Celebrating 25 years of aboriginal arts funding in Melbourne
Project: Advancing equity, inclusion, and creative self-determination for First Nations artists through aboriginal arts grants
In 2020, the City of Melbourne launched their Aboriginal Arts Grants programme to support and elevate Aboriginal creatives, artists, and organisations. Over the last 25 years, this programme has invested meaningfully in the cultural contributions of First Nations peoples, recognising 60,000 years of unbroken cultural practice and their ongoing, vital role in the city’s creative identity. The programme has built an inclusive and sustainable ecosystem for Aboriginal arts, by breaking down barriers in the funding sector, and providing long-term support to ensure Aboriginal voices are empowered and celebrated in Melbourne’s creative landscape.
Addressing systemic underrepresentation takes time
The initiative was conceived to address the systemic underrepresentation and lack of support for Aboriginal artists within Melbourne’s arts sector. Historically, Aboriginal artists faced exclusion from traditional arts funding and limited opportunities to develop or present work. Within the grants programme itself, challenges have persisted.
As of 2025, there are still no Aboriginal staff members directly managing the programme, an issue that undercuts the goal of self-determination in cultural policy. Additionally, the prohibitive cost of creating and exhibiting art in Melbourne, coupled with difficulties in attracting and retaining Aboriginal audiences, presents ongoing operational barriers. The city has also seen a shift toward part-funding projects to reach more artists, raising concerns around sustainability and depth of support for individual initiatives.
Aboriginal-led grant assessments and accessible applications
In response to these challenges, City of Melbourne developed a trailblazing grants programme that not only provides financial backing but also fosters long-term relationships with Aboriginal creatives. Key features of the programme include assessment panels led by Aboriginal creatives, multi-year funding to cornerstone organisations, and the promoting the work of funded artists.
Recent improvements have made the programme more accessible: applications can now be submitted via video or verbal formats, and funding timelines have been adjusted to avoid clashes with major cultural events like National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week. These thoughtful adaptations help ensure that the grants are genuinely responsive to the community’s needs.
Nurturing an ecosystem of First Nation creatives
Since its inception, the Aboriginal Arts Grants programme has built a robust, interconnected community of First Nations artists and organisations. City of Melbourne’s multi-year funding currently supports five leading institutions, including the Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Songlines Aboriginal Music Corporation, and the Koorie Heritage Trust.
Individual artists funded by the programme have gone on to receive national and international acclaim – such as Joel Bray, a Wiradjuri choreographer with works touring nationally, and Josh Muir, whose pieces are held in collections like the National GAllery of Victoria and City of Melbourne Art & Heritage Collection. Grantees also include eminent Aboriginal artists including Kutcha Edwards, Jessie Lloyd, and Brodie Murray.
The grants have contributed to broader policy goals, including cultural inclusion, creative equity, and First Nations representation. They exemplify how targeted, community-informed investment can begin to redress historical inequities and promote vibrant cultural expression. As City of Melbourne celebrates 25 years of this programme, it stands as a model of how local government can act as a catalyst for cultural justice and creative excellence.
