Create NSW gets the party started with a major boost to the cultural calendar
Art and culture lovers will enjoy more vibrant arts festivals and entertainment offerings across NSW, thanks to a new initiative aimed at expanding the NSW cultural events calendar, especially throughout the winter and summer months.
The launch of Create NSW’s new funding initiative – Creative NSW Collaboration Fund – aims to deliver more multi-artform programming, pop-up activations, and signature events in partnership with existing arts and cultural festivals, events or NSW’s Cultural Institutions.
The fund is designed to support current festival programs and NSW’s Cultural Institutions to expand and incorporate new arts, entertainment or hospitality offerings. It could also see festivals reach new locations – such as the many Uptown Precincts and Special Entertainment Precincts across NSW, where businesses and councils are primed to activate public spaces and draw large crowds with all forms of culture, from performing and visual art, to live music, comedy, film, fashion and food.
With collaboration across the creative industries, a value championed by the NSW Government's Creative Communities policy, the Creative NSW Collaboration Fund aims to open doors to new opportunities and partnerships that support a vibrant creative ecosystem and delivers far-reaching benefits for NSW’s creative workforce, tourism operators, cultural spaces, local businesses, as well as audiences.
Applications are now open until Tuesday 10 November 2026, with a call for the state's most ambitious and visionary creatives and their partners to put forward their exciting multi-arts programs to be delivered during the winter and summer peak festival periods. Grants of up to $750,000 are available for eligible applicants, including major arts festival producers, tourism businesses or cultural producers collaborating with delivery partners such as the state’s Cultural Institutions, or local councils, hospitality operators and venues.
Read the program guidelines and apply at create.nsw.gov.au
Create NSW Executive Director, Kerri Glasscock said:
“Major events and festivals are where culture and community thrive. This innovative program will connect talented multi-disciplinary creative producers and event organisers with cultural venues and vibrant precincts to create something special for people to enjoy throughout the year.
"We’re eager to see our state’s world-class venues, iconic Cultural Institutions, and regional centres play host to everything from expanded multi-artform festivals to exciting new events and entertainment offerings, and can’t wait to see this program delivers across the state.”