Our Room to Create Program aims to keep the arts in Yarra by supporting artists and organisations and creating affordable and sustainable creative spaces.
Compared to surrounding municipalities, we have the highest percentage of residents who identify as creative practitioners.
Yarra continues to be an engine room for the arts, with spaces including:
- iconic live music venues
- more than 60 galleries and artist-run spaces
- formal and informal rehearsal spaces
- peak arts organisations
- radio stations
- film production houses
- recording studios.
However, increased property prices and decreased availability of affordable spaces has forced many creative people out of Yarra, particularly young and emerging artists.
Responsive Grants Program
All of the funding for the Room to Create Responsive Grants for 2024-2025 has been allocated. The grants will reopen in July 2025.
For information about application, eligibility and assessment, view our Room to Create Responsive Grant 2023/24 Guidelines [ PDF, 353.1 KB] .
The Room to Create Fund
In 2013, we committed $100,000 to establish the Room to Create Fund. This is a charitable fund account in partnership with the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation. The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation provided a further $100,000 to match our commitment.
The Meydan Group donated $30,000 in 2014 and Nelson Alexander donated $25,000 in 2015.
As the fund grows over time, we will offer the interest as infrastructure grants to the creative sector.
Help us meet our $1 million dollar target
- Yarra City Council
- Lord Mayors Charitable Fund
- Meydan Group
- Nelson Alexander Foundation
- Perri Cutten Pty Ltd
- Sophie Gannon
- Timothy Bishop
- Stuart McKenzie
- Susan Ball
- Arch Staver
- Dr Jonathan Hartley
- John Ballard
- Milieu Property
- Leigh Ellwood
- John Wardle
- Behnam Roohizadegan
- Rob Murray-Leach
- Kim Swinson
- Mike Hoy
- Phillip Vlahogiannis
- Mark Free
- Marcus Westbury
- David Murray-Smith
- Julie Raynor
- Myfanwy Hunter
- Katya Johanson
- Jayne Lovelock
- Dan Honey
- Sarah Young
- Shuk Yin Liew
- Anonymous (4)
For more information, submit an enquiry or call Arts and Cultural Services on 9205 5089.
