Regional NSW Strategic Partnerships Program

Objective

The Regional NSW Strategic Partnership Program aims to establish partnerships that strengthen the arts, culture and creative industries in regional NSW through programs for the following focus areas:

• skills development
• organisational capacity building
• audience development
• development of partnerships
• investment sourcing
• creative activation of spaces.

Through partnerships and delivery of targeted programs, the Program will address gaps in the above focus areas for regional NSW creative organisations and workers.

The intended long-term outcomes of the Program are:

• A more connected sector in regional NSW through partnerships
• Development of artists and creative workers’ practices in regional NSW
• Improved or new income streams for organisations
• Increased capacity of organisations to retain staff, deliver impactful programs and enhance community engagement.

The Program will be administered in accordance with the NSW Grants Administration Guide.

Image credit: Kew-Y-Ahn Gallery – Little Hartley – partnership National Parks & Wildlife & Arts OutWest 

This program is administered by Create NSW.

Eligibility

1

Who can apply

To be eligible, applicants must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) for an entity that is registered in NSW.
• have a business account with an Australian financial institution.
• be one of the following legal entity types:
  • an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
  • an incorporated association
  • a joint (consortia) application with a lead organisation as the primary applicant
  • a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation (except a charity or not-for profit which is an ineligible entity under section 2.2.2 below)
  • a publicly funded research organisation
  • a tertiary institution currently delivering programs for the creative industries sector
  • an Australian local government body
  • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation
  • any other legal entity types.

The applicant (or lead organisation in the case of a joint application) must be located or have a physical presence in one of the nine regions identified in the Plan for Regional NSW Arts, Culture and Creative Industries.

The nine regions are:

• North Coast
• Hunter
• New England and North West
• Central West and Orana
• Central Coast
• Illawarra Shoalhaven
• South East and Tablelands
• Riverina Murray
• Far West.

Each of these regional plans outlines the LGAs that are included within these regions.

The Department cannot consider your application if it does not satisfy all the eligibility criteria.

Location that are eligible include Albury City, Armidale Regional, Ballina, Balranald, Bathurst Regional, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Berrigan, Bland, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Byron, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Coast, Central Darling, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Cobar, Coffs Harbour, Coolamon, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Dungog, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Federation, Forbes, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Greater Hume Shire, Griffith, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hay, Hilltops, Inverell, Junee, Kempsey, Kiama, Kyogle, Lachlan, Lake Macquarie, Leeton, Lismore, Lithgow City, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Lord Howe Island – Unincorporated Area, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Mid-Western Regional, Moree Plains, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Narrandera, Narromine, Newcastle, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional, Richmond Valley, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro Regional, Snowy Valleys, Tamworth Regional, Temora, Tenterfield, Tweed, Unincorporated Far West, Upper Hunter, Upper Lachlan Shire, Uralla, Wagga Wagga, Walcha, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Weddin, Wentworth, Wingecarribee, Wollongong, Yass Valley

2

Types of projects funded under this grant

Some example of eligible projects are:

•  A disability-led mentorship program pairing Regional NSW artists with disability with a professional mentor, for a 12-month program.
• A writers’ residency program designed to activate a creative space and connect the Regional NSW community with visiting creatives through a public program.
• A regional NSW skills development program for theatre makers, partnering an established venue with emerging theatre practitioners.

3

When the project can start and end

The project should be started by 1 June 2026 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2027.

4

What costs you can apply for

Funding may only be spent on eligible or agreed activities.

To be eligible, costs must:

• be directly related to delivery of program
• be incurred within the program period
• reflect competitive market rates
• be a true and accurate reflection of costs required to deliver the activity.

Examples of eligible costs include, but are not limited to:

• labour expenditure for employment to deliver the program
• capital costs
• fit out costs
• rent / leasing costs
• utilities
• the cost of any agreed program activities you contract to individuals, suppliers or other organisations such as:
  • artist fees
  • hire of temporary equipment
  • costs associated with marketing and communication of events or activation activities.
  • accessibility costs, and costs associated with First Nations protocols and ICIP.

Contributions may be provided as in-kind value rather than direct cash contributions. However, applicants must demonstrate value for money by ensuring program costs are reasonable and reflective of market rates. We may use industry cost benchmarks to assess whether costs are reasonable.

5

Who can’t apply

You are not eligible to apply if you are:

• insolvent
• an individual
• a partnership (as defined by the Partnership Act 1892)
• an unincorporated association
• a state or federal government department or body (except tertiary education providers)
• a state cultural institution
• a screen production company or film festival.

