Arts and Cultural Funding Program

2026 Regional Arts Touring Round 1

2026 Regional Arts Touring Round 1
This grant round is open to individual artists, arts and cultural workers, and organisations who are touring arts and cultural work across regional NSW.
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Key information

  • Status: Open
  • Grant amount: Individuals and groups can apply for projects from $10,000 up to $75,000. Organisations can apply for projects from $20,000 up to $120,000
  • Application opened: 13 April 2026
  • Application closes: 25 May 2026, 2:00 pm

Program objective

In response to Creative Communities, the NSW arts, culture and creative industries policy, the purpose of this funding is to strengthen communities though equitable access to vibrant arts and cultural experiences.

This funding could:

  • foster access to innovative and diverse arts and cultural presentations
  • enable the presentation of new work by underrepresented artists and groups
  • enhance the visibility of new work by NSW artists and arts/cultural workers
  • contribute to personal and community wellbeing and economic development
  • build vitality of NSW organisations by developing new markets and audiences
  • strengthen communities through equitable access to arts and cultural experiences. 

This program is administered by Create NSW.

Eligibility

1

Who can apply

Individuals: 

  • Applicants must be 18 years or above 
  • Have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or be administered at time of contracting (if successful) 
  • Currently living in NSW (minimum12 months) 

Groups or other entities that do not have legal status: 

  • The lead applicant must be 18 years or above, have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or be administered at time of contracting (if successful)  
  • Majority of members must currently be located in NSW (for the past 12 months) 
  • Unincorporated groups must have a written/ signed agreement between all members outlining roles and responsibilities, and their acceptance of the proposed project. 

Organisations or entities that do have legal status, such as: companies, associations, partnerships, and other incorporated entities. Local Government Authorities must be a distinct business unit based in NSW 

  • The person submitting the application must have the authority to act on behalf of the organisation/entity 

Note: Preference will be given to NSW-based organisations. It is highly recommended that non-NSW based organisations discuss their application with Create NSW before applying by contacting arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au. 

If successful, all applicants must provide details of an active ABN with a nominated bank account or provide details of a funds administrator. 

  • Individuals must have a sole trader ABN or private company ABN (only if the individual is the sole director) or a funds administrator and a nominated bank account. 
  • Groups who are unincorporated, ensembles, unincorporated associations, or other entities that do not have legal status, must be contracted by an individual or a funds administrator on behalf of the group. 
  • Organisations with legal status must have an ABN which matches their entity name and a nominated bank account. 

Funding requests must:

  • not be more than 90% of project costs
  • be realistic and supported by the application and budget. 
2

Types of projects funded under this grant

All applications must demonstrate that the proposal has a focus on arts and culture and directly benefits regional NSW artists, arts and cultural workers and/or regional NSW communities and audiences through arts led touring activities.

For funding towards a professional development opportunity, please see Professional Development - Next Steps.

For individuals looking for funding towards development or presentation of a new creative work, please see Creative Steps – New Work.

For First Nations individuals or organisations/groups with majority First Nations leadership looking for funding towards a creative project, please see – Creative Nations.

3

What costs you can apply for

Costs you need to cover to make sure your tour is a success:

  • Renting or hiring of space for workshops, rehearsals, shows, exhibitions or presentations.
  • Community engagement or audience development costs, including marketing and promotions costs.
  • Costs to support First Nations Protocols and ICIP
  • Costs to support accessibility
  • Paying artist fees based on awards and appropriate industry rates. See Glossary for further information regarding industry standard rates.
    • Note: It is required that commercial events staged using, in whole or in part, public funding received from Create NSW, implement a $250 minimum fee for musicians.

Note: You can apply for unconfirmed activities, such as tours in development with unconfirmed venues.

