If you’re looking to create something new, team up with a community group, make beautiful music or share your talents with the world, you may want to lock one of the following closing dates into your diary:

Monday 27 February 2012 - Arts Development: Supports independent professional artists and organisations to create, present and program new work.

Monday 5 March 2012 - Community Partnerships: Supports creative collaborations between professional artists, arts companies, and Victorian communities.

Tuesday 13 March 2012 -  Contemporary and Live Music Development: Support for Victorian contemporary musicians to create and tour new music. The Sector Development category also provides support to programs and activities that contribute to the overall strengthening and development of the Victorian music scene. NB: you may see some documentation that says they are due 12 March, but that’s a public holiday so you’ve got an extra day!

Thursday 15 March 2012 - International: Supports Victorian artists and arts organisations to build their international profile, networks and employment opportunities through export, touring and cultural exchange activity.

Arts Victoria program staff are available to discuss your applications. Contact details can be found in the ‘Contact’ tab of the webpage for each program. The earlier you get in touch, the better!

» See a full list of Arts Victoria grants programs

In 2001, the Federal Government announced funding for the establishment of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC), a commission that will:

• determine and regulate charities;
• promote good governance;
• ensure compliance with charitable laws; and
• provide education for the sector.

As a first step, the ACNC Taskforce was established to engage with the sector and to define how the Commission will operate. The Taskforce is holding a series of public meetings across Australia to gain insights and views on the design and implementation of this regulator.

The Victorian forum will be held in Melbourne on Tuesday 7 February 2012 from 5-7pm. The free session is an opportunity for not-for-profit groups to raise issues relating to the new reporting framework, the ACNC public information portal and the ACNC’s educative role.

Demand for these sessions is high so bookings are essential.

» Find out more or register

Image: The Departure, Helen Johnson (Source: Helen Johnson)

As covered in the December eNews, the Premier and Minister for the Art Ted Baillieu last year announced a comprehensive review of Arts Victoria's Organisations program, which provides operational funding to small to medium arts organisations across the State. 

On Wednesday 8 February 2012, Arts Victoria will host an information session for arts and cultural organisations wishing to know more about the review, the process and timelines involved. It will also include information on funding arrangement and programs for 2012-2013 for those wishing to apply for Annual Operations support in 2013.

Wednesday 8 February 2012, 10:30am
ANZ Pavillion, Arts Centre Melbourne, St Kilda Road (under the Spire)
RSVP by Friday 3 February 2012 by emailing: review@dpc.vic.gov.au

Registrations are open for the Centre for Contemporary Photography’s National Indigenous Photo-Media Forum which will be held in Melbourne from 8-10 February 2012.

Arts Victoria is proud to support this forum, which is open to all photographers, photo-media artists and those interested in contemporary Indigenous art and culture (curators, writers, artists and everyone in between).  Speakers include artist Destiny Deacon, Professor Marcia Langton and Gallery Director of Monash Gallery of Art, Shaune Lakin.

National Indigenous Photo-Media Forum
Wednesday 8 – Friday 10 February 2012
ACMI at Federation Square, Melbourne
Free for Indigenous artists. A registration fee applies for all other attendees. Forum Pass: Full $275, Concession $250 (inc. GST).

» Find out more or register

Image: Darren Siwes Silver Boy (2008) Courtesy of the artist and Nellie Castan Gallery

In partnership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Victorian Government is calling for applications for the Victorian Women’s Governance Scholarship program.

Thirty-four scholarships will be available to women to undertake the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ highly regarded company directors course.

Applications are open to women throughout Victoria who are serving directors of non-profit boards that currently receive Victorian Government funding.

Scholarship applications close on Friday 10 February 2012.

» Find out more

Musicians and music managers working across all genres are invited to attend a free interactive music grants information session hosted by Arts Victoria’s Contemporary and Live Music Development team.

This session will explore the funding options and opportunities that could be right for your projects and will offer advice and insights including grant writing tips, and how to avoid common mistakes. Come prepared with plenty of questions to make the most of this session.

Tuesday 14 February 2012, 6 – 7:30pm
Arts Victoria – The Grainger Room, Level 6, 2 Kavanagh St Southbank Vic
Bookings are essential by 5pm Friday 10 February 2011, book your place at by emailing: musicgrants@dpc.vic.gov.au

» Find out more about the Contemporary and Live Music Development program

The Australia Council for the Arts has announced a new program ,the Broadband Arts Initiative, that aims to explore the cultural potential of the National Broadband Network.

They are seeking ideas from artists for innovative arts projects which demonstrate the potential of the NBN for Australian culture.

Funding of up to $100,000 per project is available. Proposed projects can involve significant artistic and technical research over a year, but should result in a public outcome for the public before June 2013.

Expressions of interest are due by Wednesday 15 February 2012 and funded projects should start from 1 May 2012.

» More information and application details

This month, the folks at Castlemaine State Festival announced a newly created award — the George Fairfax New Theatre Award.

The award is a reimagining of the former George Fairfax Playwrights Competition and was created to honour the life of theatre practitioner and advocate George Fairfax (1928–1996), whose career in theatre combined skills in acting, directing, design, music and writing.

Applications are open to new performance projects or theatre works by Victorian-based playwrights and theatre makers, individuals, collectives and companies. The winning work will be chosen in  2012 and the production will be developed as part of the 2013 Castlemaine State Festival.

Entries close on Tuesday 6 March 2012.

» More information and application details

Image: Moth, Arena Theatre and Malthouse Theatre

Another gem from the Australia Council for the Arts who have called for applications for their new Indigenous Music Theatre Initiative, a program that will support Indigenous musicians and theatre makers to create and present innovative new music theatre works.

Applications will be accepted from individual Indigenous artists, as well as groups and organisations which include Indigenous key personnel with creative control.

Funding of up to $30,000 is available towards one or more stages of the development of a new work.

Applications close Monday 12 March 2012.

» More information and application details

Image: Pecan Summer, Deborah Cheetham