4 + 4 Multi-Year Funding

Online platform

Create NSW uses the secure online grants system, SmartyGrants, to manage all of its grant programs.  All ACFP applications must be submitted via the online portal. You will receive an email confirmation of your application from SmartyGrants when your application has been accepted.

The online application form contains two questions requiring written responses:

1. Provide a description of the unique role your organisation plays in the NSW arts ecology.
2. Describe how your organisation will deliver on the ACFP strategic priorities

Strategic plan requirements

Your detailed strategic plan addressing the first three years of the organisation’s activity from 2026-2028 (or 2025 – 2028) will be evaluated against the assessment criteria. The strategic plan will be attached to the online application form. We will accept draft strategic plans. Once Panel approval is made organisations can submit the final to Create NSW. 

Your strategic plan must include:

• Vision and mission
• Strategic priorities in relation to your mission and/or vision
• A summary of your achievements and outcomes
• Examples of your past work critical and audience responses to it
• Future programs and projects you intend to deliver over the next four years
• An analysis of your internal and external operational conditions
• Strategies and goals
• Audience and/or sector development activity
• Support for arts and cultural worker career pathways/mentorships
• A description of your organisation’s governance, including your board or governing body and key staff
• Description of how your organisation supports and safeguards modern workplace conditions and standards. For example, it is required that commercial events staged using, in whole or in part, public funding received from Create NSW implement a $250 minimum fee for musicians. This fee is based on a ‘3 hour call’, as set out in the live performance award and endorsed by the fair work ombudsman.
• A financial summary, with explanation of your financial model and identifying variations to income and expenditure greater than 10%
• A summary of your marketing and communication plans, including channels, audiences and objectives.

Artistic plan requirements

Your detailed artistic plan addressing activities for 2025 and 2026 will be evaluated against the assessment criteria. The artistic plan will be attached to the online application form (template provided).

Your artistic plan should clearly outline:

• What the activity is
• Where the activity will take place
• When the activity will take place
• Key personnel and if they are confirmed
• Target audience.

Publication of grants information 

The Grants Administration Guide (Guide) requires that certain information is published in relation to grants awarded no later than 45 calendar days after the grant agreement takes effect (see section 6.5 of the Guide and Appendix A to the Guide).

This information is also open access information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act), which must be made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.

In accordance with these requirements, relevant information about the grants awarded will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder as soon as possible after the grant agreement is executed.

However, due to the commercial-in-confidence nature of the information provided, the amount of funding provided will not be published.

All records in relation to this decision will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998 (NSW).

Successful grant applications

Successful applicants to the 4x4 Multi-Year Funding program will need to:  

• Enter into a three-year funding agreement for 2026-2028 with an in-principle agreement to extend for another four years, subject to review.
• Provide a revised strategic plan for 2029-2032 in 2027.
• Demonstrate that they are delivering the outcomes of their programs to be eligible for the second four-year funding. 

The submitted 2029-2032 strategic plans and applications will be assessed by Artform Panel members.

If an organisation is found to be underperforming, a decision could be made to change its level of funding, contract length and/or key performance indicators. A recommendation may be made for an organisation not to continue to the second four years.

Reporting

Reporting requirements will be subject to awarded grant amounts:

• All successful applicants will be required to meet with Create NSW each year to discuss KPI outcomes, artistic program delivery and financial health. 

For applicants receiving $500,000 or less:

• Provide an annual artistic report including KPIs and audited financial reports.
• Submit program and financial projections every two years.
• Provide a detailed artistic plan and budget for 2027 and 2028 in 2026.  

For applicants receiving $500,001 or more:

• Submit audited financial reports and an annual artistic report including KPI reporting each year.
• Submit a mid-year financial report approved by the applicant’s Board each year.
• Submit program and financial projections annually.
• Provide a detailed artistic plan and budget for 2027 and 2028 in 2026.  

