What is the 2024–25 Multicultural Festivals and Events Program?

Introduction

Victoria is Australia's most multicultural state. Multiculturalism is part of who we are, and something we celebrate. We host a variety of culturally significant events throughout the year. The Multicultural Festivals and Events (MFE) Program supports some of these events. It showcases cultural diversity in the Victorian community to unite and celebrate differences.

The program offers grants up to $50,000 to support activities that promote and foster social cohesion. It has 2 objectives:

• program objective 1: to ensure Victorians can celebrate and preserve cultures, and share traditions
• program objective 2: to encourage the broader Victorian community to take part in events that further learning, understanding and respect for different cultures and traditions – funding will prioritise regional and rural communities, and new and emerging communities.

More than $1 million is available over 2024–25, through the Regional Multicultural Festivals and Events Fund (RMFEF). The RMFEF supports regional multicultural community organisations and any metropolitan organisations that deliver events across regional Victoria.

This will be the second allocation of funding from the $5 million investment towards regional multicultural festivals and events over a 4-year period.

The RMFEF aims to:

• attract even more visitors to regional Victoria
• provide support to regional multicultural organisations so they can celebrate and share their culture.

The 2024–25 MFE Program is a grants program that is:

• open
• discretionary
• merit-based.

The Multicultural Affairs branch of the Department of Premier and Cabinet administers the program.

Important information to consider includes:

• The 2024–25 MFE Program has 2 funding rounds:
  • Round 1 is for events from July to December 2024
  • Round 2 is for events from January to June 2025.
• Organisations can receive funding for one event in the 2024–25 financial year:
  • either an event between July – December 2024 or an event between January – June 2025. For example, if your organisation is approved for an event between July – December 2024, you will not be eligible to apply for an event between January – June 2025. This will ensure fair distribution and wider access of MFE funding to support more groups.
• Events previously funded are not guaranteed to receive funding, and the amount of funding may vary.
• Due to the competitive nature of the program, we may allocate less than the requested amount to successful applicants. You should plan for contingencies and consider other funding sources and options in case your application is unsuccessful or only partially funded.
• Organisations can only submit one application per funding round. The department will only assess one application per organisation in each round. Extra applications are not assessed. Auspice organisations can support an unlimited number of applications (see ‘Auspiced applications’ for more information).
• Avoid assuming you are successful or entering into financial or other commitments until you are formally notified of the outcome of your application.
• Recipients of government funding for a multicultural event in the same activity period for 2024–2025 will not be eligible to apply for the MFE competitive program.

Submit applications online at Multicultural Festivals and Events Program.

What grants are available?

An organisation can apply for one grant for their festival or event, within one of the following 3 funding streams:

Small stream (up to $5,000)

Find out more about the small funding stream

Medium stream ($5,001 - $15,000)

Find out more about the medium funding stream

Large stream ($15,001 - $50,000)

Find out more about the large funding stream