Funding for organisations and local government authority projects to support innovation, vibrancy and creativity within the NSW arts and cultural sector.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $60,000
- Application opened: 15 January 2024
- Application closed: 19 February 2024, 5:00 pm
Program objective
Project funding objectives:
- 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).
Image Credit: Magical Putt Putt Studio A. Photo by Jessica Maurer for Cement Fondu
This program is funded and administered by Create NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Your organisation must be:
- an arts and cultural organisation located in Australia
- a local government authority located in NSW.
Preference is given to NSW-based organisations who apply.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Your organisation must have a clearly defined focus on arts and cultural activity that either:
- benefits NSW by employing professional NSW artists or arts and cultural workers (including museum workers)
- provides arts and cultural experiences to the people of NSW.
When the project can start and end
Projects are to be undertaken between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2025.
The project should be started by 1 July 2024 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2025.
Who can’t apply
- have received previous funding from Create NSW for the same stage/phase of the project or for project top-ups
- project has already started, taken place or due to be completed before the funding period starts
- do not meet the ABN requirements. This includes individual/sole traders, partnerships, unincorporated entities.
- are a Create NSW designated national performing arts partnerships company, state significant organisation or key festival
- are a state or federal government department/agency, including state cultural institutions
- you are an educational institution (including preschools, primary and secondary schools)
- you are a for profit organisation, you cannot apply if your project has a surplus.
What costs you can't apply for
You cannot apply to use funds for:
- activities that are carried out to satisfy the course requirements of an educational institution such as, TAFE or university.
- activities that directly support the delivery of an educational project or course.
- arts and cultural activities that are led by non-professional artists.
- reimbursement to recover costs of items already purchased (such as flights, accommodation, and materials).
- purchasing musical instruments, artworks, equipment (such as laptops, cameras, technical equipment, or machinery), or vehicles.
- capital works (infrastructure/building activities). Refer to Create Infrastructure regarding funding opportunities.
- fundraising and donations, awards, competition entry fees or prize money.
- repayment of loans.
- filmmaking projects, screen productions or film festivals. Refer to Screen NSW regarding funding opportunities. This does not include videos with direct involvement of artists, musicians, and performers such as music videos, video art and video for performance.
Example projects
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 audiences/artists with disability
- conservation and/or development of collections and archives (including Aboriginal Keeping Places).
- business development activities including new responses to environmental changes.
- LGA projects excluding operational costs
- for-profit organisation projects must demonstrate a break-even or non-profit budget.
Additional eligibility requirements
Organisations can only submit 1 application for either project funding or annual funding.
- 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.
Aboriginal organisations can only submit one application to one of the following funding rounds: Annual Funding, Project Funding or Creative Koori Projects.
You MUST not request funding for the total cost of your project.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
- Read the guidelines
- Check your eligibility
- If working with Aboriginal communities:
- you are required to provide letters of support and/or confirmation from relevant Aboriginal artists, Elders, Organisations or community members
- Samples of work
- Biography/CV for:
- Any artists or key collaborators involved in the project
- Any organisations/partners involved in the project
- Letter of confirmation from artist/s, organisations and/or communities that can confirm they are working with you on the project
- Letters of support from artist/s, organisations and/or communities who can speak to your project vision and your organisation’s experience in project delivery
- Letters of offer/ invitations/partnership arrangements related to your project
- Venue or partnership confirmations
- Project plan (available within the application form)
- Budget template (optional and available within the application form)
- Organisation/LGA Structure
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
Merit Criteria
The project'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 project
- the process and the artists involved and their experience in delivering the project.
Impact Criteria
The changes (outcomes) you expect to see as a result of your project.
Tell us in 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.
Note: you will need to identify a primary impact.
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 Create NSW priority areas, please include these details. The Priority Areas are:
- NSW Aboriginal people
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
- People living and/or working in Regional NSW
- People living and/or working in Western Sydney
- People with disability or who are d/Deaf
- Young People under the age of 25
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 project
- how you will spend the amount you are requesting from Create NSW, including a breakdown of your total project costs.
- what are the risks associated with this project? How can you reduce these risks?
- what governance and management arrangements are in place for the project?
Note:
- a project plan template is provided by Create NSW (via SmartyGrants) to assist you in outlining your key activities. You are required to upload this template.
- a budget template is provided by Create NSW to show the strength of your financial planning and ability to deliver the project. This budget template is optional.
- the budget income and expenditure must balance at NIL ($00.00).
- you must not request funding for the total cost of your project. You must contribute other cash or in-kind support towards your project.
- 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
Start the application
Applications for this grant are available via the SmartyGrants portal.
After the application is submitted
You will receive an email confirmation from our secure online grants system, SmartyGrants. Create NSW has the discretion to accept late applications only where it would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process. The applications will be assessed and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Application results
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications under embargo.
Under embargo
When applicants are notified under embargo, they are not permitted to publicise the outcome until the official announcement has been made by the Minister for the Arts or by Create NSW. The embargo period is taken seriously and failure to comply may impact your current and future funding eligibility.
Funding Payment
If your application is successful, you will be sent a Funding Agreement/Letter of Offer. This outlines the conditions of funding, how you will be paid and your grant reporting requirements.
Payment will not be made until any Create NSW outstanding acquittals have been submitted.
Please refer to Contracts and Payment information for the process regarding successful applications.
Acknowledgement of Create NSW support
As the recipient of funding, you must acknowledge the support of the NSW Government in all project publications, promotional and advertising materials, public announcements and activities.
You will be expected to show evidence of this at the Acquittal stage. Failure to do so could impact future funding opportunities.
Please see Create NSW Logo Guidelines for more information.
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
Assessment Stage 1
The Artform Advisory Boards will assess all applications against three assessment criteria: Merit, Impact and Viability.
The Artform Advisory Board:
- will assess and rank all applications against the merit, impact and viability assessment criteria
- may split applications across the artform advisory board when high numbers of applications are received
- may set aside an application if it is assessed as "materially deficient" in any one of the three assessment criteria
- may consider whether an application needs to be reallocated to another board for assessment
- may ask for a Cultural Review from Create NSW Aboriginal staff or the Aboriginal Arts and Culture Artform Advisory Board based on applications with Aboriginal content and engagement.
Assessment Stage 2
Artform Advisory Board assessment scores will be amalgamated and presented at the assessment meeting to determine final recommendations.
The Artform Advisory Boards will consider the assessment criteria, the demographics, distribution, range, and scale of the initial recommendations.
This may include prioritising NSW applicants, as well as projects, individuals and activities with outcomes that address Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) Priority Areas, to ensure equity across the State and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment.
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
- 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
Assessment Stage 3
Create NSW will consolidate a report on the outcomes based on quality of the applications as assessed by the Artform Advisory Boards, demand by artform, budget allocation, distribution across the State, and ACFP Priority Areas.
Note:
- The NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support.
- You are not guaranteed funding even if your application meets the assessment criteria.
- If you are successful, your application may not be funded to the amount you requested.
Consultation
There may also be cross-board consultation on applications. Create NSW may also request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.
Recommendation
Final recommendations are submitted for the consideration of the Minister for the Arts.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is 042024
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is Funding Agreements will be sent within one month of successful notification.
Support and contact
Create NSW Arts Funding
- 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