Our arts programs aim to integrate culture into daily life, fostering community engagement
Our arts and cultural programs are driven by one objective: to make arts and culture an everyday experience in our city.
We design our programs in response to the needs and aspirations of our community, including residents, artists, arts organisations and businesses.
We take a holistic approach, from developing and delivering arts and cultural activities, to designing public spaces and environments. We aim to:
- be creative, flexible, nimble and responsive
- promote the creative sector to advance cultural, social, environmental and economic development.
Our Arts and Cultural Strategy [ PDF, 928.69 KB] guides our action to sustain Yarra's cultural vibrancy. With a high percentage of creative artists, musicians and performers, we aim to make it easier to practice and participate in arts and culture.
We seek formal advice on our arts and cultural policies, strategies and initiatives through the Arts Advisory Committee and its subcommittees, the Visual Arts Panel and Room to Create Panel. These comprise people from Yarra-based artists, and arts and cultural organisations.
The arts development program supports practicing artists in any art form to create and present work.
Yarra has a higher than average proportion of artists and we are home to many arts organisations, all actively engaged in creating and presenting art.
We recognise each creative process is different and everyone needs something different. We have an open door policy and encourage artists to make contact with us if you need advice, funding, want help to make connection with others or to tell us what you are doing.
Expressions of interest and grants are listed on our opportunities page. This is where we promote opportunities to exhibit, small project grants, annual and multi-year funding grants.
Our Art and Heritage Collection contains around 900 items. The collection includes memorabilia, heritage items and a growing contemporary fine art collection.
We are committed to building on our collection through acquisition, commissioning and donations.
The City of Yarra Collection Policy [ PDF, 236.67 KB] guides all decisions related to management of the collection and outlines our role as cultural custodian of the collection.
We are a participating institution of the Cultural Gifts Program which offers tax incentives to encourage people to donate cultural items to public art galleries, museums, libraries and archives in Australia.
You can view a selection of the collection in our gallery.
We have received donations of artworks from artists and collectors and in particular acknowledge the very generous donations by Dr Jonathan Hartley.
The Community Arts Program addresses areas which have previously prevented people from experiencing the arts.
This dynamic and collaborative program focuses on participation, production and presentation in the arts, as well as issues related to social justice, education, awareness and inclusion.
The community arts program takes many forms and includes:
- funding projects and programs
- brokering relationships between artists and communities
- producing or co-producing events
- supporting activities which involve artists and members of Yarra's community
Our community arts team have an ear to the ground, and we use our skills as creative producers and community development workers, to create meaningful tailored projects with and for our community.
Events are a way to bring people together. We support a wide variety of cultural events and festivals that are a drawcard for locals and tourists.
Our support can include funding or providing critical knowledge and expertise in logistics and safety management.
Our festivals and events calendar includes:
- Lunar Festival
- Johnston Street Fiesta
- The Village Festival
- Gertrude Street Projection Festival
- Fairfield Summer Music Series
- Rock‐a‐Bye Baby music sessions
We also take on a place management role for important dates such as New Year's Eve to ensure residents and visitors can celebrate in a safe and respectful manner.
We are always looking for ways to simplify processes where possible, and have introduced an Events in Public Spaces single permit for community organisers, which replaces the need to contact multiple teams within the council.
We are proud of our strong links to the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung community, the Traditional Owners and true sovereigns of the land now known as Yarra.
Our Arts and Culture Policy 2022-2026 [ PDF, 928.69 KB] recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultures are at the heart of Yarra. We highlight the Indigenous community's rich history and continuing connection to the area through a variety of special arts and cultural projects.
We run a variety of public art programs helping make Yarra a vibrant, creative and engaging place.
Our Room to Create Program aims to keep the arts in Yarra by supporting artists and organisations and creating affordable and sustainable creative spaces.
Our visual arts program includes diverse exhibition and public art programs, and our art and heritage collection. We also work closely with Yarra's galleries and artist run spaces.
We are committed to giving exhibiting opportunities to artists, and inspiring visual art encounters for all.
Receive monthly email updates about upcoming exhibitions, events and other arts announcements.