Accommodation grants

Grants team

Please contact the Grants team to discuss your project.

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

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Need help with information about our grants in other languages?

About this program

The City of Sydney’s community facilities include different buildings and spaces that vary in size, location and function.

Under our accommodation grants program, we lease facilities or spaces for up to 5 years at reduced rates (below market rental rates) or at no charge.

We may offer some longer tenancies based on operational and community needs and public interest. Tenancies are informed by the strategic priorities reviewed and set by Council every 4 years.

Tenancies are offered through an expression of interest process as spaces become available, which are highly competitive. We encourage you to sign up to our mailing list to be notified when spaces become available.

To apply for these spaces, you must demonstrate that payment of commercial rents would cause financial hardship leading to a reduction or withdrawal of services to our priority communities.

Art gallery setting with white walls and a wooden ceiling. A series of photographs is displayed on the wall, each featuring hands adorned with different styles of rings. In the foreground, two individuals interact with the exhibit: one stands on a yellow ladder, placing or adjusting one of the photographs, while another observes from ground level. Below the photographs, a white display table holds jewelry pieces related to those in the images above. — Wall: Idil Abdullahi, Erased, 2012 12 digital prints on metallic paper 40.5cm x 40.5 cm.

Table: Idil Abdullahi Loss, 2012, 7 slipcasted porcelain and copper wire approx. 25–29 cm x 15 cm x 6 cm.

Featured: Emma Cao - Communications Manager and Keesha Field - Gallery Assistant.

- Improved social wellbeing, reduced isolation and increased cultural participation.
- Increased services by community and cultural organisations that benefit residents, workers and visitors, and contribute to the social, cultural, economic and environmental health.
- Enhanced financial sustainability for local organisations including artists.
- Greater public participation in arts and creative projects.
- Greater sharing of knowledge and resources by new and emerging groups, increasing the capacity and viability of the business and community sectors.
- Active solutions to sector-wide issues and provision of direct services by newly established and start-up businesses and organisations that benefit our communities.
We encourage applications from organisations that support Aboriginal and Torres and Strait Islander communities and culture, including community-controlled organisations and networks.
Proposals are assessed against:
- the need for the tenancy and proposed results
- your capacity and experience
- connection and benefit to the local area and communities
- diversity, inclusion and equity in the planning and development of the project
- how the proposal aligns with the funding priorities
- any other criteria for specific properties as they become available
- for renewals, compliance with past agreements, lease terms and demonstration of ongoing need.

Support available

Support is available in the form of waived or reduced rental charges for City of Sydney facilities. Rates vary depending on the space being leased and the financial capacity of the applicant.

The City of Sydney may require payment of a bond as part of your lease or licence agreement.

Eligibility

To be eligible an applicant must operate within the City of Sydney’s local area or be able to demonstrate significant benefits for the area’s residents, workers and/or visitors.

These individuals and organisations can apply:
- eligible not-for-profit organisation
- incorporated association
- corporation
- co-operative
- partnership
- sole trader
- trustee of a trust
- government entities.
Applicants must demonstrate that payment of standard rates would cause financial hardship.

The program is open to for-profit entities.

For more information on each eligible applicant above, see the glossary/definitions section in the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.

For more information, see the general eligibility section in the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.

How to apply

The accommodation grants program is run as an expression of interest. The first step will be a call for community members’ interest, followed by an application stage. We may interview short-listed candidates.

Opportunities are published on this page as facilities become available. Join our mailing list to receive updates.