Annual financial reports must be audited or externally reviewed (note the reporting period for these reports will be 1 January to 31 December).

 Grant agreement 

• If your application is successful, you will be sent a funding agreement (contract). This outlines the conditions of funding, how you will be paid and your grant reporting requirements.
• Prior to contracting, successful applicants will need to provide Key Performance Indicators and evaluation data.
• Successful applicants may be asked to provide a reference letter from First Nations peers or community groups, as well as adherence to ICIP and Aboriginal Protocols, if appropriate.
• Successful applicants will be asked to provide an active ABN, bank account with the same name or details of the organisation prior to contracting.
• Funding agreements will include the opportunity for Create NSW to apply indexation to the funding amount each year, subject to budget availability.
• Funding agreements will not be issued, and payments will not be made, until all Create NSW outstanding acquittals have been submitted.
• Create NSW staff will review required reporting and may contact you for additional information as part of this process.

Successful applicants must acknowledge Create NSW funding in all publicity materials. The detail of this will be outlined in the funding agreement.

Program evaluation

From time to time, the ACFP will be evaluated to measure how well its outcomes and objectives have been achieved.

We may collect and use information from your application and reports for this purpose. We may also interview you or ask you for more information to help us understand how the program impacted your organisation and to evaluate how effective the program was in achieving its outcomes.

We may contact your organisation up to three years after you receive the final grant payment associated with the program for more information to assist with this evaluation. Create NSW and the NSW Audit Office reserves the right to undertake an audit of program funding and support within seven years.

Tracking, reporting and an independent audit will be a requirement of the funding agreement.

Additional information and resources 

Conflict of interest management

Any conflicts of interest will be managed by Create NSW in accordance with the NSW Government Grants Administration Guide.  

An actual, apparent conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, may be identified if Create NSW staff, any member of an Artform Panel, committee or advisor and/or you as the applicant or any of your staff: 

• has a professional, commercial, or personal relationship with a party who can influence the application selection process, or  
• has a relationship with or interest in, an organisation, which is likely to interfere with or restrict the applicants from carrying out the proposed activities fairly and independently, or   
• has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation from which they will receive personal gain because the organisation received a grant under the grant program.  

If you identify an conflict of interest at any time, you must inform Create NSW immediately. Create NSW staff can be contacted 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) via:  

• Phone: +61 (02) 9228 4578
• Email: multiyear@create.nsw.gov.au

NSW Government staff, Artform Panel or committee members and other officials including the decision maker must declare any conflicts of interest and ensure they are managed as per the DEIT Code of Ethics and Conduct and the Grants Administration Guide.

Complaint handling, access to information and privacy

Details on how Create NSW handles complaints, access to information and your private information is available at: https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/about-us/feedback-complaints-privacy-and-government-information 

Other information

• First Nations organisations and communities: First Nations led organisations are encouraged to apply and will be assessed in alignment with First Nations self-determination principles through the First Nations Arts and Culture Artform Panel.

• Organisations working with First Nations people or communities: Create NSW plays an important role in supporting the NSW First Nations cultural sector through providing direct investment through funding programs, developing strategies and policies for cultural development and advice and guidance to First Nations artists, arts and cultural workers, and organisations. 

Create NSW acknowledges that a strong and vibrant First Nations cultural sector starts with supporting self-determination for the First Nations sector to manage, maintain and preserve First Nations cultures and ensure that the right way to do cultural business is supported, understood and acted on. 

With the Aboriginal Arts & Cultural protocols, Create NSW seeks to work with the First Nations cultural sector to champion a new body of practice that has First Nations self-determination and cultural authority and agency at its foundation. 

Just as First Nations culture is living and continues to evolve, these protocols have been developed to be a living document. Create NSW will continue to work with the NSW First Nations cultural sector to update the protocols annually to ensure that the continued growth and new and emerging areas are covered. These protocols aim to provide guidance to those planning to work with the First Nations communities and/or artists. The protocols can be found here.

Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.