Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $30,000 to $200,000
- Application opened: 1 July 2024
- Application closed: 8 August 2024, 5:00 pm
Program objective
In response to Creative Communities, the NSW arts, culture and creative industries policy, the purpose of this funding is to strengthen communities though equitable access to vibrant arts and cultural experiences.
Annual funding for arts and cultural organisations including local government authorities supports innovation, vibrancy and creativity within the NSW arts and cultural sector. This funding will:
- deliver a dynamic and diverse range of arts and cultural experiences to communities across NSW
- contribute to the development of a vibrant and accessible arts and cultural sector
- support the employment and development of professional NSW-based artists and arts/cultural workers (including museum workers).
Top image credit: Game of I-Lands 2022. Rex Cramphorn Studio Residency Valerie Berry Katia Molio. Mây Trân Alicia Dulnuan-Demou.
This program is administered by Create NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- Arts and cultural organisations located in Australia.
- Local government authorities located in NSW.
Applicants will need:
- an active ABN (that’s your Australian Business Number).
- a bank account that has got the same name as your ABN.
You can only submit one application to this round. However, if you are applying as a Local Government Authority that has multiple business units (for example a gallery or a museum), you will need to apply for EACH business unit separately.
Types of projects funded under this grant
All applications to Create NSW must demonstrate that the proposal has a particular focus on arts and culture and directly benefits NSW artists and arts and cultural workers and/or NSW communities through arts led activities.
Some eligible programs include:
- Performing arts company annual production program.
- Local government authority art gallery artistic program.
- Aboriginal Cultural Organisations' conservation and/or development of collections and archives (including Aboriginal Keeping Places).
- Arts organisation annual program of workshops to develop skills of emerging artists.
When the project can start and end
- Earliest start date: 1 January 2025
- Latest end date: 31 December 2025
Please note the following:
As this grant is for transitional funding, some organisations currently receiving Annual Funding for Organisations for the financial year 2024/25 may apply for half a year to take them to 31/12/2025.
The project should be started by 1 January 2025 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2025.
What costs you can apply for
Funding is available for a wide range of arts and cultural activities including:
- creative development
- public presentation
- commissioning professional artists
- community collaborations/partnerships
- research and/or development
- audience engagement
- making work accessible to audience/artists with disability
- conservation and/or development of collections and archives (including Aboriginal Keeping Places).
- business development activities including new responses to environmental changes.
- local government authority programs
- for profit organisations program must demonstrate a break-even or non-profit budget.
Who can’t apply
- Organisations who have received funding before from Create NSW for the same activities.
- Organisations who have already started their activities or will start or finish it before the funding period starts.
- Create NSW designated national performing arts partnerships company, state significant organisation or key festival.
- State or federal government department/agency, including state cultural institutions.
- Schools and educational institutions (including preschools, primary and secondary schools).
- Individuals or organisations who want funding for making films, TV shows, or film festivals. For this, you should connect with Screen NSW.
What costs you can't apply for
The ineligible program costs include:
- Activities that directly support the delivery or course requirements of an educational program or course.
- Activities that are led by people who aren’t professional artists, arts and cultural workers, or creatives.
- Paying back money for items you’ve already bought.
- Buying equipment that isn’t directly used in your project.
- Capital Works (infrastructure/building works), For this, connect with Create Infrastructure funding opportunities.
- Fundraising and donations.
- Awards, prizes, competitions, or prize money.
- Paying back loans.
What co-contributions are required
Funding requests must:
- not be 100% of program costs – at least 5% must be from other sources. This can include in-kind support.
- be realistic and supported by the application and budget.
Additional eligibility requirements
Preference may be given to NSW-based organisations who apply. It is highly recommended that non-NSW based organisations discuss your application with Create NSW staff before applying.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
- Read the guidelines, FAQ's and glossary
- Check your eligibility
- Samples of work
- Biography/CV for:
- Key artists or collaborators involved in the program
- Key organisations/partners involved in the program
- Letters of support from artist/s, organisations and/or communities who can speak to your program vision and your/the group’s experience in program delivery.
- Letters of offer/ invitations/partnership arrangements related to your program.
- Description of your workplace safety and wellbeing activities and policy.
- Organisation/LGA Structure.
- Your organisation’s most recent audited accounts or most recent approved year of end financial statements prepared for tax purposes.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
Applications (including written responses, supporting documentation) will be assessed against the following criteria.
Merit Criteria
The program's artistic rationale, goals, expected outcomes, and your organisation's artform experience.
Tell us in detail:
- the idea, vision, expected outcomes and location for your proposed program
- the process and the artists involved and their experience in delivering the program.
Impact Criteria
The changes (outcomes) you expect to see as a result of your program.
This can include detail about:
- Audience impact: such as increased access, attendance, or participation, including if your activity meaningfully engages with Create NSW’s priority areas (see below)
- Artform impact: such as innovation, advancement, employment, NSW works developed/presented/represented
- Social impacts: such as improved wellbeing, community and cultural development, increased visibility of issues, stories, or communities.
- Operational impacts: such as increasing capacity, developing skills, delivering cost savings or enhancing income generation.
The NSW Government is committed to ensuring fair access by all communities and individuals across the state. If the activity engages with the needs of a community or has outcomes that benefit specific Strategic Priority Areas, please include these details. The Strategic Priority Areas are:
- First Nations stories and communities
- Accessibility and equity
- Regional NSW
- Western Sydney
- Broad and inclusive communities and content
- Next generation of creatives and audiences
Engagement with a priority area/s is not compulsory.
