2024-25 Project Funding Round 1 Feedback

General information and feedback for grant applicants, provided by Artform Board assessors.

About the Project Funding Program 2024/25 Round 1 

 

Creative NationsThe purpose of this funding is to strengthen First Nations artists, organisations and communities by supporting artistic expression to sustain and grow First Nations arts and culture in NSW.
Next Steps – Professional DevelopmentThis funding focuses on professional development for individual artists, arts and cultural workers to enable participation in skills development opportunities, workshops, courses and creative sector conferences and networking events. 
Creative Steps - New WorkThis funding supports creative development and presentation of new work by individual artists, arts and cultural workers. Applicants are encouraged to drive and develop partnerships with arts and cultural organisations to support their new works. 
Cultural Access - Priority Area Projects for Individuals and Organisations This funding supports individuals and organisations that are led by and/or support specific communities to develop and deliver a diverse range of arts and cultural experiences for artists, arts workers, communities, and audiences. 
Creative Nations
The purpose of this funding is to strengthen First Nations artists, organisations and communities by supporting artistic expression to sustain and grow First Nations arts and culture in NSW.
Next Steps – Professional Development
This funding focuses on professional development for individual artists, arts and cultural workers to enable participation in skills development opportunities, workshops, courses and creative sector conferences and networking events. 
Creative Steps - New Work
This funding supports creative development and presentation of new work by individual artists, arts and cultural workers. Applicants are encouraged to drive and develop partnerships with arts and cultural organisations to support their new works. 
Cultural Access - Priority Area Projects for Individuals and Organisations 
This funding supports individuals and organisations that are led by and/or support specific communities to develop and deliver a diverse range of arts and cultural experiences for artists, arts workers, communities, and audiences. 

 

How your application was assessed  

 

  • Your application was processed by Create NSW staff, a preliminary eligibility check was conducted, and the artform boards were convened.   
  • The artform board members reviewed the applications and support material and scored each of them against the assessment criteria.   
  • The artform boards met to discuss the applications and advise Create NSW on the most competitive applications.    
  • Create NSW used this advice to determine which applications it recommended for funding based on the available budget. 
  • The Minister for the Arts approved the final recommendations.  

 

Assessor Comments 

 

Please note the feedback below is general, and does not relate to all applications but was noted in discussion with the artform boards.  

The introduction of new artform boards Community Arts & Cultural Development and Digital & Experimental, Immersive and Light Art caused challenges for some applicants. It was recommended by the boards that applicants ensure your project aligns with the definition of the artform.  

See definitions in our glossary and Artform Board FAQs.   

 

Feedback

 

Question/CriteriaHow to strengthen your application (benchmark based on the strongest applications): 

1. Idea 

A vision for your project that clearly summarises the ideas, its aims and purpose

  • Clearly explain the context of where the idea came from.
  • Outline the purpose without using jargon or complex language. 
  • Provide a strong ‘pitch’ for the idea and how it is interesting and understandable, even if the assessor had no prior knowledge of the artists or project. 

2. Diversity and participation 

Demonstrate how your project is relevant to/or will benefit NSW artists, arts and cultural workers, or communities  

  • Clearly outline the process the project will take to engage with target communities. 
  • If your project engages with First Nations artists/and/or communities, clearly outline how they will follow protocols and ICIP. 

3. Experience 

List the artistic experience of those involved in the project   

  • Provide concise information about the artists involved and outlined the appropriate experience, skills that would ensure the project is a success. 
  • Assume the board does not know the artists involved. 

4. Connection to Country 

Provide details of why the location/s were suitable for the proposed project 

  • Include how the location reflected on your own relationship with the place while also recognising and respecting the distinct connections of First Nations peoples. 
  • Outline the activities that enabled people to connect to the project. 
 

5. Sustainability 

Provide a budget to support your project      

  • Provide a clear budget with notes to help assessors understand how larger amounts were calculated. 
  • Projects engaging with First Nations demonstrated how they are allocating budget to ensure they were following protocols.
  • Provide notes on how the budget allocated is enabling the project to be more accessible.
  • Provide notes on details of fees to artists, arts and cultural workers.  
Question/Criteria
How to strengthen your application (benchmark based on the strongest applications): 

1. Idea 

A vision for your project that clearly summarises the ideas, its aims and purpose

  • Clearly explain the context of where the idea came from.
  • Outline the purpose without using jargon or complex language. 
  • Provide a strong ‘pitch’ for the idea and how it is interesting and understandable, even if the assessor had no prior knowledge of the artists or project. 

2. Diversity and participation 

Demonstrate how your project is relevant to/or will benefit NSW artists, arts and cultural workers, or communities  

  • Clearly outline the process the project will take to engage with target communities. 
  • If your project engages with First Nations artists/and/or communities, clearly outline how they will follow protocols and ICIP. 

3. Experience 

List the artistic experience of those involved in the project   

  • Provide concise information about the artists involved and outlined the appropriate experience, skills that would ensure the project is a success. 
  • Assume the board does not know the artists involved. 

4. Connection to Country 

Provide details of why the location/s were suitable for the proposed project 

  • Include how the location reflected on your own relationship with the place while also recognising and respecting the distinct connections of First Nations peoples. 
  • Outline the activities that enabled people to connect to the project. 
 

5. Sustainability 

Provide a budget to support your project      

  • Provide a clear budget with notes to help assessors understand how larger amounts were calculated. 
  • Projects engaging with First Nations demonstrated how they are allocating budget to ensure they were following protocols.
  • Provide notes on how the budget allocated is enabling the project to be more accessible.
  • Provide notes on details of fees to artists, arts and cultural workers.  
Support material                                                                                
  • Ensure weblinks are functional and easily accessed by the artform board members

 

Support material                                                                                
  • Ensure weblinks are functional and easily accessed by the artform board members

 

 

Pre-application support 

 

Applicants are encouraged to make full use of all the application support resources. Create NSW staff continue to support applicants who are preparing new funding applications. 

 

Contact us:

More information  

 

The funding results including success rates across artform boards will be available soon. 

 

Type: Fact sheet, Guide
Author: Create NSW
Publication Date: 07 April 2025

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