Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: $5,000 - $50,000
- Application opened: 19 June 2026
- Application closes: 16 July 2026, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the Audience Development Program are to:
- Deliver a vital, dynamic, and diverse range of screen experiences to communities across NSW
- Contribute to the growth and sustainability of a vibrant and accessible screen sector
- Support the growth and impact of NSW screen organisations
- Contribute to the development of culture through the exhibition of screen projects to a wide audience
- Increase participation for audiences and screen practitioners from the NSW Government key priority areas:
- Regional NSW
- Western Sydney
- First Nations people
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- People living with disability
- LGBTQIA+ people.
This program is administered by Screen NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Please see the Screen NSW website for the full Program Guidelines.
To be eligible for funding under the Audience Development Program, applicants must:
- Be an Australian organisation, including:
- Companies and not-for-profit incorporated bodies
- Co-operatives, trusts or local government authorities
- A consortium or a group of organisations working collaboratively*
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Be legally constituted and able to provide proof of legal status
- Adhere to general eligibility requirements under the Screen NSW Terms of Trade.
*In the case of a consortium or group of organisations working collaboratively, one eligible organisation must be nominated as the lead organisation. If successful, the funding grant agreement will be between Screen NSW and the lead organisation.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Funding is available for events that deliver opportunities for audiences to see and experience quality screen content and innovative practice, in single or multiple venues across NSW.
Eligible one-off or annual events include:
- Public screenings
- Festivals
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
With regard to the assessment criteria, applicants must prepare responses to all questions and submit all core materials listed on the application form, including:
- Description and rationale of event, including any proposed delivery partners
- Demonstrated demand for event
- Event engagement and participation, including target demographics and inclusion of any NSW Government key priority areas
- Location/s for delivering the event
- Budget, including other sources of financial and/or in-kind support
- Organisational capacity to deliver event, including key team members
- Marketing strategy and target participants
- Milestones, outcomes, and key performance indicators
- Relevant support material (see information below)
- Additional application materials if seeking Multi-Year Funding (see information further below).
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.
Start the application
Screen NSW uses the SmartyGrants platform for submission of all applications. Applications made using any other format will not be accepted.
A preview of the application form can be viewed on the SmartyGrants portal.
Late applications
Late applications due to technical difficulties will be reviewed and eligibility determined with absolute discretion by the Manager, Industry & Audience Development, Screen NSW.
A request for late submission due to technical difficulties must be submitted by email to industry@screen.nsw.gov.au within 60 minutes of the application close time, setting out the reasons for the request, along with any evidence.
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: Executive Director, Screen NSW (or their financial delegate)
Eligibility
Applications will be initially assessed by Screen NSW staff to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria, and that all application materials are acceptable. Applications deemed ineligible will not proceed to the formal assessment process.
Screen NSW will inform all ineligible applicants via email within 14 days of this outcome.
Assessment and Recommendations
Eligible applications will proceed to formal assessment by an assessment team, which includes a minimum of one Screen NSW staff member and at least two external industry subject matter experts.
Grant funding allocation under the Audience Development Program follows a competitive process. This means that the assessment team evaluates applications against the:
- Assessment criteria
- Strength of other applications
- Availability of Screen NSW funds.
The assessment team will assess and score applications individually, before meeting to discuss the overall applicant pool and identifying a shortlist of recommended successful applications. All applications are based on their overall score and recommended in order of ranking.
Support and contact
Screen NSW Industry and Audience team (industry@screen.nsw.gov.au)