The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program supports multicultural festivals and events across NSW. These activities foster harmony and celebrate cultural diversity as part of our identity and way of life.
Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $5,000 to $20,000
- Application opened: 27 October 2025
- Application closes: 24 November 2025, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The Stronger Together Festival and Event Grant Program support community groups to produce festivals and events that celebrate and embrace our state’s vibrant cultural diversity. Initiatives will actively involve the participation of different communities or faith groups and promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding.
This program is funded and administered by Multicultural NSW.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Stronger Together Festivals and Events grant, applicants must:
- be located within NSW
- show how the festival or event will present cultures and traditions
- outline how they will measure success and outcomes, including collecting attendance data to be shared with Multicultural NSW post event
- show co-contributions from other funding applications towards the festival or event. It is unlikely that an application will receive a grant if there is no co-contribution
- confirm other funding sources that are contributing to the total event budget
- confirm past and current funding sources for the past three years
- have acquitted all prior grants
- be a non-profit sharing organisation
- show that the festival or event is cost effective and viable with an accurate budget
- have all appropriate insurances and licences
- submit an application using the Multicultural NSW SmartyGrants portal before the closing date
- deliver the festival or event within the delivery timeframe for the grant. This information is in the grant guidelines and application form
- promote the Multicultural NSW and NSW Government funded event or project on their website and social media platforms.
Selection Criteria
Applications must address how festivals and events will:
- promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding. They must engage a broad cross-section of the NSW community
- ensure NSW’s multicultural communities can celebrate, preserve and share traditions
- be accessible by the general public and are for all communities of NSW.
Who can apply
- Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations
- NSW local councils are only eligible if they have partnered with a community organisation.
Who can’t apply
- Unincorporated organisations
- For-profit commercial organisations
- Organisations that:
- do not demonstrate a commitment to NSW Multicultural principles
- have redress sanctions as described in the National Redress Scheme
- are subject to a winding up order or have an appointed administrator
- have a pending or ongoing legal case
- are bankrupt
- have no sound financial management and governance.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Festivals and events that:
- support multicultural and multifaith community groups to celebrate and embrace our state’s vibrant cultural diversity.
The festival or event must:
- promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding
- engage a broad cross-section of the NSW community
- celebrate, preserve, and share traditions
- be accessible to the general public and open to all communities.
What items cannot be funded
- political activities
- commercial or fundraising activities
- local councils, unless they have partnered with a community organisation
- celebration of national or independence days of countries other than Australia. Activities planned for key Australian days including ANZAC Day, Australia Day, Clean Up Australia Day and NAIDOC week can apply and are eligible to receive funding
- single faith religious rituals or promotions. Multi‑faith events which involve people from more than one religion can apply
- activities that are dependent on recurrent annual funding
- applications that support core business or operating costs of the organisation. This includes supplementing, increasing or continuing ongoing service delivery.
What your application needs to include
Applications must address the selection criteria as outline above. Full details of what needs to be included is outlined in the full grant guidelines.
Prepare your application with this checklist
Applications must show how the festival or event will promote cross cultural awareness and understanding.
Applications must show how the festival or event will engage a broad cross-section of the NSW community.
A detailed budget must be provided in the grant application. In-kind contributions should also be outlined in the grant application.
Successful applications will clearly demonstrate the organisation’s capacity to deliver the project within the
available delivery period and within budget.
Applications should clearly identify resources that will be committed to ensure the project is a success.
All applications must be submitted through Multicultural NSW's SmartyGrants portal.
Address the eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a Stronger Together Festival and Event Grant, applicants must:
- be located within NSW
- show how the festival or event will present cultures and traditions
- outline how they will measure success and outcomes, including collecting attendance data to be shared with Multicultural NSW post event
- show co-contributions from other funding applications towards the festival or event. It is unlikely that an application will receive a grant if there is no co-contribution
- confirm other funding sources that are contributing to the total event budget
- confirm past and current funding sources for the past three years
- have acquitted all prior grants
- be a non-profit sharing organisation
- show that the festival or event is cost effective and viable with an accurate budget
- have all appropriate insurances and licences
- submit an application using the Multicultural NSW SmartyGrants portal before the closing date
- deliver the festival or event within the delivery timeframe for the grant. This information is in the grant guidelines (PDF 1.22MB) and application form
- promote the Multicultural NSW and NSW Government funded event or project on their website and social media platforms.
Address the assessment criteria
Application meets eligibility criteria and is not an excluded activity
Applications from ineligible organisations or for excluded activities are not eligible for consideration.
Application form is complete and submitted on time
- Incomplete applications will not be progressed for assessment.
- Applications that are not submitted online through the Multicultural NSW SmartyGrants portal before the closing will not be progressed for assessment.
- Applicants need to register with SmartyGrants to apply. If the organisation has used SmartyGrants to apply for a grant with Multicultural NSW before, they will already be registered.
- Attachments are uploaded through the online application form.
- Application is appropriate to the Program.
Successful applications will clearly and convincingly show:
- how the festival or event will deliver the grant aim
how the festival or event meets the grant criteria.
Start the application
Applications for this grant are available via the Multicultural NSW SmartyGrants portal.
After the application is submitted
The applications will be assessed and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Support and contact
Phone: 02 8255 6779
Email: grantsinfo@multicultural.nsw.gov.au
Postal Address:
- 56 Station St, Parramatta East, NSW 2150,
- PO Box 618, Parramatta NSW 2124