Arts and Cultural Funding Program

Supporting arts and culture in NSW

Simpler, Fairer, Faster funding

The Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) is one of our main funding programs supporting a range of artforms to foster innovation, vibrancy and creativity within the sector. We’ve listened to sector feedback from right across NSW and have transformed the ACFP model for arts funding to drive long-term growth and sustainability.

The new streamlined ACFP has 4 funding programs

Sydney Writers Festival Sam Neill 2023 credit Jacquie Manning

Multi-year Funding

Longer-term multi-year funding programs have been introduced to provide the funding stability needed for organisations to grow and build long-term capacity.

Applicants will have multiple opportunities to apply for the different categories of multi-year funding including:

2-year 4-year 8-year

Watch Multi-year Funding webinars

a female performer on a dark stage with light projection

Regional Arts Touring

Regional Arts Touring Funding for Small Tours and Large Tours with two rounds per year.

This program brings high-calibre productions and programs to NSW regional audiences and communities.

Round 1 Applications have closed. Round 2 Applications will open in January 2025.

Individuals/Groups Organisations

Project Funding

Creative Nations – projects for First Nations organisations and individuals
Next Steps – professional and skills development (for individuals)
Creative Steps – new work development (for individuals)
Cultural Access – projects by organisations and individuals that engages with NSW Government strategic priority areas

Creative Nations Next Steps

Creative Steps Cultural Access

National Partnerships

National partnership agreements include:

National Performing Arts Partnership Framework (NPAPF)
National service organisations such as Arts Law Centre of Australia
Visual, Arts, Craft and Design Framework (VACDF)

NSW organisations under these agreements are funded jointly by Creative Australia and Create NSW.

Information events & webinars

Find webinars and information sessions for the new Arts and Cultural Funding Program

Connect with Create NSW

Arts and Cultural Funding Program resources

Multi-year application resources

Find useful templates and resources to support applications for Create NSW Multi-Year Funding.

Create NSW funding calendar

Stay informed and plan ahead with a full calendar of all Arts and Cultural Funding Program opportunities and future rounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to questions and learn more about the changes to the Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP).

Glossary of ACFP terms

Find definitions for terms commonly used in Create NSW Arts and Cultural Funding Program guidelines.

Resource Hub

Find a range of helpful resources, toolkits, templates and guides developed by Create NSW.

Support and contacts

Get additional support with your application including the National Relay Service, Accessible Arts and Language Interpreting Service.

Internships and Fellowships for emerging artists

Six emerging artists shortlisted for 2025 Visual Arts Fellowship

NSW 2025 Visual Art Fellowship (Emerging)

Funding to support NSW emerging visual artists, to undertake a professional development program to support their personal, creative and career advancement. Six Finalists selected with one successful Fellowship recipient receiving $30,000 in funding towards their fellowship.

The 2025 finalists are Ellen Ferrier, Ellie Hannon, Ali Noble, Vedika Rampal, Joel Sherwood Spring and Ali Tahayori.

Find out more

Two artist practitioners with disability smiling as they work together on a visual art installation in a workshop

Createability Internship Program

Create NSW funds arts and cultural organisations to host internships for emerging practitioners with disability or who are d/Deaf in the arts, screen and cultural industries.

Ten interns were selected for the 2024 program. Applications for interns close on 16 December.

Apply for a Createability Internship