Arts and Cultural Funding Program

Next Steps - Professional Development

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.
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Key information

  • Status: Closed
  • Grant amount: From $2,000 to $10,000
  • Application opened: 23 October 2024
  • Application closed: 2 December 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.  

This funding will:  

  • enable career development for artists and arts and cultural workers  
  • support opportunities that develop cultural leadership capacities, skills and knowledge  
  • promote professional networking and collaboration  
  • encourage personal wellbeing and resilience.  

Image Credit: Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2023. Group Chats Home Truths panel Image Dorcas Tang 

This program is administered by Create NSW.

Eligibility

1

Who can apply

Individuals are eligible to apply: 

  • Applicants must be 18 years or above  
  • Located in NSW for the last 12 months.  
2

Types of projects funded under this grant

The project must be a clearly defined arts and cultural activity. It must benefit individual NSW artists or arts and cultural workers. It must provide professional and/or skills development opportunities to advance their careers.  

These activities might include:  

  • research, training, coaching, or mentoring, or 
  • attending workshops, conferences, nationally or internationally.  
3

When the project can start and end

The project must start after 7 April 2025 and be completed by 30 June 2026.

The project should be started by 7 April 2025 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2026.

4

What costs you can apply for

Costs you need to cover to make sure your project is a success including;

  • Renting or hiring of space for workshops, rehearsals, shows, exhibitions or presentations  
  • Travel and accommodation costs related to your professional development activity  
  • Fees for development opportunities, mentorships, workshops, and courses  
  • Costs of attending creative sector conferences and networking events  
  • Costs to support aboriginal protocols
  • Costs to support accessibility
  • Paying artist fees based on awards and appropriate industry rates  

Note: You can apply for unconfirmed activities 

5

Who can’t apply

  • Individuals who:  
    • Have received funding before from Create NSW or Sound NSW for the same part of their project  
    • Have already started their project  
    • Will start or finish the project before the funding period starts  
    • Want funding for professional development related to films, TV shows, or film festivals. For this, you should contact Screen NSW  
    • Want funding for professional development related to contemporary music (please refer to the glossary for this definition). For more information on this, you should contact Sound NSW 
    • Are employed by Create NSW or were employed in the last 12 months 
  • Organisations (legally constituted establishments with an ABN) 
  • Groups.  
6

What costs you can't apply for

  • Projects or activities that directly support the delivery or course requirements of an educational institution’s program or course  
  • Projects or 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, contact Create Infrastructure  
  • Fundraising and donations  
  • Awards, prizes, competitions, or prize money  
  • Paying back loans 
7

Example projects

Some examples of what may be funded under this grant are but not limited to:  

  • An emerging or established artist participating in a residency program  
  • A Western Sydney based artist undertaking a mentorship with an institution  
  • A mid-career artist to attend a conference for networking and knowledge development in New York  
  • A Frist Nations artist to attend a significant cultural event in the Northern Territory  
8

What co-contributions are required

You must contribute at least 5% from other cash or in-kind support towards your project. The definition of in-kind can be seen in the glossary.

9

Additional eligibility requirements

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. This includes:

  • The project must start after 7 April 2025 and be completed by 30 June 2026.

Applications to rounds  

  • You can only submit one project application in this project funding round (ACFP funding with the same closing date). This project funding round includes Next Steps, Creative Steps, Cultural Access and Creative Nations Projects. 
  • If you are successful for Next Steps funding in this round, you can’t apply in the next round of Next Steps but you can apply for Creative Steps, Cultural Access and Creative Nations Projects

Most recent recipients

Grant recipients

This overview is based on the period between April 2025 and April 2025.

Recipients received funding from this grant

41

Total funds approved for recipients of this grant

$333,042

All recipients

What your application needs to include

1
  • Read the guidelines
  • Check your eligibility  
  • Samples of work  
  • Letters of invitation, collaboration, or partnership (where applicable)  
  • Outcome information including location, estimated employment and audience numbers (if applicable)  
  • If successful, applicants will need:
    • An active ABN (that’s your Australian Business Number) of either an Individual/Sole Trader or private company (only if you’re the sole director)
    • A bank account that has the same name as your ABN

Or  

    • a Funds Administrator to help you out  
2

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.

