Arts, cultural and creative grants

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Applications are closed

Applications opened: 24 February 2021
Applications closed: 29 March 2021
Project time frame: from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022
Recommendations to Council: mid 2021

Grants team

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

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

Help with grants in your language

Need help with information about our grants in other languages?

About this program

Our cultural and creative grants and sponsorship program supports projects and initiatives that provide opportunities for creative participation, enhance creativity in the public domain 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.

This year our funding will prioritise support for projects that:
- connect with and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identities and cultures
- increase participation in cultural and creative activities by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- develop new work with a clear connection to our place, histories, and communities, as well as benefits to Sydney’s artists or communities.
Initiatives and projects can contribute to one or more of these outcomes:
- increased visibility and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
- public spaces activated with cultural and creative initiatives
- opportunities for creative practitioners to gain economic benefit or professional development
- opportunities for audiences, including the city’s residents, workers and visitors, to engage with creativity, self-expression, learning and cultural participation
- increased visibility and understanding of the history, stories and character of the city and its villages through creative projects
- increased opportunities for access to live music and performance activity.
Applications are assessed against the funding priorities and expected program outcomes. The assessment panel will also consider:
- demonstrated need for the project and proposed outcomes
- quality of the project and creative personnel involved
- evidence of partnerships with other government agencies, business or community organisations
- capacity of the individual or organisation and its management
- evidence of a realistic budget with appropriate resourcing including payment of creative personnel where applicable – we support the paying of creative personnel where possible and recognise that underpayment and non-payment affects their incomes and career sustainability
- provision of other required supporting documentation.

Funding available

Funding is available in amounts from $5,000 to $50,000, for annual project funding or multi-year project (funding up to 3 years).

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

for-profit organisations requesting support are required to match the funding requested with cash – value-in-kind will not be accepted
applicants may be required to provide sponsorship benefits back to our communities in return for funding. These benefits will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and can be up to the value of the funding provided.

For applications of more than $20,000, please contact our grants team on 02 9265 9333 to discuss your project and its alignment with these guidelines.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, an applicant must offer a project within our area, or primarily for the local community with a minimum of 75% of participants from our area.

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.
Funding is not available for:
- applications from for-profit organisations that do not provide evidence of matched cash funding for the project
- projects or phases of projects or programs that have already occurred or occur beyond the timeframes relevant to each round
- projects that directly contravene the eligibility and ethics framework or existing city policies
- capital expenditure over $5,000 – equipment costing up to $5,000 may be eligible
- projects or programs that rely on recurrent funding from the City of Sydney
- permanent staffing costs or ongoing operational costs
- projects considered to be a festival or event.

Grants team

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

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

Sign up to our newsletter

Don’t miss out on our grants and sponsorship opportunities. Receive all the latest information, grant opening dates and much more.

Subscribe

How to apply

Applications for grants and sponsorship must be completed online.

The below resources and examples can help you prepare your application and supporting documents.

Sample budget – cultural and creative grants and sponsorshipPDF · 271.62 KB · Last modified 31 August 2020

Standard measure cultural and creative grants and sponsorshipPDF · 802.6 KB · Last modified 31 August 2020

PoliciesGrants and sponsorship policyPublished 24 February 2021

Grants and sponsorship program guidelines February 2021

Council governance & administrationGrants and sponsorship program guidelinesPublished 24 February 2021

Strategies & action plansLive music and performance action planPublished 30 March 2014

11418 Finalisation of Cultural Policy Document July 2016

Strategies & action plansCreative City cultural policy and action planPublished 30 July 2016

Cultural and creative grants

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Applications are closed

Grants team

Help with grants in your language

About this program

Current funding priorities

Expected program outcomes

Assessment criteria

Further reading

Funding available

Eligibility

Eligible for funding

Not eligible for funding

Grants team

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How to apply