VCA50 Creative Development Grant

The VCA50 Creative Development Grants, an initiative of the VCA Foundation Board, have been established to provide crucial support for early career alumni in developing creative projects. Up to five Grants valued at $10,000 each, will be awarded to support new creative projects that are devised, developed and presented by recent graduates of any VCA discipline. The purpose of the Grants is to provide critical showcase platforms from which emerging artists can launch a career in the creative industries.

Applications open

27 Nov 2023

Last day for applications

31 Mar 2024
Learn more

Application type

Application required
How to apply

Benefit type

Single payment
Full benefit details

Citizenship requirements

Australian / domestic student
International student

Total value

at least $10,000

Applicable study areas

Performing and visual arts, theatre, film and television

Number of scholarships awarded

multiple

  • Eligibility & selection criteria

    Eligibility

    To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

    • have graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) within 10 years of application closing date. Preference may be given to applicants who graduated within 7 years of application closing date *All project leads must fulfil this criteria.
    • propose to develop a new creative work that will have a public outcome. This may take the form of a performance, exhibition, installation, film or presentation.
    • All proposals will be considered, but preference will be given to those that incorporate multiple VCA graduates and/or span across artforms.
    • *Note: Project Leads must have graduated from the VCA no longer than 10 years prior to application closing date and preference will be given to projects involving multiple VCA graduates. However, projects may also involve others who are not associated with the VCA.

    Selection criteria

    Eligible applicants will be assessed by a Selection Committee on:

    • The quality of the application
    • Originality of the proposed creative project
    • Evidence of ability to fulfill the proposed project’s aims and outcomes
    • The potential for the Grant to impact applicants’ future development

    The Dean, on the recommendation of the graduate committee, will approve the recipient/s, and all applicants will be advised via email of the outcome.

  • Application process

    Apply online via the link below (link is visible only during the application open phase).

    Submit a scholarship application now

  • When will I know the outcome?

    Applicants can expect an outcome update four weeks after the scholarships closing date.

What are the benefits?

A single payment of $10,000.

Intended Outcomes

It is a condition of the Grants that the following outcomes are met:

  • The final Creative Work must be presented in a public forum external to the VCA within 12 months of the Grant being awarded.
  • The grantees must deliver a presentation associated with the development of the Creative Work, to faculty, staff, students and/or alumni at the VCA. This could be delivered in the context of a seminar, workshop, lecture, artist talk or similar and will be arranged in consultation with VCA staff and faculty.
  • Recipients are asked to contact the Fine Arts and Music Scholarships office <fineartsmusic-scholarships@unimelb.edu.au> with information about any upcoming exhibitions/events/talks related to this project for which you have received funding support.  This is so that the donors can be invited to attend.

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.