Place Activation and Event Grant Program

Applications now open

Nillumbik’s Place Activation Grants aim to assist individuals and groups with the delivery of placemaking activities in Nillumbik. Placemaking activities play an important role in townships across the Shire and can provide social, economic and cultural benefits to the region and its communities.

In 2024-25, the Place Activation Grant Program has been extended to include an additional one-off Large Event stream to fund new and emerging events that activate public places in Nillumbik.

Virtual information session – Tuesday 26 November 2024

6pm-7pm Place Activation and Event Grant Program Information Session (via Zoom)

Join us online to receive useful advice about how to apply, the selection criteria and the assessment process, and to discuss your project with Council staff to give you the best chance at success.

To attend, register online.

For a range of other helpful resources and important information, visit the Grants page.

It is essential to speak to a Council Officer about your proposed application. Officers can assist you in developing your ideas to ensure they meet the criteria, providing guidance on Council priorities and submitting your application online.

About

Grant funding is available for two streams of placemaking activities and events:

Stream 1 - Small Place Activation Grants

Our Small Place Activation Grant aims to empower local communities and stakeholders to shape their own places, solve local problems, help neighbours and colleagues and lead the change they want to see in Nillumbik through the delivery of placemaking activities between 1 January and 30 June 2025.

Placemaking, through place activation, is creating quality places that people want to live, work and play by increasing vibrancy and contributing to a safe and inclusive community. It is a collaborative process that has everyone’s wellbeing in mind.

The purpose of this grant is to assist community groups and local residents in the delivery of placemaking activities across Nillumbik to enhance the user experience within public places and spaces. These activities are supported by Nillumbik’s Placemaking Framework.

What can be funded via a Small Place Activation Grant?

The program offers up to $4,500 in funding, from a pool of $20,000, to support and encourage placemaking activities in Nillumbik that:

• drive a strong social impact for the community
• provide economic benefit and enhance visitation to our municipality
• improve the physical environment of the area
• support new activities in a public space and demonstrate public value
• support low cost, innovative place activations that encourage improvements to local townships
• enhance a sense of belonging, identify and purpose within community
• demonstrate broad community connectivity and participation
• contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community
• provide options for accessibility and consider inclusion within the community
• demonstrate environmental practices and initiatives
• deliver successful, safe and compliant activities.

What won't be funded via Small Place Activation Grant?

Stream 2 - Large Event Grant (limited, one-time funding)

The Large Event Grant offers one-off seed funding to support new events in Nillumbik that will enhance the visitor economy and foster economic development and tourism.

Nillumbik Shire Council is looking to fund new events and festivals that:

• are planned and staged for a particular interest or purpose
• bring people together and provide opportunities for them to connect and participate
• provide connection and benefit to local businesses
• are open to members of the public and are publicly announced or advertised
• are expected to be attended by more than 1,000 people
• take place between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 and contribute to a diverse and balanced calendar of events in Nillumbik.

What can be funded via a Large Event Grant?

The program offers one-time grants from $5,000 up to $15,000, from a pool of $30,000, to assist organisers to pilot new events in Nillumbik that:

• are fun, safe, sustainable, accessible and inclusive
• bring people together, providing opportunities for them to connect and participate locally
• provide economic benefit and enhance visitation to our municipality
• create opportunities for local business, artists and community groups to participate
• support local economic, cultural and social impacts
• celebrate and support diverse communities
• promote Nillumbik’s lifestyle, cultural strengths and visitor economy, recognising it as a vibrant place to live and visit.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate a contribution to holding the event, either through in-kind support, voluntary services or cash. The value of contribution demonstrated must be at least 50 per cent of the funding request. For example, if you request funding of $10,000, you must show a co-contribution of at least $5,000 (cash or in-kind).

The Large Event Grants have a long lead time to ensure applicants are notified of the funding outcome as well as receive the funds well in advance to allow for planning and promotional lead times.

General eligibility

To be eligible for consideration under either grant steam, applicants MUST:

• be a not-for-profit incorporated organisation that lives, works, studies, volunteers or plays in Nillumbik, or partnered with (auspiced by) an eligible organisation
• commit to obtaining all necessary permits related to the funded event, particularly for large events or festivals
• comply with Child Safe Standards if activities involve direct or incidental contact with children
• be compliant or have satisfactorily acquitted all outstanding grants previously awarded by Nillumbik Shire Council
• hold a minimum of $20 million public liability insurance, or if your activity will be held in a Council venue or on Council land, you may be eligible for coverage under Council’s community public liability insurance
• Agree to participate in an evaluation of the program.

Ineligible events or activities

Applications will NOT be considered for:

• an event or activity that is not being held in the Nillumbik municipal boundary
• day to day operational expenses or core business costs (for example salaries, administrative costs, maintenance costs, organisational operating costs, utilities including telecommunications etc)
• duplication of existing events or activities currently funded by Council
• events or activities solely for fundraising purposes without broad community benefit
• events or activities that can apply for funding under other Council grant programs
• competitions with no community component
• prize money and awards
• events or activities with a sole political or religious purpose that could be perceived as divisive within the community
• events with no free component
• single membership-based events that are not open to the public
• alcohol or gambling related activities
• projects that have received full funding from another source
• retrospective funding or projects which are due to commence prior to the notification of the application outcome
• applicants that are in debt to or have any outstanding commitments with Council.

Support for applicants

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the Virtual Information Session on 19 November to receive helpful advice on how to apply, the selection criteria, and the assessment process, as well as discuss your project with Council staff to give you the best chance at success.

Before starting an application, it is essential to read the Guidelines(PDF, 699KB) to learn about the key dates, assessment process, funding conditions, how to apply and confirm the initiative's eligibility.

For a range of helpful resources and other important information visit the Grants page.