4

Who can’t apply

Ineligible applicants:  

  • Have received funding before from Create NSW or Sound NSW for the same part of the project.
  • Will start or finish the project before the funding period starts.
  • Are a state or federal government department/agency, including state cultural institutions.
  • Are schools and educational institutions (including preschools, primary and secondary schools).
  • Key Festivals, State Significant Organisations & National Performing Arts Partnership Organisations.
  • Want funding related to filmmaking, screen production, mainstream animation or film festivals (funding programs for these areas are managed by Screen NSW)
  • Want funding related to contemporary music (please refer to the glossary for this definition). For more information on this, you should contact Sound NSW
  • Are employed by Create NSW or were employed in the last 12 months.
5

What costs you can't apply for

  • Tours or activities that directly support the delivery or course requirements of an educational institution’s program or course
  • Tours or activities that are led by people who aren’t professional artists, arts and cultural workers, or creatives
  • Paying back money for items you’ve already bought
  • Buying equipment that isn’t directly used in your project
  • Capital works (infrastructure/building works)
  • Fundraising and donations
  • Awards, prizes, competitions, or prize money
  • Paying back loans.
6

Example projects

Some examples of what may be funded under this grant are but not limited to:

  • an artist/curator from Western Sydney touring an exhibition to multiple regional NSW galleries  
  • a small group of regional theatre-makers staging a play in two locations outside their hometown
  • a performance poet partnering with regional libraries and bookshops to run poetry nights and workshops
  • a Sydney-based dance company touring to three regional NSW destinations and delivering workshops with young people  
  • a regional NSW theatre organisation touring a performance to one Western Sydney and two regional NSW locations  
  • a regional gallery sending a group show to two other regional galleries and offering a talk by the curator in each location.
7

What co-contributions are required

Create NSW does not fund 100% of your tour. You must contribute at least 10% from other cash or in-kind support towards your tour. The definition of in-kind can be seen in the glossary.

8

Additional eligibility requirements

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. This includes:

  • The project must start after 1 September 2026 and be completed by 1 September 2028.
  • Regional Arts Touring funding is for any activity directly related to a regional NSW tour. Note: Regional NSW is defined as all NSW local government areas outside of Greater Sydney. Please refer to the glossary for this definition. If you are NSW regionally based, you can also apply for funding towards a Sydney or Western Sydney component of your tour.
  • A tour is defined as staging a production or exhibition in a location outside of the place where the activity originated and/or the applicant resides.

Applications to rounds  

  • You can only submit one application to this round.
  • You cannot apply to this round if you were successful in the previous round of Regional Arts Touring.
  • If you submit more than one application, you will be asked to choose one for assessment.

What your application needs to include

1

Prepare your application with this checklist

Before starting an application:

  • Read the guidelines and FAQs
  • Watch the webinar
  • Check your eligibility

All applicants must submit the following materials. All materials will form part of the assessment:

  • A completed online application form
  • Samples of work - up to a maximum of 25MB - as PDF or URL/weblink  
  • Letters of invitation, collaboration, or partnership (if applicable)
2

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.

3

Address the assessment criteria

Artform Boards will assess applications based on three weighted assessment criteria:

Idea (50%)

The tour:

  • clearly aims to present an arts and cultural work designed for and engaging regional NSW communities.
  • is relevant and significant to the area of practice and interesting to audiences.
  • contributes to career and skill development of artists, arts and cultural workers and/or organisational capacity building in regional NSW.
  • contributes to personal and/or community wellbeing, and regional NSW economic development.
  • engages collaborations and partnerships that are well aligned and relevant.

Create NSW does not fund 100% of your project income. You must contribute at least 10% from other cash or in-kind support towards your project income. The definition of in-kind can be seen in the glossary.  

Diversity, Participation & Connection to Place (30%)

The tour:

  • is designed, led by and/or significantly supports regional NSW artists, arts and cultural workers, groups, and/or organisations.
  • strengthens communities through inclusion and equitable access to arts and cultural experiences in regional NSW. 
  • If using First Nations content or working with First Nations people, supports First Nations self-determination and cultural practice.
  • strengthens the diversity of cultural leadership within the regional NSW arts and cultural ecosystem.
  • demonstrates Connection to Place – the tour is meaningful to the people and places where it is happening.

