About the program
The Western Sydney Strategic Partnerships Program provides matched-funding support for organisations to deliver key programs in Western Sydney to support the diverse arts, culture and creative industries sector of the region.
The Western Sydney Strategic Partnerships Program is funded and administered by Create NSW
The program was announced as a central program within the Plan for Western Sydney Arts, Culture and Creative Industries 2025-28. The Plan recognises the power of creativity as a driver of economic opportunity, social connection and cultural expression, and aims to work with the region’s arts, cultural creative industries to chart a path for sustainable sector growth.
Arts, cultural and creative industries organisations and creative workers in Western Sydney, 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 Western Sydney through partnerships
- Development of artists and creative workers’ practices in Western Sydney
- Improved or new income streams for organisations
- Increased capacity of organisations to retain staff, deliver impactful programs and enhance community engagement
The program encourages respectful engagement and supports projects that include Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) considerations.
No. Artistic outcomes can be included if they support the focus areas listed in the program guidelines, but they are not mandatory.
Funding is confirmed for this round only. Future rounds depend on government priorities and available budgets.
The program is designed to support both: larger strategic initiatives and smaller targeted partnership projects. The funding pool permits a range of scales.
This is contextual and should be defined by the applicant: participants may be program participants, cultural workers/staff benefiting from capacity building, or audiences. Define them and show how they benefit.
Eligibility
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 organisation
- 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 can apply:
Blacktown City, Blue Mountains City, Camden Council, Campbelltown City, Cumberland Council, Fairfield City, Hawkesbury City, Liverpool City, Penrith City, The City of Canterbury-Bankstown, The City of Parramatta, The Hills Shire or Wollondilly Shire.
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 13 Western Sydney LGAs.
Yes, joint applications, collaborations and partnership programs delivered by multiple organisations are strongly encouraged.
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.
Yes. The lead applicant must be an eligible organisation and GST registered. This ensures accountability and compliance with NSW Government funding rules.
No. Only the lead applicant needs GST registration.
Yes. They can partner in your project, but cannot be the lead applicant. This rule ensures funding supports local organisations as project leads. When calculating co-contributions, state institutions fall into the 80% category.
No. Partners can be based outside eligible LGAs as long as activities happen within those LGAs. For example, a Sydney CBD organisation can partner if activities occur in Western Sydney and the outcomes delivered benefit the Western Sydney creative sector.
Yes. Organisations can submit more than one Expression of Interest (EOI), but if an organistion is successful Create NSW will only invite one detailed proposal per lead applicant to proceed through to the detailed application stage.
No, informal partnerships are not eligible.
The applicant must be the lead organisation. The mixed scenario (project + capacity building) broadly fits eligibility; Create NSW can advise on eligibility (not competitiveness) in a one‑on‑one discussion.
Funding Use
A total of $2,150,000 in funding is available for the 2025/26 financial year.
The maximum grant value is $2,150,000 (exclusive of GST).
Yes, applicants must provide financial or in-kind contributions that will be matched by Create NSW. The percentage contribution Create NSW will make to successful projects will be based on the applicant/s organisation type/s.
Please refer to the program guidelines for full details.
Yes, in-kind contributions are allowed but must 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 delivery the activity. Eligible costs may include, but not be 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.
There is no set limit. Be ambitious but realistic. Larger grants must show clear alignment with program priorities and significant community impact.
Co-contributions can come from any source—partners, sponsors, your own organisation, or other grants. Both cash and in-kind are accepted.
Yes. Donations from individuals or foundations count toward your co-contribution.
No. Both are valued equally. In-kind can include staff time, equipment, venue hire, or other resources.
Yes. However, Create NSW would need to approve any allocation of its funding to this activity, as it would otherwise draw funding from approved activity.
Yes. Although the overall contribution is based off the number and types of partners involved, no one party is required to contribute those funds.
No. Funding is only available for costs within the project dates; pre‑period costs cannot be funded and starting early carries risk if unsuccessful.
It can be both. Choose the approach that best addresses the identified problem and leads to the intended outcomes.
Existing investment can be leveraged toward matched funding if it is a direct part of the proposal.
Application Process
Apply online via the SmartyGrants portal by the deadline.
It is the first stage of the application process where applicants provide high-level project details.
Yes, your organisation can submit more than one Expression of Interest.
Successful EOI applicants will be notified by the end of January 2026 and invited to submit a detailed application that will be due in March.
It is the second stage where you provide full project details and address all criteria.
No, only one detailed application per applicant will be requested and assessed.
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, write or edit your application.
The EOI budget should be indicative only—inclusion of expenses group by broad categories is acceptable and detailed final budgets will only be required during the detailed application stage.
Yes. We expect that there will be changes to the proposal as further details are confirmed so a reasonable degree of flexibility is allowed.
Up to 3 files, each under 25 MB; PDF is preferred.
Assessment & Decision Making
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.
No. Only the detailed application assessment criteria is weighted.
No. Applicants with unconfirmed partnerships will not be penalised.
Evidence can include both quantitative and qualitative data, research, or community feedback.
Partnerships are a strong theme and part of the assessment criteria, so they are strongly recommended. They are not an eligibility requirement.
Not necessarily. You do not need to address all focus areas. A strong project focused on one area with clear impact is acceptable; align to what matters most for your outcomes.
The number and array of investments will be be guided by the applications Create NSW receives.
The assessment criteria are published as part of the guidelines.
Reporting & Compliance
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 follow the Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines, which will be provided to successful applicants by Create NSW.
Governance & Probity
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.
Community Support
You can seek translation or interpreter services for assistance. Please contact westernsydney@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.
ICIP
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.
Always include ICIP considerations in projects involving First Nations culture to protect and honour Indigenous knowledge.