6

What costs you can’t apply for

The grant cannot be used for the following costs:

• the purchase of land or property
• the component of labour expenditure for employment not directly related to delivery of the program (i.e. where a full-time employee is engaged to deliver the program alongside other activity, only a proportion of expenditure would be eligible)
• costs for activities that have commenced or been completed prior to the execution of a funding deed
• costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation
• costs not directly related to the delivery of the program
• costs for activities that will not be delivered prior to the end of the program period.

7

Additional eligibility requirements

To be eligible you must provide a financial or in-kind contribution to the overall costs of your program. The level of contribution is dependent on your organisation type as set out below.

Organisation Type

Percentage of co-contribution required

50% organisation types are:

• An Australian local government organisation.
• A registered charity or not-for-profit organisation.
• An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation

80% organisation types are:

• All other organisation types

Partnerships that include a mix of organisations (i.e. not-for-profit and for-profit businesses or tertiary education provider), the financial contribution should reflect that mix using an average (i.e. X% + Y% / Number of Partners). For example, where a tertiary education provider (80%) is partnering with a local arts organisation (50%) the total contribution would be 65%.

Start the application

Before applying, you must read and understand these Grant Guidelines.

1. Application Process

Applications are completed and submitted online via SmartyGrants. You will receive an automated email from SmartyGrants when your application is received. You should keep a copy of your application and any supporting documents.

You have the option to create a SmartyFile profile for your organisation. SmartyFile allows organisations to collaborate with team members, pre-fill information into forms, manage, view, search and sort submissions across multiple funders in one spot. To learn more, go to About SmartyFile.

One application per applicant will be assessed. If more than one application is submitted an applicant will be asked to nominate which application is progressed for assessment and all other applications will be withdrawn from consideration.

If we find an error or information that is missing, we may ask for clarification or additional information from you that will not change the nature of your application.

If you find an error in your application after submitting it, you should contact us immediately at arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au. We do not have to accept any additional information or requests from you to correct your application after the closing time. You cannot change your application after the closing date and time.

The Department may make discretionary decisions in relation the following circumstances only:

• Accepting a late application due to technical difficulties with submitting the application through SmartyGrants. You must contact Create NSW at arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au within 1 hour of applications closing (by 3pm on 6 March 2026) with supporting evidence.

Applicants must not lobby the NSW Government on an issue related or seen to be related to the Program that may or may be perceived to give an unfair advantage to the applicant. Applicants are required to comply with all applicable laws including the NSW Lobbyists Code of Conduct.

2. Support available to applicants

We encourage you to read these guidelines and any published FAQs.

Create NSW staff are available to provide technical advice and general information to potential applicants on the interpretation of the grant guidelines, including the types of activity eligible for funding and support with the online application process.

Create NSW staff cannot help directly with your application. To maintain a fair and equitable process, staff cannot edit or correct any applications or provide advice on the content or choices required against the assessment criteria for this grant opportunity.

For further information or clarification, please contact Create NSW at regional@create.nsw.gov.au.

Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: Secretary, DCITHS

This funding program is an open and competitive grant program. All applications are to be submitted and assessed through the staged process below.

Assessment process

1. Eligibility Assessment

All submitted applications are initially reviewed against the eligibility criteria set out above in the program guidelines. Eligibility assessments will be conducted by Create NSW staff.

If further information is required to determine the applicant’s or application’s eligibility, a request will be made to the applicant in writing before the eligibility assessment is completed. Where an application’s eligibility on one or more criteria remains uncertain, a final eligibility determination will be made by the Director, Program Development and Delivery and presented to the Executive Director, Create NSW for approval.

If an application is deemed ineligible, applicants will be notified by email within 14 days of the round closing.

Eligible applicants will proceed to the next stage of the assessment process.

2. Application Assessment

Assessments will be conducted by an assessment panel comprising representatives with relevant experience and skill, including a senior representative from Create NSW, and a minimum of three independent assessors from Regional NSW who will assess the applications against the published assessment criteria. External experts/advisors may be invited to provide advice during any part of the assessment process.

The assessment panel will assess all eligible applications against the published assessment criteria.

The assessment panel’s scores will be amalgamated and presented at an assessment meeting to determine their final recommendations. They will consider the assessment criteria, distribution, range, and scale of the initial recommendations. This may include prioritising applications and activities with outcomes that better meet the program objectives, account for geographic distribution and ensure equity and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment.

Create NSW may also request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.

Applicants are not guaranteed funding, or the full funding amount requested even if your application meets the assessment criteria.