Planning, Experience & Financial Management (20%)

The tour:

  • has been planned appropriately with clear steps and activities to deliver the outcomes described in your ‘Idea’.
  • includes a realistic budget to deliver the proposed travel and activities.
  • engages artists, arts/cultural workers, collaborators and partners with the right touring experience, skills and expertise to deliver the activities.

Where relevant, your tour proposal:

  • has considered appropriate engagement strategies and consultation with participants, audiences and communities.
  • has evidence that First Nations Protocols and Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) have been adhered to
  • has considered accessibility costs or requirements
  • has engaged with the NSW Government’s Creative Communities policy priorities.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring fair access by all communities and individuals across the state. If the tour engages with the needs of a community or has outcomes that significantly benefits Strategic Priority Areas, please include these details.

The Strategic Priority Areas are:

  • First Nations stories and communities
  • Accessibility and equity
  • Regional NSW
  • Western Sydney
  • Broad and inclusive communities and content
  • Next generation of creatives and audiences

Assessment Criteria will be considered against your responses to the questions in the application form:

 Idea (50%)

In this section, describe what you want to do, why you want to do it and what you expect the results to be.

Question 1:What do you want to do and why?

Describe your tour, clearly summarising what the activity is, its aims and purpose.

You may want to consider the following:

  • What will your tour involve?
  • Who is it for and why is it important for the artform/area of practice and the audience/community?
  • What impact or benefit will the tour have for the artist/s, arts and cultural workers, community and/or audience?
  • Will the tour have positive impacts on the career or skills of those involved?

Diversity, Participation & Connection to Place (30%)

In this section, describe who the tour is for and what the impact will be. Describe how the tour has meaningful connection to the places where it will happen.

If your tour includes working with First Nations communities or content, you must describe how your tour is relevant, connected and appropriate.

Question 2:

Who is the tour for, and who will benefit from it?

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring fair access by all communities and individuals across the state.

You may want to consider the following:

  • Who is the tour relevant to?
  • Who will it benefit? For example, artists, communities and/or audiences?
  • Which Strategic Priority Areas will your project address?
  • How does the project reflect perspectives of diverse communities in NSW?
  • What results do you want to see at the completion of your project?
  • Will your tour increase access and participation in arts and cultural experiences for regional NSW audiences?
  • Does the tour have connection to First Nations people/communities?
  • How is it connected to the places where it will happen?

 

Question 3: Connection to Place:

Why is this the right place for the tour, and how is it connected to the local community or environment?

Please read the information about ‘Connection to Place Statement’

  • Link to ‘Connection to Place Statement’ information/check sheet with examples and links to Cultural Artform Affirmation, Aboriginal Protocols and ICIP.
  • You may be asked to provide this statement if the Artform Board wants more information.

You may want to consider the following:

  • Where will the tour take place?
  • Why did you choose these locations?
  • Have you engaged with local communities? Do they support the activity?
  • How is the project meaningfully connected to the places where it will happen?
  • If you are working with First Nations artists or communities, how are you connecting with First Nations people/communities? What connections have you already established? How do you understand and use the protocols for First Nations engagement and ICIP?

If you are a non-First Nations applicant working with First Nations arts and culture, artists or communities, you must additionally answer these questions:

  • How are you connecting with First Nations people/communities?
  • What connections have you already established?
  • How do you understand and follow Aboriginal Arts and Culture Protocols and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)?

 

Planning, Experience & Financial Management (20%)

In this section, demonstrate how you have planned to undertake the tour, who will be involved and how you will manage any risks, including financial. 

Planning - Briefly outline the activities and dates for the proposed tour, including any partnerships or collaborations.

Question 4:How will the activities ensure you achieve the tour goals?

You may want to consider the following:

  • What activities will you undertake to deliver the results you described in the ‘Idea’ section.
  • Do the activities align with the intended outcomes you described for the artists, arts and cultural workers, communities and/or audiences?
  • If the tour includes partnerships or collaborations, how will they each contribute and what will they deliver and when?
  • Consider why the outlined activities are appropriate for the tour. Are they sequenced at the right time with the right people to achieve the tour goals?

