Council & Politics
23 June, 2026
Funding boost for sport, arts and community groups
FROM a community outdoor gym in Stawell to a winter arts festival in Halls Gap and new hockey goals in St Arnaud, more than $57,000 in Northern Grampians Shire Council grants will support a diverse range of projects across the municipality this year.
Twelve community groups and organisations have secured funding through council’s 2026 Community Grant and Arts and Culture Grant programs, while four schools will share a further $2000 through the Creative Education Fund.
Among the successful recipients were Stawell Secondary College, which received $5000 towards a community outdoor gym, and St Arnaud Hockey Club, which secured $5000 for new hockey goals.
Funding was spread across sport, community infrastructure, arts, education and digital literacy initiatives, supporting everything from hall restoration works and local festivals to inclusion programs, digital skills projects and creative arts initiatives.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said the grants would help volunteers and community groups continue creating opportunities for residents across the municipality.
“Supporting local volunteers and community events builds a stronger, more vibrant community,” she said.
“The Community Grant and Arts and Culture Grant programs are wonderful and council is thrilled to be able to support the recipients, who provide fantastic services and opportunities for our residents.
“I commend all the grant recipients on their efforts to improve our community and create active, welcoming spaces for people to enjoy.”
Community facilities featured strongly among the successful applications, with the Concongella Hall Management Committee receiving $5000 to continue restoration works, while the Banyena Hall Committee received $3870 towards hosting the Mick Thomas Winter Solstice Ball.
Arts and culture initiatives also accounted for a significant share of the funding. Halls Gap Kitchen Cabinet secured $5000 to support the 2026 GLOW Festival, Arts & Culture Group Halls Gap received $5000 for a series of workshops featuring local artists, and St Arnaud Raillery Hub Gallery received $5000 to deliver a creative digital arts program.
Other successful projects included a strategic planning project for Stawell Railway Gallery, a new website for Navarre Primary School, an inclusion initiative at Grampians United Football Club, a community literacy and digital skills program from More Than Words Collective, and a new wireless microphone system for Stawell Performing Arts Company.
Hyslop also congratulated the schools receiving Creative Education Fund grants.
“Well done also to the schools who were successful in obtaining Creative Education Fund grants – I love hearing about the fantastic projects you have on the books and commend all the staff and students on their hard work,” she said.
The Creative Education Fund recipients were St Arnaud Primary School, Stawell Primary School, Stawell West Primary School and St Arnaud Secondary College.
2026 GRANT RECIPIENTS
* St Arnaud Hockey Club – $5000 (new hockey goals)
* Navarre Primary School – $5000 (school website)
* Concongella Hall Management Committee – $5000 (hall restoration)
* Banyena Hall Committee – $3870 (Mick Thomas Winter Solstice Ball)
* Stawell Railway Gallery – $4800 (strategic plan)
* Grampians United Football Club – $5000 (inclusion initiative)
* Stawell Secondary College – $5000 (community outdoor gym)
* More Than Words Collective – $3534 (literacy and digital skills program)
* Arts & Culture Group Halls Gap – $5000 (artist workshops)
* Halls Gap Kitchen Cabinet – $5000 (GLOW Festival)
* St Arnaud Raillery Hub Gallery – $5000 (digital arts program)
* Stawell Performing Arts Company – $3169 (wireless microphones)
CREATIVE EDUCATION FUND
* St Arnaud Primary School – $500 (school art show)
* Stawell Primary School – $500 (Foundation School Show)
* Stawell West Primary School – $500 (Young Creators project)
* St Arnaud Secondary College – $500 (Come Fly with Me production)
Read More: Stawell