3

Idea (40%)   

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

Note: Your project is your professional development activity/ies.  

Question: What do you want to do?  

You may want to consider the following:  

  • What is your idea for this project?  
  • What do you want to achieve?  
  • What is interesting about it?  
  • What will you communicate to other artists, communities and /or audiences?  

Diversity and participation (30%)   

Demonstrate how your project is relevant to/or will benefit you. 

Question: Why do you want to do it?   

You may want to consider the following:  

  • Why is the project relevant to you?  
  • How will it benefit you and potentially other artists, communities and/or audiences?  
  • How does the project reflect the diversity of people in NSW?  
  • What are the results you want to see at the completion of your project?  

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  

Experience (20%)   

List the artistic experience of those involved in the project. 

Question: Who is involved and why are they the right people for this activity?   

You may want to consider the following:  

  • What experience do you bring to this project?  
  • What skills and expertise do the artists, arts and cultural workers or organisations involved have that will ensure your project is a success?  
  • How will those involved help build your career and professional skills?  

Sustainability (10%)   

Provide a budget to support your project.  

Question: How will the funding be spent? 

You may want to consider the following:  

  • How your budget reflects efficient use of funds to achieve the project’s goals?  
  • What other sources of funding are there for your project?  

Create NSW does not fund 100% of your project. You must contribute at least 5% from other cash or in-kind support towards your project. The definition of in-kind can be seen in the glossary.  If successful, you may be required to provide a more detailed budget prior to contracting.

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for the Arts

Pre-eligibility  

After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email from SmartyGrants. Create NSW staff will review your application to check eligibility and ensure all materials are acceptable.  

Assessment Stage 1   

Once eligibility is confirmed, the Artform Board will assess your application based on the criteria and guidelines. Funding is competitive and will consider various factors like demographics, distribution, organisation type, and project scale.  

Artform Boards:  

  • may set aside an application if it is assessed as below acceptable in any one of the published criteria.  
  • consider whether an application needs to be reallocated to another board for assessment.  
  • ask for a Cultural Review from Create NSW First Nations staff or the First Nations Arts and Culture Artform Board for applications with First Nations content and engagement.   

Assessment Stage 2   

Create NSW will consolidate and finalise recommendations based on the Artform Boards assessments, number of applications by artform, availability of funds, Strategic Priority Areas and geographic spread to ensure equity and the best outcomes for NSW government investment.  

Assessment process considerations  

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.    
  • Request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.    

Successful Grant Applications 

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 reporting requirements.  

As an individual you must provide: 

  • An active ABN (that’s your Australian Business Number) of either an Individual/Sole Trader or private company (only if you’re the sole director) and a bank account with the same name as your ABN

Or

  • A Funds Administrator is an administrative body/third party (such as a manager, agent or producing organisation) who can receive and administer funds on your behalf. You may be asked for a fee for this service, and it is recommended that you include that fee in your activity budget.  

All applicants must: 

  • complete an acquittal at the end of the funding period. This may include an online meeting to discuss outcomes of the project.
  • acknowledgment of Create NSW funding in all publicity materials.  

You may be asked to provide:  

  • a reference letter or letters from First Nations peers or community groups, as well as adherence to ICIP and First Nations Protocols prior to contracting, if appropriate
  • a detailed budget  

Create NSW staff may contact you for additional information as part of this process. 

Contracts will not be issued, and payments will not be made, until all Create NSW/Sound NSW outstanding acquittals have been submitted.  

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.  

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.  

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 funding agreement is executed. However, if 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).  

Please refer to Information for Funding Recipients for more detailed processes for successful applicants.  

This includes:  

  • Program evaluation  
  • Conflict of interest management  
  • Organisations working with First Nations people or communities  
  • Complaint handling, access to information and privacy  

Anticipated assessment outcome date is occuring in March 2025, allowing time for project commencement by 7 April 2025 as outlined in guidelines

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 general information on the interpretation of these guidelines and support with the online application process.

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