Arts and people with disability

Access and Inclusion

Create NSW is committed to enabling equal access to the Arts and Culture Funding Program for all People in NSW. This includes removing barriers to our funding programs for people with disability.

We offer the following access options and inclusive programs. We encourage you to tell us about any other access requirements you have.

Application Support

We’re Here to Help. 

Contact the Arts Funding team at Create NSW to discuss application access options:

• Email: arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au
• Phone: (02) 9228 4578
• Scheduling an online meeting to speak to the Arts Funding and Development team using the link to Microsoft Bookings
   

Application resources

Guidelines

• The guidelines for ACFP Project funding are now screen readable and translatable.
• Arts and Cultural Funding Program | NSW Government

Application forms

• You can request SmartyGrants application forms in Microsoft Word format. This form can be used to:
  • Dictate responses
  • Translate to other languages
  • You can copy and paste responses into the SmartyGrants form

Glossary

The Arts and Cultural Funding Program – Glossary is useful for definitions of words used.

Video or audio answers

For project funding you can answer two questions using video or audio.

• What do you want to do?
• Why do you want to do it? 

Dictate your answers

On request we can arrange for you to dictate your answers into the SmartyGrants form. Please leave at least one week before closing date to enable this process.

National Relay Service

Contact us through the National Relay Service
 

• TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 02 9228 4578
• Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9228 4578

• Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for 02 9228 4578

   

Createability Internships

Create NSW partners with Accessible Arts to deliver the Createability Internship Program.

This program is for NSW artists and practitioners with disability or who are d/Deaf.  It's designed to develop strong career pathways into the arts and screen sector.

Applications from Createability Internship Program is now open.

https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/createability-internship

Applications for Createability Internships 24/25 opened on 4 November and close 16 December 2024.

Read about past internships

• Dressing for success: Kristi Archer shares her Createability internship experience
• Createability intern Samantha Tindall gets behind the wheel on the Play School set
• Createability Internship brings future community focus into view for Renee Allara

videocam 1:11

Watch webinar

videocam 55:52

Access 2024 Createability Internship

Other grants and funding

Many of our other funding programs encourage and support people with disability or who are d/Deaf.

Cultural Access - Priority Area Projects for Individuals and Organisations | NSW Government  is new project funding that 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.

This includes projects that are led by and support people with disability or who are d/Deaf.

Some other examples of funding for disability is, the recent Regional Arts Touring Round 2 grant for the Accessible Arts tour of accessible comedy show Are You Pulling My Leg? 

Accessible Arts CEO, Liz Martin, said “This funding will realise the touring ambitions of talented comedians with disability - expanding the reach and impact of their work as they demonstrate the inclusivity of comedy.”

See Taking it to the regions: Artists and storytellers hit the road

Recent recipients of the Arts and Cultural Funding Program grants included 

• Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre Inc. Sprung!! commits to disability voices and embedding strong person-centred systems. 
• Cement Fondu which featured work byStudio A. This is a supported studio based in Sydney. It tackles the barriers artists with intellectual disability face. This includes barriers accessing conventional education, professional development pathways and opportunities needed to be successful and renowned visual artists.

Access Grants and funding opportunities

Useful links and resources

• Accessible Arts is the peak arts and disability organisation in NSW. They advance the rights of, and opportunities for, people with disability or who are d/Deaf to:
  • develop and sustain professional careers in the arts and
  • have equitable access to arts and culture across NSW.
• Australia Council for the Arts useful links include:
  • Arts and Disability Initiative 2022-24
  • Arts and disability mentoring initiative 
  • National Arts and Disability Awards.
• Choose Art is an Australian accessible online arts directory
• Create NSW is due to release a new Disability and Inclusion Action Plan later this year. You can also download our previous Disability and Inclusion Action Plan (2016-18) (PDF 673.69KB)