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About the Creative Grants Program
Council’s annual Creative Grants program provides funding for local artists, creative practitioners, groups of artists or arts organisations. Funding may support activities or projects that deliver:
- the production and presentation of new creative work
- opportunities for communities and audiences to participate in arts and cultural activities including arts and cultural exhibitions, performances, events, programs, and collaborations
- professional arts development and skill building for local arts practitioners across all arts disciplines
- strengthened capacity and sustainability for the North Sydney regions creative industries
Our objectives
- Increase community connection through arts and culture, by providing opportunities to participate in affordable, accessible cultural and creative activities in the public domain
- Enliven our public spaces, encourage vibrant street life and attract visitors to North Sydney
- Promote creative excellence and innovation in arts projects and programs
- Contribute to the development and sustainability of artists and creative industries in the North Sydney region
Key dates
Applications open: Monday 3 March 2025
Applications close: 11.59 pm Monday 14 April 2025
Outcomes notified: Early June 2025
Funds distributed: Early July 2025
Projects to be delivered: Between 1 September 2025 and 30 September 2026
Available funding and grant categories
In 2025 Creative Grants program has been expanded to include two grant categories. Applicants can only apply for one grant in this round.
Category one: Creative Grants (Professional development)
In this category, grants of up to $2,500 each are available for emerging, mid career, established arts practitioners who live or work in the North Sydney Local Government Area for professional development activities that will advance the applicant’s practice.
Support is available across a range of arts disciplines. The professional development activity must be completed between 1 September 2025 and 30 September 2026.
Category two: Creative Grants (Projects)
In this category grants of up to $5,000 each are available to individual arts practitioners, groups or organisations for the production and presentation of creative projects that benefit the North Sydney Community.
Support is available across a range of arts disciplines. The creative project must be completed between 1 September 2025 and 30 September 2026.
Council may provide fee waivers for hire of Council facilities to undertake projects that receive grant funding. Please contact an Arts & Culture Officer before submitting your application to discuss Council venue suitability.
Applicant support
Prospective applicants can make an appointment to discuss applications with one of our Arts & Culture Officers. 30 minute appointment times are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the period 4 March to 9 April only.
Who can apply
Category one: Creative Grants (Professional development) are open to individual art practitioners who live or work in the North Sydney local government area.
Category two: Creative Grants (Projects) are open to individual art practitioners, arts groups collectives or organisations from the Greater Sydney region, however the creative project must show a tangible benefit to the North Sydney community.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Schools
- State or local government organisations
- Political parties or political activities
- Applicants who have outstanding acquittals for previous grants from North Sydney Council
- Current employees of North Sydney Council
- Applicants employed by North Sydney Council within the last 6 months
General applicant and funding exclusions:
- Activities that have already occurred (no retrospective funding)
- Recovery of costs of items and materials already purchased
- Projects already funded by North Sydney Council’s grants programs
- Fundraising, awards, competitions or prize money
- Infrastructure projects that require development consent
- Captial works, maintenance or improvements
- Multiple applicants submitting applications for the same project
- Day to day office supplies, insurance, rent, utilities or ongoing wages unrelated to the project or activity
- Funding for normal operation of regular activations such as gatherings, markets, or sport
Applicant support
Prospective applicants can make an appointment to discuss applications with one of our Arts & Culture Officers. 30 minute appointment times are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the period 4 March to 9 April only.
Assessment and Selection Process
All applications will be considered by a panel comprising two members of the the Arts & Culture, Events and Library team and one industry professional.