3. Due diligence and other checks

• At any time during the assessment process, Create NSW may undertake due diligence or other checks on an application. This may include, but is not limited to:
• financial checks such as ASIC searches to confirm the financial status or financial viability of the applicant
• criminal checks
• internal conflict checks
• commissioning or completing research, analysis and modelling to support assessments
• contacting identified program participant organisation

4. Recommendation and decision making

The assessment panel makes their recommendations to the decision maker, who is the Secretary, Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport (DCITHS).

The Secretary, DCITHS, makes the final decision to determine successful grant recipients. Where applicable, advice from a probity advisor may be considered in making the final decision.

The Department has the discretion to reject, refuse or cease assessment of an application at any time.

Notification of application outcome

We will advise you of the outcome of your application in writing via email.  Applicants will be notified of the outcome within 8 weeks of applications closing.

If you are successful, we will advise you of any specific conditions attached to the grant. This could include a request to keep the grant confidential for a specified period due to an announcement being made by the NSW Government in relation to the grant.

• Feedback on applications: Unsuccessful applicants can request a feedback session. Feedback sessions will be delivered by Create NSW. To register for a feedback session please contact regional@create.nsw.gov.au.

The Department’s decision is final.

Publication of grants information

The Grants Administration Guide (Guide) requires that certain information is published in relation to grants awarded no later than 45 calendar days after the grant agreement takes effect (see section 6.5 of the Guide and Appendix A to the Guide). This information is also open access information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act), which must be made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.

In accordance with these requirements, relevant information about the grants awarded will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder as soon as possible after the grant funding is approved or declined.

All records in relation to this decision will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998.

Successful grant applications

• Grant agreement

The NSW Government makes no funding or other commitment to the successful applicant until all parties have signed a grant agreement. You must not make financial commitments reliant on this grant until the grant agreement is signed and executed by all parties.

Amendments to the grant agreement template are not encouraged. However, where you cannot accept the terms and conditions in the template, you must notify the Department in writing of your proposed amendments to the template and qualify the reasons for your proposed amendments. The Department may or may not accept these proposed amendments at its discretion.

The grant agreement can only be signed by authorised officers or delegates of your organisation.

All applicants must provide the contact details (email address, phone number, name, and position) of the relevant authorised signatories, or their delegates, in the contracting form that will be provided to you via SmartyGrants.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure signatories have the capacity and availability to understand, complete and sign documents, to carefully read the terms and conditions of their grant agreement, and for it to be signed by the correct authorised signatories. Important terms and conditions associated with the funding are attached to the grant agreement.

• Grant payment

An invoice template is provided with the grant agreement. The grant will be paid to the nominated bank account only after the grant agreement has been executed by the relevant parties, a satisfactory invoice is received, bank details are verified and all information is satisfactory. The grant agreement will set out the milestones and conditions required for payment.

• Variations to the grant agreement

Any variations to the funding agreement, including program scope or activities, location or timeframes outlined in the application form and Grant Guidelines must be submitted for approval by Create NSW. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of the grant offer.

Create NSW has the discretion to approve or reject any variation request from a grantee where the grant agreement has already been executed.

All requests for a variation must be submitted in writing to Create NSW. To request a variation, or if you are unsure if your enquiry qualifies as a variation, contact arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au.

• Unspent funds

All grant funds are required to be spent on the approved program and any unspent funds must be returned to the Department in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant agreement.

• Indicative reporting and acquittal requirements

You must submit reports as set out in the grant agreement. We may provide sample templates for these reports in the funding agreement.

We will expect you to report on:

– progress against agreed program milestones and outcomes

– contributions of participants directly related to the grant

– expenditure of the grant

• Acknowledgement

All recipients of NSW Government funding should acknowledge the financial support in accordance with the Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines for Recipients of NSW Government Grant Funding available at nsw.gov.au/branding/sponsorship-and-funding-acknowledgment-guidelines.

You must seek our written consent prior to any significant public announcement, marketing, press announcements, or official launch in relation to the grant.

The NSW Government logo should be used on all materials related to grants provided to the funded activity. Whenever the logo is used, the publication must also acknowledge the NSW Government.

Additional information and resources

• Evaluation 

The Department regularly evaluates its initiatives to determine the effectiveness of implementation and to examine the extent to which outcomes and objectives have been achieved. Evaluations are conducted and published in line with requirements from NSW Treasury and the NSW Grants Administration Guide.

Information from your application, grant activities and reports you have submitted may be used for this purpose. Create NSW may seek to interview you or ask you for more information to further understand your experience with the grant program, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in achieving its objective(s) and outcomes. All applicants, whether successful or unsuccessful, may be contacted to participate in interviews or surveys for evaluation purposes.

