Industry Development Program

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This grant program provides funds to organisations that create professional development opportunities for NSW screen practitioners at various stages of their career.

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Key information

  • Status: Closed
  • Grant amount: From $2,000
  • Application opened: 15 June 2023
  • Application closed: 14 July 2023

Program objective

The objectives of the program are to:

  • Deliver a dynamic and diverse range of screen and digital games experiences to communities across NSW.
  • Contribute to the growth and sustainability of a vibrant and accessible screen and digital games sector.
  • Support employment and sustainable career pathways for NSW-based screen practitioners through funding professional development and career escalation opportunities.
  • Support the growth and impact of NSW-based organisations across the screen and digital games sector.

This program is funded and administered by Screen NSW.

Eligibility

Who can apply

Funding for the Industry Development Program is generally open to:

  • not-for-profit incorporated bodies
  • co-operatives, trusts or local government authorities.

'For profit' organisations may be able to apply for a project. Applications will need to be discussed with Screen NSW prior to making an application.

To be eligible for funding, organisations must be legally constituted. Applicants need to provide proof of their legal status.

A consortium or a group of organisations working collaboratively may make applications. In this case, one eligible organisation must be nominated as the lead organisation. The Funding Grant Agreement will be with the lead organisation.

Applications may be considered from non-NSW based organisations where the applicant can demonstrate that the project occurs in NSW or has significant benefit for NSW residents.

Applicants must also adhere to the general eligibility requirements under the Screen NSW Terms of Trade.

Who can’t apply

Applications for the Industry Development Program will generally not be accepted from:

  • Individuals, partnerships or groups of individuals and unincorporated organisations.
  • Government departments and agencies, primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions and TAFE colleges.
  • Previous Screen NSW or Create NSW funding recipients who have not fulfilled the conditions of the funding and/or who are overdue in acquitting prior funding.

Eligible projects

Funding is available for activities that enhance the NSW screen ecosystem and increase screen professional development opportunities.

Eligible one-off or annual events include:

  • workshops
  • masterclasses
  • forums
  • targeted professional development activities.

The minimum funding amount for the Industry Development Program is $2000.

Organisations applying for funding are expected to secure other sources of income or in-kind support wherever feasible. Income may be derived from sources such as sponsorships, grants or subsidies from other agencies, revenue from ticket sales, fund raising and other activities.

Applications that do not include other sources of income or in-kind support are not considered as competitive.

Single Year

Applications for Single Year Industry Development Program funding cover activities occurring over a single financial year.

Funding is generally not offered above $10,000 for a Single Year project. However, funding above that amount may be considered for a program of activities, or in exceptional circumstances.

Multi Year

Applications for Multi Year Industry Development Program funding cover activities occurring over multiple financial years.

Funding for Multi Year is uncapped. However, grants to the majority of organisations will be in the range of $10,000 to $30,000 per year. To be considered for the upper amounts, organisations will need to: 

  • demonstrate an outstanding track record (for example, a history of 3 Screen NSW or Create NSW grants in 3 of the last 5 years, at the time of the application), and 
  • impact on the NSW screen sector.

What can’t you apply for

Funding for the Industry Development Program will generally not be available for:

  • publications or magazines about screen
  • development or production of screen content
  • travel
  • awards or competition component of a film festival or initiative
  • school focused programs.

Most recent recipients

All recipients (20)

What your application needs to include

You can download the full guidelines:

1

Prepare your application with this checklist

Support material plays a vital role in how we understand and assess your application. Choose high-quality support material that is concise, current and directly relevant to your application.

Support material for proposals involving the First Nations arts and cultural sector and/or First Nations people, organisations and cultural material must include letters of support and confirmation of involvement from the relevant communities and/or organisations (see NSW Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Protocols).

Other support material may include:

  • A program of activities.
  • Relevant and recent examples of your artistic work (images, video, recordings, written material or links to websites).
  • A brief biography or CV for any screen practitioners or key collaborators involved in the project (maximum one A4 page per person).
  • Confirmation letters and/or letters of support related to your project (provided as one document), such as from partners, venues, key sector contacts or other funding agencies.

Please submit your support material in the amount and format required, including:

  • combined files not exceeding 25MB
  • up to five minutes of video or audio recording
  • no zipped or compressed files
  • documents in PDF format where possible
  • links for externally hosted work only.

Additional inclusions for Multi Year applications

Multi Year applications must also include a business plan that demonstrates the viability of the organisation for the period of funding (2 or 3 years). The business plan should include other sources of funding and the most recent annual report, including the most recent financial statement.

Evidence of a significant positive track record of achievement and delivery of services for the screen industry in NSW. An example of a track record includes a history of three Screen NSW or Create NSW grants in 3 of the last 5 years (at the time of application).

2

Address the eligibility and selection criteria

Project merit

Applications should include:

  • A clear outline and rationale for the project including evidence of the need for or demand for the project, intended audience and location(s).
  • Information about the personnel who will deliver the project including details of their roles, relevant experience and key achievements.
  • Details of the key activities, milestones and dates.
  • Key result areas, indicators and targets for the project.

Industry development and participation

Applications should include well developed strategies for engaging people in opportunities to experience quality screen content and innovative practice including:

  • Evidence of the need or demand for the project and why it should be regarded as a priority for funding.
  • Strategies for engaging people in quality screen content and innovative practice. For example, workshops, networking opportunities or capacity building.
  • Appropriate measures to assess the success of these strategies and to integrate knowledge gained into future programming.

Benefits

The application should demonstrate that the project will build the capacity of screen practitioners, stimulates innovative screen industry practice in NSW and provides opportunities for participation in screen industry development for one or more of the following priority areas:

  • Regional NSW
  • Western Sydney
  • First Nations people
  • People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  • People living with disability
  • LGBTQIA+ people.

Organisational capacity

The application should provide brief information regarding the organisational capacity to deliver the project, including:

  • An outline of the core business, aims and objectives of the organisation.
  • An outline of the experience and expertise of the organisation as it relates to the project.
  • Comprehensive details of the organisation including board or committee, staff and governance arrangements.
  • Financial information for the previous year (actual) and current year (estimated).
  • Evidence of the organisation’s legal status.

Budget

The budget should provide sufficient detail to demonstrate that the project:

  • is cost effective
  • includes realistic income and expenditure targets
  • makes adequate provision for insurance and other liabilities.

Explanatory notes should be used where needed.

Recurring projects must include previous year’s budget actuals. Confirmation of in-kind and cash support should be substantiated by supporting documentation.

3

Assessment process

Applicants will be notified on the outcome of their application via email.

Further information regarding the assessment process will be provided when the program re-opens.

After the application is submitted

Applicants will be notified on the outcome of their application via email.

Further information regarding the assessment process will be provided when the program re-opens.

If successful, the applicant must enter into and abide by the terms of a Funding Grant Agreement with us, which will include the funding’s deliverables and acquittal requirements.

For Single Year applications, funding will generally be paid in one lump sum per financial year, funded upon receipt of a signed Funding Agreement.

For Multi Year applications, funding will generally be paid in one lump sum per financial year funded upon receipt of: 

  • a signed Funding Agreement for year one, and 
  • specified times in subsequent years.

Screen NSW will not enter into agreements until all previous grants with Screen NSW or Create NSW have been acquitted.

Support and contact

Please discuss your funding expectation with us prior to making your application.

Screen Industry and Audience team email: screenindustry@create.nsw.gov.au

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