Image: BARKAA performing at Yabun Festival, 2025. Photo by Joseph Mayers.
The new Local Audience Development Grants has two funding programs:
- Promoting NSW Music - funding up to $200,000.
- Live music events and all ages programming - funding up to $100,000.
Both programs open Monday 8 December 2025, close 2pm Thursday 12 February 2026, for projects delivered between 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2027.
Local Audience Development Grants - Frequently Asked Questions
Industry professional refers to an individual working in contemporary music. To be eligible for this program you need to have an active ABN (that’s your Australian Business Number).
Music business refers to a business that operates within the contemporary music ecosystem. To be eligible for this program business and organisations must have an active ABN (that’s your Australian Business Number)
Regional NSW is defined as the areas outside Greater Sydney.
Sound NSW defines Greater Sydney as including the local government areas of the Northern Beaches and Hornsby Shire to the North, Hawkesbury City to the North-West, City of Blue Mountains to the West, Wollondilly Shire to the South-West and Sutherland Shire to the South
Western Sydney encompasses the thirteen local government areas:
- Blacktown City
- Blue Mountains City
- Camden Council
- Campbelltown City
- The City of Canterbury Bankstown
- Cumberland Council
- Fairfield City
- Hawkesbury City
- Liverpool City
- The City of Parramatta
- Penrith City
- The Hills Shire
- Wollondilly Shire
NSW Government priority groups include First Nations people, people who identify as women and non-binary, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQ+, young people (under 25), and people from Western Sydney and regional and remote communities.
Artists, acts, industry professionals and organisations with a primary focus in the below artforms are not supported through Sound NSW:
- experimental music and sound art
- contemporary classical, opera, choral and ensembles
- music theatre
- working in and with community music groups.
These applicants should refer to Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) guidelines.
Grants may be considered part of your income and may be subject to tax. You must determine your own taxation responsibilities.
We suggest you consult your financial adviser or contact the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 66.
The NSW Government is committed to ensuring artists are paid fairly for live performance. If you are employing artists to perform live as any part of your grant, Sound NSW expects all artists to receive a $250 minimum payment for each artist. You can read more about this minimum fee for government funded shows at Musicians Australia.
You can only submit one application to one of the Local Audience Development Grants programs per financial year.
No, you cannot purchase equipment with Local Audience Development funds.