Creative communities partnerships support major community arts and cultural development projects of excellence that align arts and non-arts partners and have clear outcomes that extend beyond the life of the project. The Creative communities partnership initiative must address at least one of the community partnerships priority areas.

Creative communities partnerships support opportunities for Australians to participate in meaningful arts and cultural activities in the places where they live, encouraging innovation and enhancing community wellbeing.

Proposals may include a range of diverse but related activities and are for total amounts between $50,000 and $600,000, with a maximum of $200,000 in any one year. The Australia Council may commission creative communities partnerships to address strategic priorities or issues as they arise.

The objectives of creative communities partnerships are to:

• Increase opportunities for individuals and communities to actively participate in excellent artistic practices
• Deliver innovative community based arts programs with long term outcomes through arts and non-arts partnerships
• Stimulate innovation across organisations, governments and in communities in the use of the arts to address issues of community well being
• Increase the understanding of the contribution of the community arts and culture to Australia’s artistic and community development, through effective and appropriate evaluation.

This may be undertaken in partnership with other organisations, institutions, government departments and/or individuals.

The community partnerships committee supports a number of priority areas that cover a range of geographic, demographic and social contexts. These priority areas serve to focus effective use of the resources of community partnerships and include regional Australia, disability, young people, cultural diversity, emerging communities, Indigenous people, remote Indigenous communities and specific critical social and cultural issues requiring focused attention.

Download the pdf of Guiding Principles for Community Partnerships

Only applicants who have discussed their proposal with a community partnerships manager are eligible to apply. Applicants must have written approval to submit the full application.

Creative communities partnerships are only open to organisations.

Organisations may only hold one funded creative communities partnerships at one time.

Proposals to creative communities partnerships may be submitted at any time.

Applicants must demonstrate in Phase Two of the application process that at least 50% of the budget for their proposal is confirmed and derived from sources other than the Australia Council.

Please note that proofs of concept and full applications to the creative communities partnerships are not considered as one of the two grant applications you may make to the Australia Council each year.

Selection criteria

Applications will be supported that best demonstrate the following:

• Proven capacity and high level skills of the artists and key personnel involved to achieve the outcomes
• Innovation and excellence in the partnership project
• Effective planning, evaluation processes and use of resources, including a range of confirmed funding sources and project partners
• Developmental and sustainable outcomes for the communities participating in the partnership (that are relevant to communities identified within the community partnerships priority areas).

There are two phases to the creative communities partnerships process:

• Phase 1 – discussion and proof of concept.
• Phase 2 – invitation to present a full written application.

Applicants should discuss the project concept and application process with a community partnerships manager.

If your proposed activity fits within the guidelines of the creative communities partnerships, you will be invited in writing to submit a proof of concept. This will be assessed by three members of the community partnerships committee.

A decision regarding the proof of concept will be provided within four weeks of it being sent to the committee (please note, for proofs of concept received between 1 December and 15 January, decisions may take up to six weeks).

Phase 1 – proof of concept

An invitation to submit a proof of concept does not automatically lead to approval to submit a full application under the creative communities partnerships initiative.

The proof of concept should not exceed three pages. It should:

• State the aims and long term outcomes of the partnership
• Identify the partners and key personnel in the partnership
• Explain the significance of the project (How does the partnership contribute to community well being? What is the impact of the partnership and the lasting outcomes after the project is completed?)
• Address the creative communities partnerships objectives and at least one of the community partnerships priority areas
• Provide an indicative timeline and budget outline (including the list of partners engaged, confirmed and unconfirmed proposed funding sources and budget requests, and the level of funding being sought from community partnerships).

The written proposal is a communication between you and a community partnerships manager. It should state how the proposed activity meets the objectives of creative communities partnerships. Applicants should not submit letters of support or other support material at this stage of the process.

Committee members may also take into consideration when assessing the proof of concept the geographic and/or priority area distribution of Creative communities partnerships. Please click here for a list of funded initiatives in this category.

Phase 2 – invitation and full written application

Based on the assessment undertaken by community partnerships committee members, you may be invited to make a full written application based on your proof of concept. An invitation to submit a full application does not imply that it will be successful. You must submit the full application within three months of the date of invitation.

If invited, you will receive a written invitation and an application form. You will be required to submit the application in accordance with standard application procedures.

The full application will be assessed by the community partnerships committee and a decision provided within six weeks of it being submitted (please note, for full applications received between 1 December and 15 January the decisions may take up to 10 weeks).

The committee members may also take into consideration when assessing the full written application the geographic and/or priority area distribution of Creative communities partnerships.

Support Material

Support materials can be submitted in the following digital formats:

• Audio files – .mp3 (128-44.1kb/s)
• Images – .jpg (80 percent quality)
• Moving Images – .mov (Quicktime) . WMV (Windows Media Player)
• Documents – .pdf  .doc