Night-time diversification grants

Applications are now closed

Recommendations to Council: 27 June 2022

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About this program

This grant program aims to stimulate the city’s precincts and the night-time economy.

The program does this by supporting your business to trial new events, activities and initiatives at night (6pm to 6am) to encourage increased variety of night-time business offerings and programmed commercial activities in commercial precincts.

Funds can go towards:

revitalising hospitality venues with new activities at night
later trading premises – for example, opening hours for a book or fashion store extended to 10pm with additional programming such as book readings/fashion talks
businesses offering a regular series of activities or special events – for example, styling sessions for beauty, fashion or design retailers or cooking classes for hospitality businesses
businesses and venues introducing or expanding live music and performance, such as comedy, theatre, poetry, programming
creative producers who wish to work with businesses in their area to curate a program of events or night-time activities
coordinated activities between a group of businesses within a precinct are highly regarded – for example, collaborations between neighbourhood retailers, artisans and service providers to create a series of local events
capital works or capital expenditure associated with night-time activities up to a maximum value of $5,000.

Projects can contribute to one or more of these outcomes:
- more diverse business offerings and programming at night
- increase the quality and quantity of live music and performance programming.
Applications are assessed against the funding priorities and expected program outcomes. The assessment panel will also consider:
- evidence of the need, opportunity or demand for the activities
- capacity and experience of the applicant to undertake and promote the activities
- demonstrated secured partnerships if appropriate
- commitment, capacity and plans to continue the activities, if successful, without further support from us
- demonstrated understanding of how development consent and any other permits will be obtained if required
- a commitment to support any required safety or precinct amenity provisions such as lighting, security and cameras to ensure the activity is introduced in a safe and integrated way for patrons, employees and communities
- commitment and capacity to match the cash investment of the grant
- provision of required supporting documentation.

Funding available

Up to $30,000 matched cash funding for programming at night (6pm to 6am) for a 1 or 2-year program.

Applicants must match the funding requested with a financial contribution including hours worked equal to or greater than the funds requested.

Applications requesting the maximum amount available must show how this activity will lead to significant benefit to the night-time economy.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding an applicant must operate within the local area or be able to demonstrate benefits for the city’s residents, workers and/or visitors. Applicants must also apply for projects located in the local area.

The applicant must:
- be a not-for-profit, for-profit, or sole trader that is either:
  - a creative, retail, entertainment, tourism and accommodation or hospitality business
  - land owners wanting to activate vacant space for creative or night life uses
  - an arts/cultural operator based in the local area.
- business and organisations that don’t align with those listed in the eligibility criteria
- projects located outside our local area
- projects that directly contravene the eligibility and ethics framework or our existing policies
- capital works or expenditure that exceeds $5,000
- costs associated with business as usual activities, permanent employees or ongoing operational costs
- purchase of buildings
- relocation of business or routine maintenance
- internal shop fittings including display shelves and painting
- properties owned by employees of the City of Sydney or other government agencies
- projects that rely on future recurrent funding.

Evening trade opportunities

There is an opportunity for businesses to take advantage of high volumes of people walking by extending their trading hours. The graphs below show the number of people on the street and the number of businesses open on weekdays and Saturdays from 6am to midnight in Newtown and Glebe.