pages as examples:
Sydney – www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/business/tenders/open-tenders
Melbourne – www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Tenders/
Brisbane – www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council
Adelaide – www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/city-business
PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash