Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $12,160
- Application opened: 17 September 2026
- Application closes: 15 October 2026, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The purpose of Createability is to strengthen the NSW arts, culture and creative industries through greater accessibility, equity and inclusion. The program supports arts, culture and creative industry organisations to create meaningful employment and professional development opportunities for Deaf and Disabled people, increase representation and leadership, and build a more diverse and inclusive creative ecosystem.
The Createability Internship Program supports up to 16 NSW organisations to host up to 22 participants across the arts and culture sector. The program provides customised training for the host organisation followed by paid internships.
The desired outcomes of the program include increased skills development for Deaf and Disabled people and growth in participation, leading to more Deaf and Disabled people employed by arts, culture and creative industry organisations across NSW.
The Createability Internship Program is a partnership between Accessible Arts, Create NSW, Sound NSW, Screen NSW and a range of NSW-based arts and cultural organisations.
You can watch a video about the Createability program here.
You can find answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.
*In these guidelines we use identity-first language for example, ‘Deaf and Disabled artists’. However, we acknowledge that language is always evolving and there are many other ways that people identify, such as person-first, with focus on the person rather than their disability. We respect these individual and community preferences.
Image Credit Cassandra Li (intern) and Bronwyn Papantonio (Campbelltown Arts Centre) Createability 2026
This program is administered by Create NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- Must be an Arts and Culture Organisation, Sound Organisation, Screen Organisation, Creative Industry Organisation and/or a Local Government Authority located in NSW, and
- have a clearly defined focus on arts or cultural activities that directly benefit NSW artists, arts and cultural workers and/or NSW communities through arts and cultural led activities.
- Host applicants must have:
- a valid ABN (Australian Business Number) for your organisation
- a bank account with the same name as your ABN
- Organisations with distinct business units are eligible to submit separate applications.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Arts, culture and creative industry organisations with a genuine interest in providing increased skills development for and growth in participation of Deaf and Disabled people.
The program offers internships of 4 weeks and 8 weeks, up to a total of 22 x 4-week or equivalent internships, with a targeted spread of opportunities, including for First Nations-led and Western Sydney or regionally based organisations in the arts, culture, screen and sound creative sectors.
Host organisations will receive training to increase their awareness of inclusive and accessible practices from Accessible Arts.
Hosts will need to provide appropriate workplace support, management and any required equipment. Specialised/adapted equipment may be eligible to be funded through the Job Access program.
Host organisations will be involved in the intern selection process (including participating in interviews), to ensure a suitable intern is selected to work with them.
What costs you can apply for
The grant amount is to cover a total period of 4 weeks/20 days (160 hours) - $6,080 exc. GST - per internship or 8 weeks/40days (320 hours) equivalent of 2 base internship periods ($12,160 exc. GST). Host organisations and applicants will be able to choose the length of internship based on the role/s offered by the organisation and the availability of the intern. Part-time and flexible working arrangements are encouraged, including combinations of working from home and on site.
Payment of the grant amount to the intern should be inclusive of income tax, superannuation, Workcover and insurances.
Who can’t apply
- Individuals
- Groups
- Organisations that:
- are outside of NSW
- are not a legal entity
- do not meet the ABN requirements
- are schools and educational institutions (including preschools, primary and secondary schools) unless a clearly defined business unit of a university delivering arts and cultural activity
- do not have a clearly defined focus on arts and cultural activities.
Example projects
Some recent Createability Host Organisations
Theatre company - Internship assisting in the construction of puppets, props and other scenic elements.
Youth arts and culture - Internship working across producing and ensuring the processes of making art are accessible and fun for the young artists involved.
Community Arts and Cultural Development company – Internship working behind the scenes including with community consultation and project support.
Art gallery - Internship providing curatorial, administrative and installation support.
Film & TV production company – Internship working on script development, pitch materials and shadowing industry practices.
Contemporary music festival – Internship working in live music event planning, logistics and bookings.
Additional eligibility requirements
Internships can take place between April 2027 and December 2027.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
- Read the guidelines, FAQs and glossary
- Check your eligibility
- Review the internship opportunities offered in 2026 here
- Consider the opportunity/ies your organisation will offer. Details required include:
- Description of your organisation
- Title of internship role
- Role description
- Key duties
- Level of experience preferred
- Internship period
- Location of the internship
- You may offer up to 2 internship opportunities.
Additional Assistance
Interns will tell you what they need to do their work well in their application form and interview. You may be able to seek additional support with Job Access or the Employee Assistance Fund (run by Job Access). To get help from Job Access, interns need to work at least 8 hours a week for 13 weeks.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
The Createability Host Organisation application form asks a series of questions about your organisation.
Assessment criteria
Criterion 1: Idea - Why you’re applying, what you hope to get out of the program and what your organisation could offer an intern.