Experience - List the relevant expertise and skills of those involved in the tour.

Question 5: Who is involved and why are they the right people for this tour?

You may want to consider the following:

  • What experience do you/the individuals/organisation bring to this tour?
  • What skills and expertise do they have that will ensure your tour is a success?
  • Is the tour providing employment and/or skill development?
  • How will you/your team approach working in regional NSW communities and engaging regional NSW audiences?
  • Do they have creative or technical skills that are relevant / significant to the artform / area of practice
  • How will the tour help build organisational capacity or the careers and professional skills of those involved?

Budget

Outline the costs involved to deliver your tour. We strongly recommend you provide a detailed breakdown of your income and expenses. 

When completing your budget, you may want to consider the following:

  • Have you included all the costs involved to deliver your tour?
  • Is the budget realistic for what you want to do and where you want to go?
  • Have you included adequate wages and fees to pay the artists, arts and cultural workers and/or community involved in the tour?
  • Have you calculated any in-kind contributions?
  • Have you included costs for community consultation or engagement? For example, if First Nations artists, cultural workers, Elders and/or communities are involved there may be expenses relating to First Nations protocols and ICIP.
  • Include any expenses related to accessibility and inclusion, for example marketing materials, Auslan interpretation or access adjustments for participants or audiences with disability or who are d/Deaf.
  • Include all sources of funding in your application, not only the funding amount requested.
  • Demonstrate any collaborations and/or partnerships that will be engaged in the delivery of your tour.
  • Add budget notes if you want to explain items in more detail, or provide more information.

Individuals, groups and organisations can apply for either:  

  • Individuals and groups from $10,000 up to $75,000
  • Organisations from $20,000 up to $120,000

These will be assessed separately to ensure equity and fairness.

Create NSW does not fund 100% of your project. You must contribute at least 10% from other cash or in-kind support towards your project. The definition of in-kind can be seen in the glossary.

If successful, you may be required to provide a more detailed budget prior to contracting.

Please refer to Information for Funding Recipients for more detailed processes for applicants.

This includes:

  • Program evaluation
  • Conflict of interest management
  • Organisations working with First Nations people or communities
  • Complaint handling, access to information and privacy

Start the application

Create NSW uses the secure online grants system, SmartyGrants, to manage all its grant programs. All ACFP applications must be submitted via the online portal. 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: NSW Minister for the Arts

After the application is submitted

Applications are assessed by the Regional Arts Touring Sub-committee who provide recommendations to the NSW Minister for the Arts. More information on the Create NSW Artform Boards can be found here.

The Regional Arts Touring Sub-committee is comprised of Artform Board members with relevant experience. Successful applications will be decided by: NSW Minister for the Arts.

Once submitted, applications will undergo a staged assessment process, including assessment against eligibility and essential criteria, as outlined below.

Assessment Process

Pre-eligibility  

After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email from SmartyGrants. Create NSW staff will check eligibility.

Assessment Stage 1

Members of the Regional Arts Touring Sub-committee will score your application based on the assessment criteria. Individuals and groups will be assessed separately from organisations.  

The Regional Arts Touring Sub-committee:

  • may set aside an application if it is below acceptable standard in any of the published criteria.
  • may ask for an application to be reviewed by Create NSW First Nations staff. This is for applications that are working with First Nations arts and culture.

Assessment Stage 2  

Regional Arts Touring Sub-committee assessment scores will be amalgamated and presented at the assessment meeting to determine final recommendations.

Final recommendations by the Regional Arts Touring Sub-committee will consider the assessment criteria, the funding objectives, the geographical distribution, and the range and scale of applications. This may include prioritising applications with outcomes that address ACFP Strategic Priority Areas, geographical distribution, and artform spread.

Assessment Stage 3

Create NSW will consolidate and finalise recommendations based on the Regional Arts Touring Sub-committee's assessments and recommendations, number of applications by artform, availability of funds, and geographical distribution and ACFP Strategic Priority Areas to ensure equity across the state and the best outcomes for NSW government investment.

