Rainbow Community Fund

In recognition of the continuous support for Rainbow Serpent Festival by local Pyrenees and Ballarat communities, the Rainbow Community Fund has been established to support local organisations and projects that contribute to the greater good of the region.

The Rainbow Community Fund was established through festival patrons purchasing Rainbow Souvenir programs with all profits going into the grants scheme. Thanks to Rainbow patrons, nine local projects were funded in 2017, and eleven in 2018. We want to do the same again this year with a $15,000 total grant pool.

Through the Rainbow Community Fund we aim to support:

professional development opportunities that are otherwise unavailable in the region for creative industries or
funding for services or projects often poorly resourced in rural areas AND
projects that encourage community participation or engagement.

We are now calling for nominations of individuals and organisations who are making a positive difference at the local level for the following grant categories:

Grant Category #1 Rainbow Community Arts Grant

Grants to assist artists and designers in Ballarat to produce and present their work locally

Grant Category #2 Rainbow Greener Communities Grant

Aimed at assisting eligible environmental community organisations and projects

Grant Category #3 Rainbow Healthier Communities Grant

Grants for initiatives that contribute community health and wellbeing.

Grant Category #4 Rainbow Locally Grown Music Grant

Toward costs for showcasing locally produced music. Both musicians and event organisers are welcome to apply.

If you’re wondering what kind of projects qualify, continue reading below about the incredible projects funded in previous years.

If you are working on an amazing project or if you know someone, or a group, working hard to make the world an all-around better place in Ballarat and/or the Pyrenees Shires, we welcome your application – please see the form below.

Nominations close 15 November 2019.

Winners will be notified by phone/email in December 2019.

Good luck If you have any questions please email grants@rainbowartsandculture.org

Rainbow Community Fund Grant Application Form

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Previous Grant Recipients

Congratulations and massive gratitude to previous recipients who have created some amazing projects that Rainbow Arts and Culture and Rainbow Serpent are proud to support:

BREAZE’s (Ballarat Renewable Energy & Zero Emissions) is putting solar panels on social houses. Their inspiring One Dollar for One Watt campaign means that for every dollar donated, they can install one watt of solar power on a house that is rented by a disadvantaged person in the community. We’re huge fans of BREAZE’s ongoing work at Rainbow and feel they are very worthy recipients of a $5,000 grant.

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Beaufort Apex Club is a community volunteer service group. They provide assistance with community projects and financial support to community members who are undertaking projects that will have a positive impact in the region. Our current project is focused on the construction of a catering van / mobile kitchen that will enable them to increase their income earning opportunities and to therefore generate significantly more benefit for the community.

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Beaufort 1st Scout Group wanted to purchase a range of art & craft tools to inspire local youth to have a love for the creative. and develop their confidence and problem solving skills. They also encourage our older scouts to take a leadership role in their community and share their creative skills through community art and mentoring younger youth. We hope the $500 helps them purchase all the paint, canvas and other materials they need!

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Buninyong Sustainability/Friends of Royal Park are raising funds for Ballarat’s first electric car charging station and we contributed $2,500 to this environmental cause.

Beaufort Brass Band Refurbishment Fund received $2000 towards the cost of replacing and repairing instruments used for public events and ceremonies. While it may not be the kind of music we showcase at Rainbow, this organisation has been contributing to the local community for 130 years and deserve our wholehearted support!

Ballarat Pride Hub provides information and training to locals about the queer community and supports members of the queer community if they are in need. The organisation is run by volunteers and were in need of a new computer and workstation- we hope the $3,000 donated by Rainbow was enough to purchase everything they need to continue this amazing, much needed service.

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The seven small rural schools around the Pyrenees (Amphitheatre, Elmhurst, Landsborough, Navarre, Natte Yallock, Moonambel and Trawalla Primary Schools) have developed a project where students will all meet together at various locations around the Pyrenees to work with local artists, musicians and science/engineers to learn and produce exhibitions and performances. The aim is to give the students and the local community members something that is not currently offered in the area and encourage more people to participate in the arts. Rainbow were thrilled to contribute $1,000 toward the cost of transport and materials.

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The Hidden Orchard harvests fruit from backyards or public areas to share with the wider community including local charities. The charities distribute the fruit free to people within the community, or use it in meal programs. We donated $500 help them with more tools and resources.

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Food is Free Ballarat is the passion project of a wonderful individual growing and providing free fresh produce for locals in need- although small, we’ve been informed the $500 grant had a massive impact.

The Big Avoca Do is an event showcasing local music and arts in the Pyrenees Shire and were stoked to receive $1000 of funding to continue their mission to support creatives in the region, The Pyrenees Arts Council will now be able to bring significant artists and works to Beaufort after we provided $1500 funding to purchase a security alarm system to protect valuable art.

The SJD Foundation is a Ballarat charity established to enhance the lives of children in need. They donate items and food via their fundraising through the 3BA Christmas Appeal, CAFS, Berry Street and the Eureka Mums to help them in their efforts to help those in need. What a great cause- Rainbow has contributed $2,000 so they can continue this necessary work in the community.

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Bridget Franc is the Adolescent Health Promotion Nurse at Beaufort Secondary College. Bridget is passionate about building resilience and promoting mental health and wellness for youth. She’s introduced a new initiative in the school using a variety of creative methods including art therapy, drama, dance, music therapy, yoga, mindfulness and the practise of gratitude. Until now, Bridget has personally funded her own professional development to get qualified and help local youth to feel self-love and celebrate diversity in a supportive environment that provides a safe space for kids to connect. At Rainbow, we think Bridget is an amazing inspiration and shouldn’t have to cover the cost of her continuing training alone so we’ve provided $1,000 to help with travel and course fees. Good luck, Bridget!

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No Lights No Lycra Ballarat is a bi-monthly one-hour endorphin-pumping dance party in the dark that provides health and fitness opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds who may not partake in traditional exercise. There’s a sense of acceptance, connection, belonging, solidarity and unspoken kindness among participants and Rainbow were very happy to support this initiative with $500 to help with the cost of venue hire.

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Meals for change is a café meals program operating across nine Ballarat small businesses providing young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with access to subsidised nutritious meals in a community setting. The $1500 Rainbow grant will fund additional meals for homeless youth in the region.