In 2024 the Mental Health Commissioner of South Australia, offered the Mental Health Commissioner's Performers Grant to facilitate the participation of a diverse range of performers and entertainments in the Adelaide Fringe Festival. This initiative was to support performances that tackle mental health themes or foster dialogue and understanding around mental health issues.
We are working collaboratively in the hope of delivering a similar program for 2025 Adelaide Fringe. Those who are applying to the initial 2025 Fringe Fund round can indicate their interest in these grants and apply within their Fringe Fund application.
This program aims to encourage creative engagements with mental health topics, promote better understanding and reduce prejudice and discrimination associated with mental health challenges. This aligns with the broader goal of fostering a more empathetic and informed society in terms of mental health and wellbeing.
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What Can This Funding Support?
Expenses this fund can support include
What will be asked in this application?
I cannot see the Mental Health Commissioner Grants Application Questions in my application?
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Who can apply?
The Mental Health Commissioner's Performers Grant are open to applications from Australian citizens and permanent resident performers including:
- Individual performers, theatre groups, dance troupes, musicians, visual artists, filmmakers, and interactive installation creators.
- Sole traders, solo performers, production companies set up for staging associated performances, or collaborative groups.
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Who can not apply?
Government agencies, for-profit businesses, philanthropic organisations/individuals and overseas residents are not eligible to lodge an application but may be partners in an application.
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Best Practice Guidelines
The grant aims to support performances that foster dialogue and understanding around mental health, adhering to prejudice and discrimination reduction.
Applicants must refer to the Mindframe Guidelines and the 'Best-Practice Guidelines for Reducing Prejudice, Self-Stigma and Discrimination for Performers: https://mindframe.org.au/guidelines
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What Can This Funding Support?
Eligible applicants can apply for a grant up to a maximum of $5,000 (GST exclusive) for various expenses related to their participation in the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
This funding opportunity would be in addition to any successful Fringe Fund applications.
Expenses this fund can support include:
- Travel Expenses: Costs associated with travel to Adelaide for the festival, including flights (economy class at the best available rate), travel insurance, and local transportation costs (such as mileage at 85 cents per kilometer, and/or public transport/metro cards).
- Accommodation: Costs for stay in Adelaide during the festival (capped at $250 per night).
- Marketing and Promotion: Costs related to the promotion of the performance at the Fringe, which can include Fringe-approved advertising, show promotion, and printing. The total allocation for these expenses is capped at a maximum of $1000. Advertising must be responsible both environmentally and socially.
- Post-show Forums: Support is available for hosting post-show discussion forums, featuring panelists with expertise, lived experience, or knowledge pertinent to the themes of the performance. The total for these expenses is capped at a maximum of$500.
Exclusions:
- Venue hire, car/equipment/costume hire, salaries or wages, any SA-based staff or crew costs (other than local transportation costs), and any costs for performances outside the Adelaide Fringe programming.
- Projects that duplicate existing services or are outside the Adelaide Fringe Festival dates.
- Core activities covered by other funding sources, including costs of performing.
- Performances held in venues with licensed gaming machines.
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Troubleshooting & Support
What will be asked in this application?
Find a complete downloadable list of Mental Health Commissioner Grants questions here. Please also note that these questions will appear within the wider Fringe Fund application.
I cannot see the Mental Health Commissioner Grants Application Questions in my application?
The Mental Health Commissioner Application Questions will appear in the current 2025 Fringe Fund Application Round for those applicants applying as an Artist/Collective or Producer. Selecting ‘Yes’ to the initial question, ‘Would you like to be considered for the 2025 Mental Health Commissioner Performance Grants?’ will cause the application questions to appear.
Our Artist & Venue team would love to have a chat via email at artists@adelaidefringe.com.au or be calling +61 8 8100 2022.
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Image: Sam Kissajukian, Museum of Modernia at The Light Room Studio at ILA - Razan Fakhouri, 2024