Arts & Cultural Funding Program: Creative Steps – New Work

Overview

This funding supports creative development and presentation of new work by individual artists and arts and cultural workers. Applicants are encouraged to drive and develop partnerships with arts and cultural organisations to support their new works.

Key Information

• Grant amount: From $10,000 to $75,000
• Application opened: 13 April 2026
• Application closes: 25 May 2026, 2:00 pm

Program Objective

In response to the NSW arts, culture and creative industries policy, the purpose of this funding is to strengthen communities through equitable access to vibrant arts and cultural experiences.

This funding could:

• enable the development, creation and presentation of new work
• provide access to resources and expertise for artists and arts and cultural workers to enhance or develop skills and grow their career
• facilitate engagement with and access to new work for NSW audiences
• strengthen the creative ecosystem through collaborations and partnerships
• amplify diverse voices and increase equitable opportunities for NSW artists and arts and cultural workers from Strategic Priority Areas
• contribute to personal and community wellbeing, and economic development.

This program is administered by Create NSW.

Eligibility

Who can apply

Individuals:

• Applicants must be 18 years or above
• Have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or be administered at time of contracting (if successful)
• Currently living in NSW (minimum 12 months)

Groups or other entities that do not have legal status:

• The lead applicant must be 18 years or above, have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or be administered at time of contracting (if successful)
• Majority of members must currently be located in NSW (for the past 12 months)
• Unincorporated groups must have a written/ signed agreement between all members outlining roles and responsibilities, and their acceptance of the proposed project.
• Groups, organisations or partnerships with legal status cannot apply – you may be eligible to apply to Cultural Access.

If successful, all applicants must provide details of an active ABN with a nominated bank account or provide details of a funds administrator.

• Individuals must have a sole trader ABN or private company ABN (only if the individual is the sole director) or a funds administrator and a nominated bank account.

For more information on ABN and entities please use this link.

Funding requests must:

• not be more than 90% of project’s income
• be realistic and supported by the application and budget

Types of projects funded under this grant

The project must demonstrate it has a focus on arts and culture and directly benefits NSW artists, arts and cultural workers and/or NSW communities and audiences.

It must be a creative development and/or the presentation of new work.

What costs you can apply for

Costs you need to consider to make sure your project is a success:

• Paying wages and fees of artists and arts/cultural workers based on
  • Note: Events or activities receiving funding from Create NSW, must pay at least $250 fee for musicians.  This fee is based on a ‘3 hour call’ as set out in the Live Performance Award and endorsed by the Fair Work Ombudsman. 
• Renting or hiring of space for workshops, rehearsals, shows, exhibitions or presentations
• Travel and accommodation costs related to your work or project
• Fees for development opportunities, mentorships and workshops directly related to the research and development of the project
• Marketing and promotion expenses
• Costs or materials for the creation of new work
• Costs to support First Nations protocols and ICIP  
• Costs to support accessibility.

Who can’t apply

Ineligible applicants:

• Have received funding before from Create NSW or Sound NSW for the same part of the project.
• Have already started the project (paying for costs of the project).
• Will start or finish the project before the funding period starts.
• Want funding related to filmmaking, screen production, mainstream animation or film festivals (funding programs for these areas are managed by Screen NSW).
• Want funding related to contemporary music (please refer to the glossary for this definition). For more information on this, you should contact Sound NSW. 
• Organisations or groups (legally constituted entities with an ABN).

What costs you can’t apply for

• Projects or activities that directly support the delivery or course requirements of an educational institution’s program or course
• Projects or activities that are led by people who aren’t professional artists, arts /and cultural workers, or creatives
• Paying back money for items you’ve already bought
• Buying equipment that isn’t directly used in your project
• Fundraising and donations
• Awards, prizes, competitions, or prize money
• Paying back loans.

Example projects

Some examples of what may be funded under this grant are but not limited to:

• A Western Sydney visual artist who has developed a partnership with a local Council managed gallery seeks to develop a body of work exploring climate impact and the way it has changed the local ecology.
• A playwright who has approached a theatre company to develop a work with the inhouse team to support the development of their script with a presentation outcome at the end of the project.

What co-contributions are required

Create NSW does not fund 100% of your project’s income. You must contribute at least 10% from other cash or in-kind support towards your project’s income. The definition of in-kind can be seen in the glossary.

Additional eligibility requirements

• The project must start after 1 September 2026 and be completed by 31 December 2027.
• You can only submit one application in this ACFP Project Funding round to Cultural Access, Creative Nations, Professional Development – Next Steps or Creative Steps – New work. If you submit more than one application, you will be asked to choose one for assessment.