Applications will be assessed against the eligibility criteria and the selection criteria below:
Category one : Creative Grants (Professional Skill Development)
| Assessment Criteria | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Idea A clearly articulated vision for your professional development activities that summarises the activity, its aims and purpose |
30% |
| Artistic and Career Benefits: Demonstrated benefit of the professional development activity your creative practice or career development |
30% |
| Project Impact and Alignment : The potential impact to you and or community and alignment with the grant objectives and Council’s Strategic Plans. |
25% |
| Capacity: Evidence of your capacity to deliver the activity demonstrated by relevant experience, supporting materials, feasible timeline and realistic budget |
15% |
| Total | 100 |
Category two: Creative Grants (Creative Projects)
| Assessment Criteria | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Idea: A clearly articulated vision for your proposed project that summarises what you will do, its aims and purpose |
25% |
| Community benefits: The potential for the project to connect the community to arts and culture and deliver social or creative benefits to the community and audiences |
30% |
| Project Impact and Alignment : Potential impact and value to local community and/or North Sydney creative industries and the project's alignment to grant objectives and Council’s Strategic Plans |
25% |
| Capacity: Evidence of your capacity to deliver the project demonstrated by relevant experience, supporting materials, and a feasible timeline and realistic budget |
20% |
| Total | 100 |
Final recommendations
A report from the panel with recommendations will be made for consideration and final approval.
Notification
Applicants will be advised in writing of the outcome of their application (currently scheduled for July 2025)
Funding agreements
Successful applicants will be offered a funding agreement confirming the conditions of the grant. The funding agreement will include:
- A brief description of the project for which funding is being provided
- The amount of cash funding to be received
- Performance measures for each project
- The deadline for final submission of the acquittal report
Tips for preparing your application
Before you write your application
- Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria by reviewing the overview and guidelines.
- Ensure your project or activity aligns with the grant program’s aims.
- Category One (Professional Development) and Category Two (Creative Projects) have different focus areas and eligibility. Check you are applying for the correct grant category for your project or activity.
Prospective applicants can make an appointment to discuss applications with one of our Arts & Culture Officers. 30 minute appointment times are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the period 4 March to 9 April only.
When answering the application questions
- Read the question and answer in clear, plain language.
- Ask someone unconnected to your application to check your application for errors and offer feedback.
- Give yourself plenty of time to write, review and refine your application.
General questions to consider when completing your application
Have you clearly described your idea? The assessment panel wants to know what intend to do, what you want to achieve, what is interesting about your idea.
Have you clearly told us why the project is important? We want to know what the benefits will be, who will benefit and how.
Have you clearly demonstrated your ability to deliver? Choose examples of projects or activities in similar scale. We want to know that you or your organisation has the capacity to complete the project or activity, measure the outcomes and assess the risks.
Supporting documentation
Applicants will need to provide supporting documentation, and these documents will need to be uploaded to the SmartyGrants software with your application/ Supporting documents include:
- Quotes for any budget items over the value of $500
- Evidence of confirmation from project or activity partners (for example letters or emails)
- Examples of previous projects or work including the ability to add online links, images or PDF document
- CV/s of applicant and other key collaborators
- Proof of public indemnity insurance (or confirmation of willingness to obtain this)
- Working with Children check for projects or activities involving minors (or confirmation of willingness to obtain this)
Budget and financial
Your budget in a must identify the amount requested, including project income and expenditure. Indicative quotes need to be included for any items over the value of $500.
Costs you should consider to ensure your project or activity is a success and your budget is realistic:
- Artist fees*
- Fees for other arts workers involved in the project or activity*
- Renting or hiring of space for workshops, rehearsals, shows, exhibition or presentation spaces
- Travel and accommodation costs related to a professional development activity
- Fees for development opportunities, mentorships, workshops, and courses
- Costs to support aboriginal protocols
- Costs to support accessibility
- Additional marketing
Project income includes contributions in kind or other funding sources.
*We recommend NAVA Payment Standards for artist and arts worker fees
How to apply
Creative Grant applications can only be submitted using Council's SmartyGrants application form.
Late applications will not be accepted. Don't leave it too late to start your application; support will not be available outside business hours.
Key dates
Applications open: Monday 3 March 2025
Applications close: 11.59pm Monday 14 April 2025
Outcomes notified: Early June 2025
Funds distributed: Early July 2025
Projects to be delivered: Between 1 September 2025 and 30 September 2026
Apply Creative Grants (Professional Development) up to $2500
Apply Creative Grants (Projects) up to $5000
Applicant support
Prospective applicants can make an appointment to discuss applications with one of our Arts & Culture Officers. 30 minute appointment times are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the period 4 March to 9 April only.