Diversity & Inclusion Small Grants Program

Overview

The Faculty of Arts is committed to fostering a culture that promotes diversity and inclusion. Our vision is to be home to a dynamic, diverse and inclusive community of staff and students who are committed to achieving our full potential by working together and with our partners in a spirit of courageous generosity by 2025.

In keeping with this vision, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee is pleased to announce a small grants program to support staff and students who are interested in hosting or coordinating events that further the vision of the Faculty.

We invite applications for projects, activities and events that advance diversity and inclusion within the Faculty and the wider University community for the 2023 academic year. This might include events that:

• Highlight the value and significance of cultural or religious festivals or holidays across the Faculty’s diverse community
• Showcase cultural activities that build awareness, celebrate diversity and create space for all students and staff members to mark occasions of cultural significance

The grant will be up to $3,000AUD and will be allocated on a competitive basis. Up to five grants will be awarded each year.

Application information

Applications for the 2023 grant round are now open. The deadline for submissions is 5pm AEST, 1 May 2023.

Who can apply?

Applicants must be a student or member of staff in the Faculty of Arts, who will be enrolled and/or in a continuing or fixed term position until at least 31 December 2023. Please note: applications from students must nominate a full-time staff member to act as supervisor. Applications may come from an individual or a group.

Staff (including professional staff) and students from diverse religious, cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds, people with disability, Indigenous Australians and LGBTIQA+ staff and students are especially encouraged to apply.

Type of events encouraged

Funding will be given to events such as film screenings, workshops, panel discussions, cultural performance and other activities that build awareness, create space for all students and staff members to mark occasions of cultural significance, and create an inclusive and welcoming environment across the Faculty. Events that facilitate wide participation are especially encouraged. Events must be completed by 30 November 2023.

Cost covered by the grant

The grant can be used for the payment of any goods or services that support the event outlined in your application. This may include:

• Venue and equipment hire
• Printing / stationery / graphic design
• Advertising
• Payment of domestic guest speakers/performers
• Travel costs associated with the activity
• Catering
• Exhibition costs

The grant cannot be spent on:

• Goods and services provided by overseas suppliers
• Salaries or teaching buyout
• Activities/projects that will charge participation fees
• Research
• Learning and teaching projects
• Retrospective funding for projects already underway or completed
• The purchase of equipment

How to apply

Complete the application form available here. The deadline for submissions is 5pm AEST, 1 May 2023.

2022: Awarded Projects

• Soviet Movie Nights: Film Screenings and Book Launch (Dr Natallia Kabiak and Larissa Andreeva, School of Languages  and Linguistics)

This project engages students in the Faculty of Arts with well-known Soviet films, such as Anna Karenina (1967), The Prisoner of the Caucasus or Shurik’s New Adventures (1966), Autumn Marathon (1979), and The Most Charming and Attractive (1985). The project also celebrates the publication of Dr Kabiak’s textbook, «Любимые советские фильмы на уроке РКИ» (Favourite Soviet Films in Russian-as-foreign-language Classes, Flinta, 2022), which discusses three of these films. Russian snacks provided at each screening.

Larissa Andreeva and Dr Natallia Kabiak with participants at the screening of The Prisoner of the Caucasus or Shurik’s New Adventures, 14 September 2022.

Dr Natallia Kabiak with her recently published textbook on Soviet Films, Любимые советские фильмы на уроке РКИ. 14 September 2022.

• Cultural Events in the Didar: Stories of  Middle Eastern Manuscripts (Dr Leila Alhagh, Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation)

In celebration of the Persian manuscript tradition, Arts West Gallery transformed with music, storytelling, and poetry. Highlights on the day included: Iranian traditional music performance by Maryan Parsi and Saterah Namatollahi, poetry reading by Amir Faraji and Seyed Emamifar, and exhibition storytelling with Leila Alhagh and Sophie Lewincamp.

Iranian traditional music performance by Maryam Parsi and Setareh Namatollahi.

Coordinators and performers of DIDAR: Arts of the Persian Court event.

Different types of Iranian food and desserts  prepared by women from the Iranian community.

• Colourful Symbols of Hanbok (Dr Sunyoung Oh, Asia Institute)

Hanbok, Korean traditional clothing, has a long history and distinct design. This event, which included a lecture on  the history and symbols of hanbok, an exhibition, and fitting,  introduced participants to the beauty of Korean traditional arts and cultural heritage.

Participants, some dressed in hanboks, posing with organiser Dr Sunyoung Oh (far right).

Other awarded projects:

• Korean Culture Week (Dr Adam Zulawnik, Asia Institute)
• Queer-Muslim in Conversation (Prasakti Ramadhana Fahadi and Ulya Jamson, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies)