2026-27 Creative Western Sydney Micro-Grants Program

Program objective

The Creative Western Sydney Micro-Grants Program was announced as part of the Plan for Western Sydney NSW Arts, Culture and Creative Industries: 2025-2028. The Program is funded and administered by Create NSW in partnership with the Western Sydney Arts Alliance (WSAA).

The Program will address challenges in sustaining a creative practice and creative projects in Western Sydney due to limited access to funding. The Program will:

• support the development of new creative work
• strengthen Western Sydney’s arts, culture and creative industries through connections and engagement
• improve equity, access and career development across Western Sydney’s creative sector
• support small-to-medium independent arts organisations to deliver projects that generate opportunities for local artists and audiences
• foster sustainability, experimentation and diverse creative careers in Western Sydney.

The intended outcomes of the Program are to:

• increase opportunities for independent creatives and small-to-medium arts organisations in Western Sydney
• develop the professional capacity and diversify the range of career opportunities of individual creatives and Western Sydney organisations
• support creation, development and presentation of new artistic works
• enhance collaboration, networks and sector connectivity in the region
• increase access, participation and representation for priority communities, including young people, First Nations peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities and d/Deaf and disabled communities.

The Program will be administered in accordance with the NSW Grants Administration Guide.

Find answers to common questions to assist here.

Image Credit: Dollys Miracle Hoard by Alison Bennett Image credit Peter Darnley Stuart web 32

This program is administered by Create NSW.

Eligibility

What your application needs to include

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: Director, Program Development and Delivery, Create NSW

Applications must be received no later than 2:00pm Monday 2 November 2026.

You will receive an automated email from SmartyGrants when your application is received. Check your spam/junk folder. If you don't receive a confirmation email, assume your application hasn't been submitted. You should keep a copy of your application and any supporting documents.

You have the option to create a SmartyFile profile for your organisation. SmartyFile allows organisations to collaborate with team members, pre-fill information into forms, manage, view, search and sort submissions across multiple funders in one spot. To learn more, go to About SmartyFile.

You are responsible for ensuring your application is complete and accurate. Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Crimes Act 1900 No 40. We will investigate any false or misleading information and may exclude your application from further consideration.

Number of applications

One application per applicant will be assessed. If more than one application is submitted an applicant will be asked to nominate which application is progressed for assessment and all other applications will be withdrawn from consideration. Local councils and other administrating organisations may administer multiple applications in a single round.

If we find an error or information that is missing, we may ask for clarification or additional information from you that will not change the nature of your application.

Late applications and additional information

If we find an error or information that is missing, we may ask for clarification or additional information from you that will not change the nature of your application.

If you find an error in your application after submitting it, contact us as soon as possible via arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au and quote your application number.

If applications are still open and there is sufficient time before the closing date, we may be able to reopen your application to allow updates. You must resubmit your updated application form before the closing time.

If applications have closed, Create NSW may, at its discretion, consider late applications, corrections, additional information or supporting material where technical difficulties or extenuating circumstances have affected submission. This will only occur where doing so would not disadvantage other applicants or compromise the integrity of the grants process.

To request consideration, you must contact Create NSW via arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au by 3pm on the closing date and provide supporting evidence. Create NSW is not obliged to accept late submissions, corrections or additional information received after the application closing time.

Applicants must not lobby the NSW Government on an issue related or seen to be related to the Program that may or may be perceived to give an unfair advantage to the applicant. Applicants are required to comply with all applicable laws including the NSW Lobbyists Code of Conduct.

 Assessment of grant applications

This Creative Western Sydney Micro-Grants Program is an open and competitive program. All applications are to be submitted and assessed through the staged process below. All applications must be submitted by 2:00pm Monday 2 November, via the SmartyGrants portal.

1. Eligibility Assessment

All submitted applications are initially reviewed against the eligibility criteria set out above in the program guidelines. Eligibility assessments will be conducted by Create NSW staff.

If further information is required to determine the applicant’s or application’s eligibility, a request will be made to the applicant in writing before the eligibility assessment is completed. Where an application’s eligibility on one or more criteria remains uncertain, a final eligibility determination will be made by the Director, Program Development and Delivery in consultation with representatives of the Western Sydney Arts Alliance and presented to the Executive Director, Create NSW for approval.

If an application is deemed ineligible, applicants will be notified by email within 14 days of the round closing.

Eligible applicants will proceed to the next stage of the assessment process.

2. Application Assessment

Application assessments will be conducted by assessment panels comprising representatives from Create NSW, Western Sydney Arts Alliance and a minimum of two independent assessors from Western Sydney. The panel will assess the applications against the published assessment criteria. External experts/advisors may be invited to provide advice during any part of the assessment process.

Assessors will score each application individually. Scores will be amalgamated and presented at an assessment meeting to determine their final recommendations. They will consider the assessment criteria, distribution, range, and scale of the initial recommendations. This may include prioritising applications and activities with outcomes that better meet the program objectives or ensure equity and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment.

Where a large number of applications are received, more than one assessment panel may be convened and applications randomly assigned to a panel for assessment. Where this occurs, Create NSW will prepare an additional scoring report for assessors ahead of the assessment meeting to support decision making.

3. Due diligence and other checks

At any time during the assessment process, Create NSW may undertake due diligence or other checks on an application. This may include, but is not limited to:

• financial checks such as ASIC searches to confirm the financial status or financial viability of the applicant
• criminal checks
• internal conflict checks
• commissioning or completing research, analysis and modelling to support assessments
• contacting identified project participant organisations.

4. Recommendation and decision making

Eligible applications are recommended to the decision maker, who is the Director, Program Development and Delivery, Create NSW.

The Director, Program Development and Delivery, Create NSW, makes the final decision to determine successful grant recipients. Where applicable, advice from a probity advisor may be considered in making the final decision.

Create NSW has the discretion to reject, refuse or cease assessment of an application at any time including where false/misleading information is provided, or probity concerns arise.

5. Assessment process considerations

Applicants should note that:  

• the NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support. 
• you are not guaranteed funding even if your application meets the published criteria.

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
• may 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 
• consider any non-conforming or late application  
• request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process. The purpose of clarifying information will be to resolve ambiguity – applicants will not be able to strengthen their application through this process
• use previously submitted applications and acquittal data to inform the decision making of this funding round. 

Notification of application outcome

We will advise you of the outcome of your application in writing via email.  

If you are successful, we will advise you of any specific conditions attached to the grant. This could include a request to keep the grant confidential for a specified period due to an announcement being made by the NSW Government and Western Sydney Arts Alliance in relation to the grant.

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 (GIPA Act), which must be made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.

Unless there is a legal obligation to maintain confidentiality or an approved policy exemption, relevant information about the grants awarded, including at minimum, recipient name, project name, project or recipient location and the awarded amount, will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder within 45 days of execution of the terms and conditions in accordance with these requirements.  

All records in relation to this decision will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998.

Successful grant applications

1. Grant agreement

The NSW Government makes no funding or other commitment to the successful applicant until all parties have agreed to the Terms and Conditions. You must not make financial commitments reliant on this grant until the Terms and Conditions are accepted.   

The grant Terms and Conditions can only be signed by the individual applicant, representative of the collective or the authorised officers / delegates of your organisation.  

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure signatories have the capacity and availability to understand, complete and sign documents, to carefully read the Terms and Conditions of their grant acceptance, and for it to be signed by the correct authorised signatories.  

Terms and Conditions will not be issued, and payments will not be made, until all outstanding Create NSW acquittals have been submitted. 

2. Grant payment

An invoice template is provided with the Terms and Conditions. The grant will be paid to the nominated bank account only after the Terms and Conditions have been accepted by the funding recipient.  

3. Variations to the grant agreement  

Any variations to the agreed activity, including project scope or activities, location or timeframes outlined in the application form and grant guidelines must be submitted for approval by the Department. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of the grant offer. 

Create NSW has the discretion to approve or reject any variation request from a grantee where the funding has already been paid.  

All requests for a variation must be submitted in writing to Create NSW. To request a variation, or if you are unsure if your enquiry qualifies as a variation, contact arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au.   

4. Unspent funds 

All grant funds are required to be spent on the approved project, and any unspent funds must be returned to the Department in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant agreement.  

5. Indicative reporting and acquittal requirements 

You must provide a brief report as set out in the Terms and Conditions. We may provide sample templates for these reports. 

We will expect you to report on: 

• activities undertaken and outcomes 
• expenditure of the grant.

6. Acknowledgement  

All recipients of NSW Government funding should acknowledge the financial support in accordance with the Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines for Recipients of NSW Government Rebates available at nsw.gov.au/branding/sponsorship-and-funding-acknowledgment-guidelines. 

You must seek our written consent prior to any significant public announcement, marketing, press announcements, or official launch in relation to the grant. 

The NSW Government logo should be used on all materials related to grants provided to the funded activity. Whenever the logo is used, the publication must also acknowledge the NSW Government. 

Additional information and resources

1. Evaluation 

The Department regularly evaluates its initiatives to determine the effectiveness of implementation and to examine the extent to which outcomes and objectives have been achieved. Evaluations are conducted and published in line with requirements from NSW Treasury and the NSW Grants Administration Guide.  

Information from your application, grant activities and reports you have submitted may be used for this purpose. Create NSW may seek to interview you or ask you for more information to further understand your experience with the grant program, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in achieving its objective(s) and outcomes. All applicants, whether successful or unsuccessful, may be contacted to participate in interviews or surveys for evaluation purposes.    

You consent to the use of your information for this purpose by:  

• the Department 
• NSW Treasury  
• the Minister for the Arts office  
• the NSW Ombudsman and Audit Office of NSW  
• consultants and advisers  
• any agency or body of the NSW Government, or any other organisation or individual considered by the office to have a need or an entitlement to know that information (including any federal, state or territory agency or body), where that need or entitlement to know that information arises out of or in connection with the purpose above.

2. Complaint handling 

Details on how we handle complaints, access to information and your private information is available via https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/about-us/feedback-complaints-privacy-and-government-information.

3. Access to information 

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA) provides for the proactive release of government information by agencies and gives members of the public an enforceable right to access government information held by an agency (which includes Ministerial offices). Access to government information is only to be restricted if there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. 

The NSW Legislative Council has the power to order the production of State papers by the Executive Government. Standing Order 52 provides that the House may order documents to be tabled by the Government in the House. The Cabinet Office coordinates the preparation of the papers – that is, the return to order.   

The return to order may contain privileged and public documents. Privileged documents are available only to members of the Legislative Council.  

Note that documents submitted as part of a grant application may be subject to an application under GIPA or an order for papers under Standing Order 52.   

Further information on how DCITHS holds information, and how to access it, is available at https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/dciths/policies-plans-and-procedures/access-to-information/agency-information-guide 

4. Conflict of interest management 

Conflicts of interest are any factors that could compromise the judgement, decisions, or actions of a person or group of people.  

Conflicts may arise if a party in the grants administration process, whether it be Department staff, assessment panel members, the applicant or staff employed by the applicant: 

• has a professional, commercial, or personal relationship with a party who can influence the application selection process  
• has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation which is likely to interfere with or restrict the applicants from carrying out the proposed activities fairly and independently 
• has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation from which they will receive personal gain because the applicant received a grant 
• are involved in any other situations which could lead to unfavourable advantage. 

Conflicts of interest for the Department will be handled as set out in the Department’s Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Applicants must disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest as part of their application or, if successful, as they arise during project implementation.

You must inform us as soon as you identify an actual, apparent or perceived conflict of interest.

NOTE: You are advised to contact us if you are unsure whether something constitutes an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest. 

Risks are managed in accordance with Department’s risk management framework. Risk management, including fraud controls, will occur throughout the grant life cycle. 

5. Confidentiality 

Successful applicants may be required to keep the outcome of the application process confidential until the Government makes a public announcement. The Department follows all requirements of confidentiality required as part of the grants administration and assessment process as outlined in the NSW Grants Administration Guide.  

Unless otherwise stated, any commercial-in-confidence provisions (as defined under the GIPA Act) provided by you as part of, or in connection with, a registration, application or negotiation process will be treated confidentially by the office. We may disclose commercial-in-confidence information provided by you to the following parties:  

• the Minister or Minister’s office;  
• the NSW Ombudsman and Audit Office of NSW; 
• consultants and advisers engaged by the Department;  
• any agency or body of the NSW Government, or any other organisation or individual considered by the office to have a need or an entitlement to know that information (including any federal, state or territory agency or body), where the need or entitlement to know that information arises out of or in connection with the office’s assessment, verification or due diligence of any aspect of your application; and  
• where authorised or required to by law.  

If we disclose commercial-in-confidence information to any of the above parties, we will inform the party that the information is strictly confidential. We will otherwise only disclose commercial-in-confidence information provided by you with your consent. 

6. Privacy  

The Department will collect and store the information you voluntarily provide to enable the implementation of this grant program.  

The Department is required to comply with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act). The Department collects the minimum personal information to enable it to contact an organisation and to assess the merits of an application. Applicants must ensure that people whose personal details are supplied with applications are aware that the Department is being supplied with this information and how this information will be used. 

The Department treats your personal information in accordance with the PPIP Act and the Department’s privacy policy. This includes letting you know:  

• what personal information is collected;  
• why your personal information is collected; and  
• who your personal information is given to.  

The personal information will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected unless an exemption applies. 

 

Anticipated assessment outcome date is December 2026

Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is within 45 days of successful notification

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