Criterion 2: Experience - The level of experience your organisation has in relation to access and inclusion, and in hosting interns.
Criterion 3: Sustainability - Logistical questions about the level of support you would be able to provide an intern, and what sort of support you may need from Create NSW, Sound NSW, Screen NSW or Accessible Arts. Specific access information about your premises and your organisation's governance arrangements to ensure staff and participants’ health and wellbeing are considered.
Criterion 4: Alignment - The alignment of participating host organisation’s work placement opportunity and work environment with potential intern’s skills and experience.
Start the application
Create NSW uses the secure online grants system, SmartyGrants, to manage all its grant programs. You will receive an email confirmation of your application from SmartyGrants when your application has been submitted.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Director Program Development and Delivery, Create NSW.
Key Dates
- Host Organisations Applications are assessed, and organisations are selected (October 2026)
- Internship Applications open 12 November 2026 and close 16 December 2026 2pm
- Intern Applications are assessed, and a Shortlist is selected (February 2027)
- Selected Host Organisations participate in interviewing 1-3 prospective shortlisted Interns. The interview panel is made up of a representative each from the Department, Accessible Arts and the possible host organisation (March 2027)
- Internship recipients and successful Host Organisations notified (March 2027)
- Intern Training: Accessible Arts will provide training for interns on how to get ready for work (April 2027)
- Accessible Arts will provide Disability Awareness training to the Host Organisations (April 2027)
- Successful Host organisations contracted (April 2027)
- Internships can take place between April 2027 and December 2027.
Pre-eligibility
Once your application has been submitted, you will receive an email confirmation from our secure online grants system, SmartyGrants. Applications will be initially reviewed by Create NSW staff to ensure they meet eligibility requirements, and all application materials are acceptable.
If your application is deemed ineligible, you will be advised via email within 14 days from the round closing and your application will not proceed to the Stage 1 assessment process.
Assessment Stage 1
Applications will be assessed by a panel with relevant experience and skills from Accessible Arts, Create NSW, Sound NSW and Screen NSW against the assessment criteria, geographic location, diversity and range of roles across the arts, culture and creative industries sectors of the initial recommendations. The Panel may also consider the Creative Communities Priority areas of First Nations, Western Sydney and Regional NSW.
Selected Host Organisations will be notified and involved in the following assessment stage.
Assessment Stage 2
Host organisations will participate in interviewing 1-3 potential shortlisted internship applicants for their organisation, facilitated by Accessible Arts. Recommendations for internships are based on the assessment criteria.
Assessment process considerations
Create NSW may, at its sole discretion and at any stage of the application process, do all or any of the following:
- Require additional information from an applicant.
- Request applicants to provide clarification or additional information regarding the Eligibility Criteria.
- Change the scope of the requirements of these guidelines.
- Vary, amend (including by replacement), or terminate the application process.
- Re-open an application after the closing date, provided it does not give the applicant an advantage over other applicants.
- Consider any non-conforming or late application.
- Request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.
Successful Host Applicants
If your internship opportunity can be matched with a suitable intern’s skills and experience, your application is deemed successful. You will be sent a funding agreement (contract). This outlines the conditions of funding, how you will be paid and your reporting requirements.
All applicants must:
- complete an acquittal at the end of the funding period
- include acknowledgment of Create NSW, Screen NSW and/or Sound NSW funding in all publicity materials.
- Create NSW staff may contact you for additional information as part of this process.
- Contracts will not be issued, and payments will not be made, until all Create NSW, Sound NSW and Screen NSW outstanding acquittals have been submitted.
Publication of grants information
The Grants Administration Guide (Guide) requires that certain information is published in relation to grants awarded no later than 45 calendar days after the grant agreement takes effect (see section 6.5 of the Guide and Appendix A to the Guide). This information is also open access information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act), which must be made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.
In accordance with these requirements, relevant information about the grants awarded will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder as soon as possible after the funding agreement is executed. However, if due to the commercial-in-confidence nature of the information provided, the amount of funding provided will not be published.
All records in relation to this decision will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998 (NSW).
Please refer to Information for Funding Recipients for more detailed processes for successful applicants.
This includes:
- Program evaluation
- Conflict of interest management
- Organisations working with First Nations people or communities
- Complaint handling, access to information and privacy
Anticipated assessment outcome date is March 2027.
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is within one month of successful notification.
Support and contact
Accessible Arts and Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport staff are available to provide general information on the guidelines but cannot provide feedback on draft applications. Staff will provide the same information to all applicants where relevant.
For application enquiries contact:
Accessible Arts
- Email: info@aarts.net.au
- Phone: (02) 9251 6499
- Visit our website
For technical enquiries contact:
Create NSW
- Email: arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au
- Phone: (02) 9228 4578
- Visit our website