Creative grants

Supports cultural and creative activity in our communities.

A night-time scene of a tree that has been turned into artwork. Branches have been added to the tree's trunk to form the face of a man.

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Applications are now closed

This program will be offered again in 2024.

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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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About this program

This program supports projects and initiatives that contribute to Sydney’s cultural life, provide opportunities for creative participation, enliven public spaces, and strengthen the sustainability and capacity of our cultural and creative industries.

The program funds projects and initiatives that align with priorities in our creative city cultural policy and action plan 2014–2024 and live music and performance action plan.

Our funding will prioritise projects that:
- promote local culture and stories
- explore aspects of Sydney’s history
- celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culture
- represent the cultural and social diversity of our community
- increase access to creativity and culture for the city’s communities
- encourage cultural organisations and artists to locate and operate in Sydney
- address challenges facing the creative industries and cultural sector.
We encourage applications from organisations that support Aboriginal and Torres and Strait Islander communities and culture, including Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and networks.
Proposals are assessed against:
- evidence of the need for the project and proposed outcomes
- capacity and experience of the applicant to deliver the project
- demonstrated connection and benefit to the local area and communities
- evidence of diversity, inclusion and equity in the planning and delivery of the project
- how the project delivers against the funding priorities.
For comprehensive information, including definitions and other details, refer to the business support grant program in the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.

For information on how to ensure a safe and successful event refer to the City’s event guidelines, associated policies and procedures.

If your project involves an outdoor event within the City of Sydney please discuss your event with the Outdoor Events & Filming Team via email on [email protected] or on (02) 9265 9333.

To see what projects have been awarded our grants and sponsorships in the past, please search for grants in our statutory returns annual reports.

Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 Continuing the Vision outlines the goals we have set to make the city green, global and connected.

Funding available

Cash funding from $10,000 to $50,000 per year is available, for a one-year program or multi-year funding (up to 3 years).

Value-in-kind in the form of street banner and venue hire fee waiver is also available.

Applicants can apply for up to $5,000 worth of capital expenditure or equipment purchase.

For applications of more than $30,000, we recommend you contact our grants team on 02 9265 9333 to discuss your project and its alignment with the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.

Eligibility

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

These individuals and organisations can apply:
- not-for-profit organisations
- for-profit organisations
- sole traders
- individuals or unincorporated community groups auspiced by a not-for-profit or for-profit that is eligible to apply in their own right.
If you work with an auspicing organisation, we encourage you to choose one that is relevant to the sector and that can support the development of the proposal.

For more information on eligibility, see the eligibility section in the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.
Funding is not available for:
- operational costs or overheads for the core business of an organisation
- project that are a festival or event
- projects that directly contravene the eligibility and ethics framework or existing city policies.