Regional NSW Strategic Partnerships Program – Comprehensive FAQs

The Regional NSW Strategic Partnerships Program provides matched-funding support for organisations to work together in delivering key programs to support the diverse arts, culture and creative industries in regional NSW.

The program was announced as a central program within the Plan for Regional NSW Arts, Culture and Creative Industries 2026-2035. The Plan recognises the power of creativity as a driver of economic opportunity, social connection and cultural expression, and aims to work with the arts, cultural creative industries to chart a path for sustainable sector growth across regional NSW.

Arts, cultural and creative industries organisations and creative workers in regional NSW, including First Nations communities and diverse cultural groups.

• Skills development
• Organisational capacity building
• Audience development
• Partnerships
• Investment sourcing
• Creative activation of spaces

• 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.

It encourages respectful engagement and supports projects that include Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) considerations.

Eligible applicants include NSW-based organisations legally constituted as one of the following:

• incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
• incorporated association
• registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
• publicly funded research organization
• local government body
• tertiary institution
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation.

Please refer to the program guidelines for full eligibility details.

Yes, applicants must have an ABN and be registered for GST. 

No, individuals cannot apply. Applications must come from eligible organisations.

Yes, the following local government bodies, and organisations within the following local government areas, can apply:

While organisations outside of the local government areas listed above can be part of a partnership program or project supported through the program, the lead applicant must have a physical presence in one of the 96 regional NSW LGAs.

Yes. This program is designed to support collaborations, and partnership programs delivered by multiple organisations. Non-partnership driven applications, that is, programs delivered by a single organisation, are eligible but are unlikely to be successful in a highly competitive round seeking a more connected regional NSW arts sector. 

You are not eligible to apply if you are insolvent, an individual, a legally constituted partnership, 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.

A total of $1,000,000 in funding is available for the 2025/26 financial year.

The maximum grant value is $150,000 (exclusive of GST) per application.

Yes, applicants must provide financial or in-kind contributions that will be matched by Create NSW. The percentage contribution that Create NSW will make to successful projects will be based on the applicant and partner organisation types. Please refer to the program guidelines for full details and calculations.

Yes, in-kind contributions are allowed but must be detailed in the budget section of the application form and show value for money.

Costs must be directly related to delivery of the program, be incurred within the project period, reflective of market rates and be a true and accurate reflection of the costs required to deliver the activity. Eligible costs may include, but are not limited to, artist fees, labour, equipment hire, rent, utilities, and marketing. Please refer to the program guidelines for full details.

Ineligible costs include land purchases, unrelated salaries, pre-application expenses, and activities outside the project period. Please refer to the program guidelines for full details.

Apply online via the SmartyGrants portal by the deadline.

No, only one application per lead applicant will be assessed. However, as this is a partnership program, a lead applicant can be a partner on other applications related to a different project. 

Contact Create NSW immediately. Changes after the deadline are not guaranteed.

Late applications are only accepted for technical issues reported within one hour of closing.

Create NSW staff can provide general advice but cannot provide detailed advice or write or edit your application. 

Applications are assessed against criteria published in the program guidelines by a panel consisting of Create NSW staff and independent assessors. Please refer to the program guidelines for full details of the assessment process.

The Secretary of the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport (DCITHS) makes the final decision based on recommendations made by the assessment panel.

Due diligence consists of checks that are conducted during the assessment process to ensure applicants are suitable to receive public funding, such as financial checks and criminal history.

Yes, you can request a feedback session from the Program Development and Partnerships team within Create NSW.

Applications are compared and ranked against each other to ensure fairness and best value for money.

A legal document outlining terms, conditions, and milestones for your funding.

Payments are made after the grant agreement is signed and milestones are met. This will occur before the end of June 2026.

Unspent funds must be returned to Create NSW.

Reports on progress, expenditure, and outcomes as outlined in the agreement.

Funding should be acknowledged using the NSW Government logo and by following the Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines, which will be provided to successful applicants by Create NSW.

Any situation where the personal interests of a decision maker could influence their public duties. All conflicts of interest must be declared.

Information is treated as commercial-in-confidence and shared only as required by law.

Your data is handled under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998.

Processes to identify and manage risks throughout the grant lifecycle.

Ensuring fairness, transparency, and integrity in decision-making.

You can seek translation or interpreter services for assistance. Please contact regional@create.nsw.gov.au.

If you meet the eligibility criteria published in the program guidelines, you can apply. To maximise your chance of success in the competitive assessment process, it is important to ensure that your activities align with program focus areas and will deliver the outcomes being sought.

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property refers to the rights of First Nations peoples over their cultural heritage.

It ensures respectful engagement and protection of Indigenous knowledge and culture.

Yes, projects involving First Nations culture must address ICIP in planning and delivery. For more information on ICIP you can refer to the ArtsLaw factsheet: Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) - Arts Law Centre of Australia.

Always include ICIP considerations in projects involving First Nations culture to protect and honour Indigenous knowledge.