Community venue hire support grant

Provides assistance to community groups and organisations accessing our spaces.

Grants team

We’d like to help you choose the right grant and provide tips for a successful application.

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

Applications are open

This grant program is open all year to applications until the value-in-kind budget is exhausted.
All applications should be submitted online at least 8 weeks before the event.
The first activity must take place within 12 months of the submission date.

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About this program

We own community venues with a range of indoor spaces and outdoor spaces available for hire. The community venues portfolio includes rooms in our town halls (exceptions are Sydney Town Hall and Paddington Town Hall), community facilities, libraries and recreation facilities. This program provides assistance to community and cultural groups and organisations accessing these venues for events, concerts, fundraisers, conferences, meetings and community gatherings. The grant is intended for cultural, environmental and community groups and organisations that demonstrate financial hardship.

All reduced rates are based on the published rate of hire. Venue hire fees and charges are set for the facilities each year by us and can be viewed at our neighbourhood service centres.

The grant covers venue hire fees only. Applicants must meet all standard conditions of hire and pay all additional charges such as deposit and bond, security/key deposit, public liability insurance, cancellation, audio visual, additional staffing such as ushers, cloakroom and security, and any food and beverages.

Initiatives and projects can contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:
- increased numbers of programs, events and activities that contribute to social wellbeing, social inclusion and increased cultural participation
- increased services and initiatives for residents, workers and visitors that contribute to the social, cultural, economic and environmental health of the city
- increased capacity of the cultural, environmental and community sector due to the sharing of knowledge and resources.
Applications will be assessed against the expected program outcomes. The assessment panel will also consider:
- evidence of a coordinated approach to service delivery and the development of responses to emerging social issues
- contribution to strengthened formal and informal support networks; reduced isolation and increased community participation and opportunities
- consideration of opportunities for learning and sharing knowledge
- contribution to a sustainable cultural sector
- capacity to build increased relative equality in our area
- contribution towards a thriving and diverse green economy of businesses and organisations focused on improving the environmental performance of the city
- evidence of a detailed budget for the event, and demonstrated capacity for the organisation to be financially sustainable
- provision of required supporting documentation.

Support available

One-off or annual reduced rates support is available for community venues, subject to availability. Multi-year funding or triennial funding is available on application.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding an applicant must operate within the local area or able to demonstrate benefits for the area’s residents, workers or visitors.

The applicant must:
- demonstrate that payment of published rates would cause financial hardship
- acknowledge our assistance in any promotional material for the event
- demonstrate that a program of events has been prepared with an appropriate publicity and promotions campaign
- provide evidence of performance criteria and evaluation plan of activities
The applicant must be one of these individuals or organisations:
- not-for-profit
- unincorporated community group
- individual auspiced by a not-for-profit that is eligible to apply in its own right.
Applicants working with an auspicing organisation are encouraged to choose an organisation that is relevant to the sector and can support the development of the proposal.

For more information on eligibility see the eligibility section of the grants and sponsorship guidelines.
Funding is not available for:
- projects that directly contravene the eligibility and ethics framework or existing city policies
- if an applicant has already received funding under a different grants and sponsorships program, this may impact the decision to support the application.

Grants team

We’d like to help you choose the right grant and provide tips for a successful application.

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

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How to apply

Before applying please contact the grants team to discuss your eligibility and suitability to the program, on 02 9265 9333 or email [email protected].

The below resource and example can help you prepare your application and supporting documents.

Sample budget – community venuesPDF · 117.1 KB · Last modified 7 September 2020

PoliciesGrants and sponsorship policyPublished 24 February 2021

Grants and sponsorship program guidelines January 2022

Council governance & administrationGrants and sponsorship program guidelinesPublished 11 February 2022

Community venue hire support grant

Grants team

Applications are open

Help with grants in your language

About this program

Expected program outcomes

Assessment criteria

Further reading

Support available

Eligibility

Eligible for funding

Not eligible for funding

Grants team

Sign up to our newsletter

How to apply