Viability Criteria
The planning and finances, timeline and how the budget will be managed.
Tell us in detail:
- about key dates and activities, descriptions, collaborators involved and locations of your program
- how you will spend the amount you are requesting from Create NSW, including a breakdown of your total program costs.
- what are the risks associated with this program? How can you reduce these risks?
- what governance and management arrangements are in place for the program?
- what arrangements or policies do you have to ensure staff and artist' health and wellbeing? This could include but is not limited to:
- Proactive recognition of health and safety issues
- Strategies to identify the early stages of burnout and overload
- Resources and/or policies in place to support ongoing well being
Note:
- you are required to upload your organisation’s most recent audited accounts or most recent approved year of end financial statements prepared for tax purposes.
- the budget income and expenditure must balance at NIL ($00.00).
- you must not request funding for the total cost of your program. You must contribute other cash or in-kind support towards your program.
- it is recommended events 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.
Start the application
1. Online platform
Create NSW uses the secure online grants system, SmartyGrants, to manage all 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.
2. Application requirements
All applicants must submit the following materials. These materials will all form part of the assessment.
- a completed online application form
- letters of invitation, collaboration, or partnership (where applicable)
- samples of work
- statistical data including employment, audience and geographic data.
3. 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, and as the grant amount is determined as a percentage of the NSW Qualifying Production Expenditure on an individual and negotiated basis, 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).
4. Successful grant applications
- If your application is successful, you will be sent a funding agreement (contract), generally within one month of notification. This outlines the conditions of funding, how you will be paid and your grant reporting requirements.
- 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 prior to contracting, if appropriate.
- Successful applicants will be asked to provide:
- an active ABN (that's your Australian Business Number)
- a bank account with the same name as your ABN
- Contracts will not be issued, and payments will not be made, until all Create NSW/Sound NSW outstanding acquittals have been submitted.
- Successful applicants must acknowledge Create NSW funding in all publicity materials.
- Create NSW staff will review required reporting, outlined below, and may contact you for additional information as part of this process.
- Successful applicants will be required to provide an acquittal at the end of the funding period.
Please refer to Information for Funding Recipients for more detailed processes for successful applicants.
5. Feedback on Create NSW project funding application results
Create NSW staff continue to help and support applicants who are preparing new funding applications. However, we have shifted away from providing individualised feedback on past applications to continue to meet service standards for the processing and assessment of applications and to focus on helping applicants with their future submissions.
Program staff will no longer discuss past applications. Applicants applying in future rounds are encouraged to book an appointment with an arts funding and development staff member to clarify any questions related to the application process.
6. Program evaluation
The Program will be evaluated to measure how well the 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 deed.
7. 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.
A 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.
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 Departments Code of Ethics and Conduct and the Grants Administration Guide.
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.
Complaint handling, access to information and privacy
Details on how Create NSW handles complaints, access to information and your private information is available 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.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for the Arts
Applications will undergo a staged assessment process, including assessment against eligibility and essential criteria, as outlined below.
Pre-eligibility
Once your application has been submitted, you will receive an email confirmation from our secure online grants system, SmartyGrants. Applications will be initially reviewed by Create NSW staff to ensure they meet eligibility requirements, and all application materials are acceptable.
Assessment Stage 1
After eligibility is confirmed, the application will be evaluated by members of the 10 Artform Panels against the published criteria and consistent with these guidelines. Organisations who want funding for contemporary music programs will be assessed by Sound NSW.
Please note that funding allocation follows a competitive process. Evaluations by the Artform Panels will consider the assessment criteria, the demographics, distribution, organisation type, range and scale. This may include prioritising programs and organisations with outcomes that address ACFP Strategic Priority Areas, geographical spread, artform spread and the Visual Arts, Craft and Design Framework to ensure equity across the state and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment.
Assessment Stage 2
Create NSW will consolidate evaluations and finalise recommendations based on quality of the applications as assessed by the Artform Panels, demand by artform, availability of funds, distribution across the state and ACFP Strategic Priority Areas.
Artform Panels:
- May set aside an application if it is assessed as below acceptable in any one of the published criteria.
- May consider whether an application needs to be reallocated to another panel for assessment.
- May ask for a Cultural Review from Create NSW First Nations staff or the First Nations Arts and Culture Artform Panel for applications with First Nations content and engagement.
Decision Making
Final recommendations will be made by Create NSW and submitted for the consideration of the Minister for the Arts and approved by the Minister.
Assessment process consideration
Applicants should note that:
- The NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support.
- You are not guaranteed funding even if your application meets the published criteria.
- If you are successful, your application may not be funded to the amount you requested.
Create NSW may, at its sole discretion and at any stage of the application process, do all or any of the following:
- Require additional information from an applicant.
- may request applicants to provide clarification or additional information regarding the Eligibility Criteria.
- Change the scope of the requirements of these guidelines.
- Vary, amend (including by replacement), or terminate the application process.
- Re-open an application after the closing date, provided it doesn’t give the applicant an advantage over other applicants.
- Consider any non-conforming or late application.
- Allow cross-panel consultation on applications.
- Request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is within 8 weeks of the grant closing date.
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is within one month of successful notification.
Support and contact
Create NSW staff are available to provide technical advice and general information to potential applicants on the interpretation of these guidelines, including the types of activity eligible for funding and support with the online application process.
- Email: arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au
- Phone: (02) 9228 4578
- Scheduling an online meeting to speak to Create NSW staff using the link to Microsoft Bookings
- Visit our website
Create NSW staff cannot help directly with your application.