24-25 Project Funding Round 2 Feedback

About the Project Funding Program 2024/25 Round 2

Creative Nations	The purpose of this funding is to strengthen First Nations artists, organisations and communities by supporting artistic expression to sustain and grow First Nations arts and culture in NSW.
Next Steps – Professional Development	This funding focuses on professional development for individual artists, arts and cultural workers to enable participation in skills development opportunities, workshops, courses and creative sector conferences and networking events.
Creative Steps - New Work	This funding supports creative development and presentation of new work by individual artists, arts and cultural workers. Applicants are encouraged to drive and develop partnerships with arts and cultural organisations to support their new works.
Cultural Access - Priority Area Projects for Individuals and Organisations	This funding supports individuals and organisations that are led by and/or support specific communities to develop and deliver a diverse range of arts and cultural experiences for artists, arts workers, communities, and audiences.

How your application was assessed 

Your application was processed by Create NSW staff, a preliminary eligibility check was conducted, and the artform boards were convened.
The artform board members reviewed the applications and support material and scored each of them against the assessment criteria.
The artform boards met to discuss the applications and advise Create NSW on the most competitive applications.
Create NSW used this advice to determine which applications are recommended for funding based on the available budget.
The Minister for the Arts approved the final recommendations.

Assessor Comments

Please note the feedback below does not relate to all applications but was noted in discussion with the artform boards.

Question/Criteria	How to strengthen your application (benchmark based on the strongest applications):
Idea A vision for your project that clearly summarises the ideas, its aims and purpose.	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 artform board assessors have no prior knowledge of the artists or project
Diversity and participation Demonstrate how your project is relevant to/or will benefit NSW artists, arts and cultural workers, or communities.	Clearly outline the process the project will take to engage with target communities.
	If your project engages with First Nations artists/and/or communities, clearly outline how they follow protocols and ICIP.
Experience List the artistic experience of those involved in the project.	Provide concise information about the artists involved and outlined the appropriate experience, skills that would ensure the project is a success.
	Assume the artform board assessors do not know the artists involved
Planning Provided details of why the location/s were suitable for the proposed project.	Outline the activities that enabled people to connect to the project
	Ensure the plan clearly supports the best process for your project.
	Include how the location reflects on your own relationship with the place while also recognising and respecting the distinct connections of First Nations peoples.
Sustainability Provide a budget to support your project.	Provide a clear budget with notes to help assessors understand how larger amounts were calculated.
	Projects engaging with First Nations demonstrate how they are allocating budget to ensure they were following protocols.
	Provide notes on how the budget allocated is enabling the project to be more accessible.
	Provide notes on details of fees to artists, arts and cultural workers.
Support material	Ensure weblinks are functional and easily accessed by the artform board assessors

Artform Feedback

Classical Music, Opera, Choral and Ensemble

Articulate a compelling vision for the development and presentation of new work.
Provide a clear and well demonstrated engagement with priority areas.

Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD)

Clearly articulate how activities align with the Community Arts and Cultural Development artform including community leadership, outcomes and participation. The definition of CACD and the Artform Board members can be found here.
Provide support material that demonstrates community interest and engagement in the project.
Provide budget details for income and expenditure, including in-kind support and partnership contributions.
Include information about processes, cultural safety, and how access and inclusion will be managed.

Dance & Physical Theatre

Demonstrate how your project has a close alignment with the Dance & Physical Theatre Artform. The definition of Dance & Physical Theatre and the Artform Board members can be found here.
Provide details relating to how the lead artist/ arts worker (applicant) will be paid for their work.
Provide budget details for income and expenditure, including in-kind support and partnership contributions.

Digital & Experimental, Immersive & Light Art

Provide relevant experience information of both collaborating organisations and key individuals including the lead artist.
Include information relating to the audience, who they are and how they will be engaged was well considered by the board.
Some applicants can further explain the technology used in project. Applicants shouldn’t assume artform board assessors know how all the technology works.
Clearly articulate the vision for the project and detail how technology used in the project will work and would contribute to the success of the work.

Festivals

Provide relevant experience information of both collaborating organisations and key individuals including the lead artist.
Demonstrate there is adequate festival or production management experience for a successful festival.
Detail First Nations Protocols and a commitment to accessibility throughout the application and in budgets.
Outline and demonstrate how you would reach the intended audiences.

First Nations Arts & Culture

Demonstrate how you are following protocols and ICIP throughout your project.
Include details in your budget about the costs associated with managing protocols and ICIP.

Literature & Writing

Demonstrate how your project has clear alignment to the funding round objectives. For example, some Next Steps applications would have been more suited to the Creative Steps funding round.
Provide budget details for income and expenditure, including in-kind support and partnership contributions.

Museums & History

Demonstrate how your project has clear alignment to the funding round objectives. For example, some Next Steps applications would have been more suited to the Creative Steps funding round.

Theatre & Musical Theatre

Clearly articulate your vision and artistic rationale for the project.
Provide clear budget details for income and expenditure, including in-kind support and partnership contributions.

Visual Arts

Provide clear budget details for income and expenditure, including in-kind support and partnership contributions
Cultural Access applications demonstrate adequate community engagement planning.
Provide easy to access and relevant support material that clearly demonstrates the quality of your work.

Pre-application support

Create NSW staff continue to help and support applicants who are preparing new funding applications. A pre-application booking can be made with an Arts Funding and Development team member: Create NSW Arts Funding and Development Team.

More funding information Arts and Cultural Funding Program | NSW Government
Create NSW Funding opportunities calendar Create NSW | NSW Government

More information

The funding results including success rates across artform boards will be available soon.

About Create NSW funding | NSW Government

Type: Fact sheet, Guide

Author: Create NSW

Publication Date: 15 August 2025

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