Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong has announced the launch of the inaugural Maitri Cultural Partnerships grants round to support greater exchange and collaboration between Australian and Indian creative industries.
‘Maitri = friendship’ will underpin the series of partnerships and grants to help creative sector to collaborate with India’s thriving cultural industries.
Minister Wong said that ‘Maitri Cultural Partnerships program’ will foster on-going relationships between Australian and Indian artists, performers and cultural organisations to deepen understanding and connections between our two countries.
“Today I announce the launch of the inaugural Maitri Cultural Partnerships grants round to support greater exchange and collaboration between Australian and Indian creative industries,”
Minister Wong added
This initiative is among the first taken under newly established Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR) which will support greater exchange and collaboration between Australian and Indian creative industries.
Earlier this month Minister Penny Wong has announced Ms Swati Dave as the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board to the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR).
The inaugural grants round is now open and Applications will close at 11.00pm (Canberra time) on Monday 3 April 2023.
The Maitri Cultural Partnership grant round is divided into three programs:
- Maitri Cultural Partnerships Major Collaboration Grant
Supporting major Australian cultural organisation collaboration to engage Indian partners (funding up to $250,000) - Maitri Cultural Partnerships Visual and Performing Arts Grants
Cultural collaboration that supports First Nations’ participation (funding up to $250,000) - Maitri Cultural Partnerships Collaboration Grants
Small to medium sized Australian cultural organisations and community groups collaboration (funding up to $70,000)
However its not yet notified how many grants will be allocated under each programs.
Both Australian and Indian cultural and creative industries are major economic drivers with internationally renowned film, music and performing arts sectors. This funding will help the Australian creative sector collaborate with India’s thriving cultural industries.
The Maitri program will be administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations which will open later this year. The Centre will serve as a national platform to strengthen business, policy, institutional, cultural and community engagement with India.
The Maitri Cultural Partnerships are one of DFAT’s flagship Maitri initiatives. However some other programs will be launched in the coming year, include Maitri Grants, Scholarships and Fellowships.
More information can be seeked about Maitri Cultural Partnership grants by sending queries at email maitrigrants@dfat.gov.au.
As the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) uses the SmartyGrants online grant application platform hence application forms for these grants and instructions for lodging an application can be found here: SmartyGrants.