2026 Cultural Access - Priority Area Projects Feedback

1. Idea

A clear vision for your project that explains its aims and purpose

• Read the guidelines carefully before starting an application

• Ensure your project rationale is appropriate for the funding round. 

• Clearly outline how the project is designed, led by and supports artists, arts and cultural workers, groups and organisations in NSW who are included in the Strategic Priority Areas:
   
• First Nations stories and communities
• Broad and inclusive communities and content

Broad and inclusive communities refers to the wide diversity of NSW people including First Nations communities, people of non-English speaking background, those from cultural and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities, and those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. It also refers to our regional communities outside the cities as well as the unique communities in our urban environments.

• Accessibility and Equity

Accessibility and equity refer to the inclusion of people with disability or who are d/Deaf. When considering equity, you may wish to include areas of accessibility (physical, financial, economic and social), to ensure there are as few barriers as possible to engagement with your project.

• Western Sydney and/or regional NSW; and
• Next generation of creatives and audiences

includes young people aged between 18-25, as well as emerging artists, and arts and cultural workers who are generally in the first five years of their creative practice or profession, regardless of age.

• Clearly explain the context of where the idea came from.

• Outline the purpose without using jargon or complex language.

• Provide a strong ‘pitch’ for the idea and how it is interesting and understandable, even if the assessor had no prior knowledge of the artists or project.

• Clearly outline the full project requested for funding, including development, delivery, sharing or presentation and the intended impact.

• Ensure that if you choose to use AI-assistance, your writing retains the individual artistic voice and clearly describes the activity without vague language.

• Ensure that the activity is relevant to the artform / area of practice you nominated.

• Outline how the project contributes to personal and/or community wellbeing, as well as economic development.

• Clearly explain how collaborations and partnerships are aligned and relevant.

• Make sure the funding requested is appropriate for what you plan to do, describe how the project can be delivered successfully, and that it provides good value for money.

2. Diversity, Participation & Connection to Place

Show how your project is relevant to/or benefits NSW artists, arts workers, or communities and is meaningful to the place where it is happening 

• Outline how the project is designed, led by and/or significantly supports NSW artists, arts and cultural workers, groups, organisations and/or audiences included in the Strategic Priority Areas.

• Clearly articulate the process the project will take to engage with target communities, and demonstrate appropriate community consultation and impact, including how these impacts would be achieved.

• Clearly demonstrate how the project is meaningful to the people and place where it is happening.

• Outline how the project strengthens inclusionandaccess to arts and cultural experiences.

• Outline any pathways promoted through the project for increasing diversity in cultural leadership.

• Outline how the project will support work developed and created for and by prioritised NSW artists and arts workers to become more visible to audiences.

• If your project involves First Nations artists and/or communities, explain how all parties will follow protocols and ICIP. 

• Cultural Advocacy: Make sure your project actively promotes and protects First Nations cultural practices, voices, and perspectives. This is important for strengthening cultural identity and visibility in the arts sector.

3. Planning, Experience & Financial Management

Show how your project is clearly planned, has a realistic budget and the people involved have the necessary experience and skills.

Support material

• Ensure timeline, budget and activity are consistent, realistic and aligned.

• Be specific and provide details of the activities you will be undertaking and what the expected outcomes are.

• Provide concise and specific information about the artists and professional networks involved in the project. Outline the appropriate experience and skills that will ensure the project is a success.

• Clarify the roles and responsibilities for each artist, collaborator, partner or organisation involved so assessors can understand the value of these opportunities and collaborations. 

• Don’t assume the assessor knows the people involved.

• Provide a clear, realistic budget with notes to help assessors understand how larger amounts were calculated and wages/fees are allocated to artists and collaborators. 

• Provide notes on how the budget allocation is enabling the project to be more accessible. 

• Projects engaging with First Nations people or content should demonstrate how they are allocating budget to ensure they follow protocols. 

• If relevant, disability access and engagement should be reflected in the budget request as well as the narrative/text responses in the application.    

• Include alternatives, risk planning or mitigation where income, venues, partners, audience targets or delivery elements are unconfirmed.

• Include evidence of audience development or marketing for projects with a public outcome, including how audiences will be attracted and supported.

• Explain in-kind costs and substantiate where possible.

• Ensure support material weblinks are functional and easily accessed by assessors.

• Letters of invitation, collaboration, or partnership should be specific, and directly relevant to the applicant and/or project.