Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program 2019/20 provides funding opportunities for arts and cultural organisations, professional artists and arts/cultural workers across a wide range of artforms and disciplines.
30 years of sixty five thousand, Rika Hamaguchi and Tyrel Dulvarie, Bangarra Dance Theatre. Photo by Daniel Boud.
In May 2019 the Minister for the Arts Don Harwin announced changes to the Arts and Cultural Development Program and how this may affect anyone considering applying for funding in the 2019/20 financial year.
What has changed
Application processes
To make it simpler and easier to apply, we’ve consolidated 14 individual project funding rounds into two open rounds per year which includes Project, Creative Koori Projects and Annual Organisation funding.
Funding limits for these categories have been removed, which means an increase to the amounts applicants can apply for.
We have also introduced fixed application timelines, with clear notification dates. That way, applicants will know at the time of applying when they will receive funding results.
Reduced assessment criteria
Assessment criteria have been reduced from 26 to three key elements to enable a wider breadth of artists, organisations and cultural workers to apply for funding. New assessment criteria are outlined in each funding category.
Decision making informed by expert panels
We have also reviewed our assessment panel processes.
All applications will now be assessed by an artform-specific Advisory Board rather than a cross-sector panel of peers. Ten Artform Advisory Boards will be made up of artform leaders and representatives from the broader sector to improve transparency and ensure greater confidence in decision-making processes.
All applicants to the Arts and Cultural Funding Program can elect which Advisory Board should assess their application – including Aboriginal applicants who can decide whether their application is assessed by an Artform Board or the Aboriginal Arts and Culture Board.
Visit the Artform Advisory Boards page to to find out more.
Benefits of the revised funding program
As well as being able to better respond to the needs of the sector, the new Arts and Cultural Funding Program supports a broader range of applicants, new ideas and new models of working.
Long-lead funding notification dates have also been published for the first time, to allow applicants to submit proposals with confidence and the knowledge of when they will receive results and be able to confirm employment, presentation dates and other funding sources.
Next steps
The first funding round opens 5 August 2019 and closes 2 September 2019; the second funding round opens 3 February 2020 and closes 2 March 2020.
Full Project, Creative Koori Projects and Annual Organisation funding guidelines are now available via the links below. You may submit only one application per round to the above programs.
In the meantime, you can review the key information for each of the funding categories below.
What support is available to me?
We have a range of resources to assist you with your funding application.
Contact a staff member if you need any advice between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday:
Telephone: (02) 8289 6520
Email: arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au
Funding Guidelines
Creative Koori Projects funding guidelines
Annual Organisation funding guidelines
We have a range of resources to help you put your best application forward. Check them out here.
Multi-year Organisation funding guidelines will be released in August 2019 to give relevant organisations adequate notice to plan.
Information on fellowships and artist quick response grants will also be made available in August 2019.
