The Palais Theatre Community Fund provides grants of up to $5,000 to eligible charities, not-for-profit organisations and other community groups that support creative and recreational activities, infrastructure purchases and residents within the community of City of Port Phillip.

These activities may include:

• Professional skills development, including mentoring and residencies
• Creation of new artistic works
• Practice based research
• Creative development
• Collaborations
• Productions
• Exhibitions and installations
• History research or history tours
• Activities to develop the arts sector
• Marketing development
• Activities that creatively engage communities
• Recreation activity development
• Purchase of equipment or infrastructure that supports eligible activities.

The fund will provide grants of up to $5,000 to local registered charities, communities and not-for-profit organisations based within the City of Port Phillip, including projects for creative arts, infrastructure, equipment, and community activities. 

The grant enables organisations to support and celebrate local activities and people who work behind the scenes to keep Melbourne’s renowned vibrant communities alive. From live performances, community engagement and sporting clubs. 

The fund is an integral part of Live Nation Australia Venues’ 30-year lease of the iconic Palais Theatre in St Kilda and has been set up in partnership with the City of Port Phillip to provide long-term benefits to residents of St Kilda and the City of Port Phillip community. Funding for the grant is subsidised via a 50-cent donation from LNAV for every ticket sold for an event at the Palais Theatre and is set to generate approximately $100,000 to $120,000 per year into the City of Port Phillip community. 

Since the fund was established in 2017, the fund has distributed over $463,000 in donations, supporting the local St Kilda and City of Port Phillip art and culture community. 

All past recipients of the Palais Theatre Community Fund:

• Artists for Kids Culture
• Arts Access Victoria
• Australian National Memorial Theatre
• Australian National Memorial Theatre Limited – The National Theatre
• BalletLab Association Inc
• Elwood & St KIlda Neighbour Learning Centre Inc.
• Elwood Cricket Club
• Elwood Life Saving Club
• Elwood Toy Library
• Finucane & Smith (Auspicious Arts Projects Inc)
• FoodFilled Incorporated
• Gasworks Arts Park
• HousingFirst Ltd.
• Lentil as Anything LTD
• Linden New Art Inc
• National Theatre
• Poet's Garden
• Port Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre (City of Voices Inclusive Theatre Group)
• Port Melbourne Primary School
• Port Phillip Community Group
• Port Phillip EcoCentre Inc
• Rawcus Theatre Company Inc
• Red Stitch Actors Theatre
• South Port Community Housing Group
• South Port Community Centre - City of Voices Inclusive Theatre Group
• Space2b Social Design
• St Kilda Bike Kitchen Inc.
• St Kilda Mums
• St Kilda Police & Citizens Youth Club Inc.
• St Kilda Primary School
• St Kilda Scout Group
• St. Kilda Community Housing
• Star Health Group Limited
• The Torch Project
• Theatre Works
• Theatrical Incorporated
• Uniting (Victoria & Tasmania) Ltd
• We Support You LTD
• Yalukit Willam Nature Association

Application Details 

Applications will include the following items:

1. You must meet all of the criteria to be eligible for funding.
2. Provide contact details for your organisation.
3. Describe your organisation's purpose/mission.
4. Project Title.
5. A brief overview of the project.
6. What will the funding be used for.
7. How much funding are you requesting?
8. What is the total estimated cost of the project? What % of the total project is this funding?
9. Have you secured additional funding for this project?
10. If your project is successful, please advise how you will acknowledge the support of Live Nation (Palais
Theatre - A Live Nation Managed Venue).
11. If your application is successful, a short acquittal report and evidence of completion must be provided
within one month of the agreed completion date.
12. Upload proof of your organisation being a not-for-profit and registered with the ACNC.
13. Is your organisation endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)?
Please note: DGR status is not an eligibility requirement. Organisations who do not have DRG status
are still eligible for funding.
14. Will this grant be auspiced?
15. Upload your most recent audited/certified financial statements.
16. By submitting an application you are agreeing that it is being submitted under the signature of the
authorised person (CEO/ Director/ President).

− Once you submit your application you will not be able to access a copy of it through this system.
Ensure you have saved your answers to your own document.
− Also note that you will not receive a confirmation email once your application has been
submitted.

Some notes from past rounds that may assist your application are:

− Ensure all survey questions are completed
− Clearly describe the project the funding will support
− Define who will benefit from your project
− Articulate how the funds will be used to support your project
− If a co-funded project, explain how any shortfall will be accounted for
− Consider submitting, smaller more tangible projects rather than funding as part of larger

The application process is through an online application form with City of Port Phillip.

If you require more information on venue hire, dates and costs while making your decision to apply, please send your enquiry to bookings@palaistheatre.com.au