You consent to the use of your information for this purpose by:

• the Department
• NSW Treasury
• the Minister for the Arts office
• the NSW Ombudsman and Audit Office of NSW
• consultants and advisers
• any agency or body of the NSW Government, or any other organisation or individual considered by the office to have a need or an entitlement to know that information (including any federal, state or territory agency or body), where that need or entitlement to know that information arises out of or in connection with the purpose above.

• Complaint handling

Details on how we handle complaints, access to information and your private information is available at: https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/about-us/feedback-complaints-privacy-and-government-information

• Access to information

The GIPA Act provides for the proactive release of government information by agencies and gives The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA) provides for the proactive release of government information by agencies and gives members of the public an enforceable right to access government information held by an agency (which includes Ministerial offices). Access to government information is only to be restricted if there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.

The NSW Legislative Council has the power to order the production of State papers by the Executive Government. Standing Order 52 provides that the House may order documents to be tabled by the Government in the House. The Cabinet Office coordinates the preparation of the papers – that is, the return to order.

The return to order may contain privileged and public documents. Privileged documents are available only to members of the Legislative Council.

Note that documents submitted as part of a grant application may be subject to an application under GIPA or an order for papers under Standing Order 52.

Further information on how DCITHS holds information, and how to access it, is available at https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/dciths/policies-plans-and-procedures/access-to-information/agency-information-guide

• Conflict of interest management

Conflicts of interest are any factors that could compromise the judgement, decisions, or actions of a person or group of people.

Conflicts may arise if a party in the grants administration process, whether it be Department staff, assessment panel members, the applicant or staff employed by the applicant:

• has a professional, commercial, or personal relationship with a party who can influence the application selection process
• has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation which is likely to interfere with or restrict the applicants from carrying out the proposed activities fairly and independently
• has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation from which they will receive personal gain because the applicant received a grant
• are involved in any other situations which could lead to unfavourable advantage.

Conflicts of interest for the Department will be handled as set out in the Department’s Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Applicants must disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest as part of their application or, if successful, as they arise during program implementation.

You must inform us as soon as you identify an actual, apparent or perceived conflict of interest.

NOTE: You are advised to contact us if you are unsure whether something constitutes an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest.

Risks are managed in accordance with Department’s risk management framework. Risk management, including fraud controls, will occur throughout the grant life cycle.

• Confidentiality

Successful applicants may be required to keep the outcome of the application process confidential until the Government makes a public announcement. The Department follows all requirements of confidentiality required as part of the grants administration and assessment process as outlined in the NSW Grants Administration Guide.

Unless otherwise stated, any commercial-in-confidence provisions (as defined under the GIPA Act) provided by you as part of, or in connection with, a registration, application or negotiation process will be treated confidentially by the office. We may disclose commercial-in-confidence information provided by you to the following parties:

• The Minister or Minister’s office;
• the NSW Ombudsman and Audit Office of NSW;
• consultants and advisers engaged by the Department;
• any agency or body of the NSW Government, or any other organisation or individual considered by the office to have a need or an entitlement to know that information (including any federal, state or territory agency or body), where the need or entitlement to know that information arises out of or in connection with the office’s assessment, verification or due diligence of any aspect of your application; and
• where authorised or required to by law.

If we disclose commercial-in-confidence information to any of the above parties, we will inform the party that the information is strictly confidential. We will otherwise only disclose commercial-in-confidence information provided by you with your consent.

• Privacy

The Department will collect and store the information you voluntarily provide to enable the implementation of this grant program.

The Department is required to comply with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act). The Department collects the minimum personal information to enable it to contact an organisation and to assess the merits of an application. Applicants must ensure that people whose personal details are supplied with applications are aware that the Department is being supplied with this information and how this information will be used.

The Department treats your personal information in accordance with the PPIP Act and the Department’s privacy policy. This includes letting you know:

• what personal information is collected;
• why your personal information is collected; and
• who your personal information is given to.

The personal information will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected unless an exemption applies.

Anticipated assessment outcome date is within 8 weeks of applications closing

Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is within one month of successful notification

Support and contact

We encourage you to read these guidelines and any published FAQs.

Create NSW staff are available to provide technical advice and general information to potential applicants on the interpretation of the grant guidelines, including the types of activity eligible for funding and support with the online application process.

Create NSW staff cannot help directly with your application. To maintain a fair and equitable process, staff cannot edit or correct any applications or provide advice on the content or choices required against the assessment criteria for this grant opportunity.

For further information or clarification, please contact Create NSW at regional@create.nsw.gov.au.