The Brolga Elites, Brolga Dance Academy Photo Trent White
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Aboriginal peoples and traditional owners of the land we now call New South Wales, and we celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world's oldest living culture.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised this website may contain images, voices, videos and names of people who have passed on.
Create NSW warmly welcomes you to the dedicated First Nations hub. All your key information related to First Nations arts and culture in NSW is here. You will find helpful resources to start your application and understand cultural protocols.
Create NSW acknowledges the ongoing cultural enrichment and worldviews that NSW First Nations artists, creatives and organisations provide to the cultural landscape of NSW.
Current Funding Opportunities and Events
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Creative Nations - Project Funding
- Small project grants up to $40,000
- Large project grants up to $100,000
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NSW ICIP Gathering Roadshow
Join Create NSW First Nations team to discuss Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) at one of our Roadshow events, starting in Western Sydney in October and throughout Regional NSW in November and December.
See the full schedule to find a Gathering Event near you
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Become a Createability Host Organisation for 2026
We're looking for supportive First Nations organisations in NSW to host creatives with disability or who are d/Deaf for paid internships.
Learn more about Createability
Find funding and support for...
First Nations funding recipients
Dennis Golding Redfern [The Block]. 2018. Photograph. Image by artist
Image: Dennis Golding. Redfern [The Block]. 2018. Photograph. Image by Artist
Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding will create and present a new work Picking Up the Pieces at the 25th Biennale of Sydney. Drawing on personal lived experience growing up on Gadigal Land (Redfern Sydney), Golding’s work will be a focal point of the Biennale of Sydney in 2026, addressing themes of Indigenous displacement, community bonds, and cultural resilience. Together with a community activation program and creative workshops, the work shares an important perspective of contemporary urban Aboriginal life in Sydney.
2024-25 ACFP Round 1
- 20 Creative Nations Projects
- $1.4 million total support for First Nations artists and organisations
- 1 in 8 Artists engaged are First Nations
In total, 259 First Nations artists and arts workers employed across all projects
2024-25 ACFP Round 2
8 Creative Nations projects
Highlights include:
- Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding's new work "Picking Up the Pieces"
- Pilpalaana Thari: Reviving the Canoe Scars of Kinchega “The Tree That Was Scarred”
Create NSW Arts and Cultural Funding Program is designed to meet the different needs of artists (across every career stage) and arts and cultural organisations. This table provides an overview to help you find the funding program that best suits you.
| Funding Program | First Nations Individuals1 | First Nations Organisations1 | Non-First Nations Individuals2 | Non-First Nations Organisations2 | Collaboration Opportunities3 | Suitable for4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Nations | Eligible | Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible | First Nations individuals and organisations can collaborate with Non-First Nations on projects that highlight First Nations culture. | Early-Career, Mid-Career, Established Artists |
| Next Steps | Eligible | Not Eligible | Eligible | Not Eligible | Individuals can collaborate, on professional development | Early-Career Artists |
| Regional Arts Touring | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | All - to bring high-calibre productions to regional audiences. | All Career Stages |
Summary of Eligibility Criteria: 1 First Nations Individuals and Organisations : Eligible for most funding programs, with a focus on projects that highlight First Nations culture and engage with NSW Government strategic priority areas. 2 Non-First Nations Individuals and Organisations : Eligibility varies by program. Generally, they can collaborate on professional development, and regional touring. 3 Collaboration Opportunities : Emphasises the importance of collaboration between First Nations and Non-First Nations applicants to enhance project impact and cultural exchange. 4 Suitable for Various Career Stages : Programs are designed to support artists at different career stages, from early-career to established artists, ensuring broad access to funding opportunities. | ||||||
Funding Program First Nations Individuals1 Eligible First Nations Organisations1 Eligible Non-First Nations Individuals2 Not Eligible Non-First Nations Organisations2 Not Eligible Collaboration Opportunities3 First Nations individuals and organisations can collaborate with Non-First Nations on projects that highlight First Nations culture. Suitable for4 Early-Career, Mid-Career, Established Artists |
Funding Program First Nations Individuals1 Eligible First Nations Organisations1 Not Eligible Non-First Nations Individuals2 Eligible Non-First Nations Organisations2 Not Eligible Collaboration Opportunities3 Individuals can collaborate, on professional development Suitable for4 Early-Career Artists |
Funding Program First Nations Individuals1 Eligible First Nations Organisations1 Eligible Non-First Nations Individuals2 Eligible Non-First Nations Organisations2 Eligible Collaboration Opportunities3 All - to bring high-calibre productions to regional audiences. Suitable for4 All Career Stages |
Funding Program Summary of Eligibility Criteria: 1 First Nations Individuals and Organisations : Eligible for most funding programs, with a focus on projects that highlight First Nations culture and engage with NSW Government strategic priority areas. 2 Non-First Nations Individuals and Organisations : Eligibility varies by program. Generally, they can collaborate on professional development, and regional touring. 3 Collaboration Opportunities : Emphasises the importance of collaboration between First Nations and Non-First Nations applicants to enhance project impact and cultural exchange. 4 Suitable for Various Career Stages : Programs are designed to support artists at different career stages, from early-career to established artists, ensuring broad access to funding opportunities. |
Support for First Nations NSW Artists
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Arts and Cultural Funding Calendar
Plan ahead and find upcoming funding opportunities from Create NSW.
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Book a meeting with Create NSW
Have a question? Our team is here to help with all your project funding questions.
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Funding Information Sessions
Find upcoming sessions or watch past webinars
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Resources for Multi-Year Organisational Funding
Find tutorials, guides, templates and other helpful resources for multi-year funding.
Resources
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Aboriginal arts and culture protocols
First Nations People on this continent are the custodians of the longest living culture in the world. Aboriginal people have been sharing their unique cultures for thousands of generations.
Through guidance from cultural authorities, such as Elders and cultural knowledge keepers, a wide range of protocols help guide cultural business practices.
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Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)
Learn more about Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property and find Creative Australia protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts.
Image: Bulaan Buruugaa Ngali Weaving Workshop in Evans Head. Photograph by Kate Holmes
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First Nations NSW Confirmation and Connection
Create NSW respects the different ways First Nations NSW people connect with their cultural heritage and Aboriginality through their arts and cultural practice. Learn more about what is needed by applicants for Artform Confirmation & Connection.
Find First Nations NSW Events, Festivals and Experiences
Explore First Nations culture in NSW
Image: Brook Garru Andrew, 'DIWIL', 2021, Installation View, Murray Art Museum Albury. Photo by Jeremy Weihrauch