Assessment process considerations

Applicants should note that: 

  • The NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support.
  • Funding allocation follows a competitive process. You are not guaranteed funding even if your application meets the published criteria.
  • If you are successful, your application may not be funded to the amount you requested. 
  • Your application may be assessed by a different or combined board in the case of low application numbers. This is at the discretion of Create NSW. Assessors with specialist expertise will be represented in any relevant artform board.

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. 
  • Re-open an application after the closing date, provided it doesn’t 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.  The purpose of clarifying information will be to resolve ambiguity – applicants will not be able to strengthen their application through this process.  

Create NSW may also use previously submitted applications and acquittal data to inform the decision making of this funding round.

Successful Grant Applications

If your application is 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 have an active ABN with a nominated bank account or provide details of a funds administrator.

  • Individuals must have a sole trader ABN or private company ABN (only if the individual is the sole director) or a funds administrator and a nominated bank account.
  • Unincorporated groups, associations, organisations or other entities that do not have legal status must be contracted by an individual or a funds administrator on behalf of the group, association or organisation.
  • Partnerships and organisations with legal status must have an ABN which matches their entity name and a nominated bank account.

The Nominated Bank Account must be a separate account at a financial institution used solely for the Grant, or an existing general account at a financial institution where adequate internal financial controls are in place to identify the Grant.

All applicants must:

  • complete an acquittal at the end of the funding period. This may include an online meeting to discuss outcomes of the project.
  • acknowledge Create NSW funding in all publicity materials.

You may be asked by Create NSW staff to provide additional information as a special condition to the agreement:

  • a Connection to Place Statement, reference letter or letters from First Nations peers or community groups, to show details of your Cultural Artform Affirmation and how you are working with First Nations Protocols and ICIP.
  • a detailed budget
  • Other information as specified by the Artform Board

Contracts will not be issued, and payments will not be made, until all Create NSW/Sound NSW outstanding acquittals have been submitted.

Notification of application outcomes

All applicants will be notified within one week of the final approval of funding commitments by government. The anticipated application outcome notification is estimated to be August 2026.

Create NSW does not provide individual feedback on applications. General feedback provided by the Artform Boards will be available once applicants are notified of the outcomes.

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, including at minimum: the project name, the project location, the grant recipient name, and the grant recipient location or contact address will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder 45 calendar days of the funding agreement being is executed, unless an exemption applies. 

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 

Support and contact

  • Resources are available to assist you in completing the application and can be found here.

    Create NSW staff are available to provide general information on the guidelines but cannot provide feedback on draft applications. Create NSW staff will provide the same information to all applicants where relevant.

    Create NSW is committed to enabling equal access to the Arts and Cultural Funding Program for all people in NSW. This includes removing barriers to our funding programs for people with disability.

    We offer the following access options and inclusive programs. We encourage you to tell us about any other access requirements you have.

    Guidelines

    • The guidelines for ACFP Project funding are now screen readable and translatable. (see tabs above)

    Application forms

    • You can request SmartyGrants application forms in Microsoft Word format. This form can be used to:
      • Dictate responses
      • Translate to other languages
      • You can copy and paste responses into the SmartyGrants form

    Video or audio answers

    For project funding you can answer questions using video or audio.

    • Question 1: What do you want to do and why?
    • Question 2: Who is the project for, and who will benefit from it?
    • Question 3: Why is this the right place for the project, and how is it connected to the local community or environment?
    • Question 4: How will the proposed activities ensure you achieve your project goals?
    • Question 5: Who is involved and why are they the right people for this project?

    Dictate your answers

    On request we can arrange for you to dictate your answers into the SmartyGrants form. Please leave at least one week before closing date to enable this process.

    National Relay Service

    Contact us through the National Relay Service

    • TTY users phone 133 677then ask for 02 9228 4578
    • Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727then ask for 02 9228 4578
    • Internet relay users connect to the NRSthen ask for 02 9228 4578

     

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