This Program aims to support multicultural festivals and events across NSW. We invest in community events and activities that foster community harmony and celebrate cultural diversity.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $5,000 to $20,000
- Application opened: 11 June 2025
- Application closed: 7 July 2025, 5:00 pm
Program objective
Our Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding. They must engage a broad cross-section of the NSW community and ensure NSW’s multicultural communities can celebrate, preserve and share traditions.
The festivals and events must be accessible to the general public and are for all communities of NSW.
This program is funded and administered by Multicultural NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- incorporated not-for-profit community organisations
- Local government Authorities (councils) if they have partnered with a community organisation
- organisations (as above) located within NSW.
Who can’t apply
Organisations that:
- do not demonstrate a commitment to multicultural principles
- have Redress sanctions as described in the National Redress Scheme
- are subject to a winding up order or has an appointed administrator
- have a pending or ongoing legal case
- are bankrupt
- have no sound financial management and governance.
Types of festivals and events funded under this grant
Eligible festivals and events should:
- 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 can’t you apply for
- political, commercial, or fundraising activities
- national or independence days of countries other than Australia
- single-faith religious rituals or promotions
- recurrent annual funding
- ongoing service delivery or core business operations of an organisation.
Most recent recipients
What was approved
Approved for Australian MEFF Consortium Incorporated
MEFF is a celebratory festival and fair following the month of fasting, Ramadan. It is an annual event that started in 1985 and is run by the Australian MEFF Consortium, a non-profit community based organisation. MEFF has been running for 37 years attracting at times over 20000 Sydneysiders. It showcases multicultural Australia, an icon of Muslim unity in diversity providing a platform for celebration, tolerance, and peace on a grand scale at MEFF to display their colourful costumes, sumptuous food, songs, folk dances, and other displays within the bounds of the Islamic way of life.
$5,000 was approved by
Minister for MulticulturalismDate approved
January 2026Location of the project
DPC RegionsLocation of the recipient
Bonnyrigg 2177About the grant
Applications approved
69
Applications received
419
Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants Program
Agency funding this grant
Multicultural NSWProgram term
Six weeks after the delivery of the festivalWhat was approved
Approved for Arts & Cultural Exchange incorporated
I Do Not Come to You By Chance Fannon Samia Nawi Sudan, Remember Us Nteregu The Heart Is a Muscle The Fisherman Animation Program: Stories from the Motherland Ngano Shorts: Short Film Program
$5,000 was approved by
Minister for MulticulturalismDate approved
December 2025Location of the project
DPC RegionsLocation of the recipient
Parramatta 2150About the grant
Applications approved
69
Applications received
419
Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants Program
Agency funding this grant
Multicultural NSWProgram term
Six weeks after the delivery of the eventWhat was approved
Approved for Association of Haryanvis in Australia Incorporated
Multicultural Saanjh is a vibrant, one-day festival that brings communities together through a rich celebration of cultural diversity and artistic expression. Showcasing a fusion of traditional and contemporary art forms — including Haryanvi folk dances such as ghoomar and dhamal, live music, dancing, visual arts, and storytelling — the event provides a platform for culturally diverse artists to share their heritage with new audiences. The festival promotes social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, and inclusive participation while strengthening local community connections. It directly supports Multicultural NSW’s priorities by amplifying multicultural arts practices and fostering community-led cultural celebration across New South Wales.
$5,000 was approved by
Minister for MulticulturalismDate approved
December 2025Location of the project
DPC RegionsLocation of the recipient
Parramatta 2150About the grant
Applications approved
69
Applications received
419
Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants Program
Agency funding this grant
Multicultural NSWProgram term
Six weeks after the delivery of the festivalWhat was approved
Approved for Assyrian Australian Association
The Assyrian New Year Parade will be a vibrant community celebration held in Fairfield NSW 2165, inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and mark the Assyrian New Year. The event will feature a colourful street parade with traditional Assyrian costumes, music, dance performances, cultural displays, and food stalls. This family-friendly festival aims to showcase Assyrian heritage while promoting inclusivity, cultural pride and community harmony in one of Australia’s most diverse regions.
$5,000 was approved by
Minister for MulticulturalismDate approved
December 2025Location of the recipient
Edensor Park 2176About the grant
Applications approved
69
Applications received
419
Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants Program
Agency funding this grant
Multicultural NSWProgram term
Six weeks after the delivery of the festivalWhat was approved
Approved for Australia Culture & Commerce Association Incorporated
In partnership with Willoughby City Council, the Australian Culture & Commerce Association Inc (ACCA) presents the 2025 China Fun Mid-Autunm Cultural Festival on The Mall Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. This free, two-day event celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival under the theme “Stronger Together,” showcasing traditional lion dances, lantern riddles and the age-old Bo Bing dice game with themed prizes. Attendees can enjoy a gourmet market featuring Cantonese mooncakes and fusion cuisine, hands-on lantern-making and calligraphy workshops, and multicultural performances. By reinforcing sister-city ties with Maoming (Guangdong) and uniting diverse communities, this vibrant festival fosters social cohesion, economic activity and a shared sense of cultural belonging.
$15,000 was approved by
Minister for MulticulturalismDate approved
December 2025Location of the project
Chatswood 2067Location of the recipient
Strathfield 2135About the grant
Applications approved
69
Applications received
419
Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants Program
Agency funding this grant
Multicultural NSWProgram term
Six weeks after the delivery of the festivalWhat your application needs to include
You can see the Grant Guidelines for more information.
You can visit the Multicultural NSW Festivals and Event Grant webpage for more information about the Program.
Start the application
Applications for this grant are available through the SmartyGrants portal.
You can also visit the Multicultural NSW website for more information.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: a panel, which includes an independent member.
All applications are checked to ensure the required information has been submitted.
Once a decision has been reached, all applicants will receive advice in writing detailing the outcome of the application.
For successful applications a funding agreement is provided to the applicant for consideration and signing.
If a grant is awarded, your organisation will need to comply with the Terms and Conditions of the funding agreement when delivering the project and to acquit the grant.
Support and contact
Phone: 02 8255 6779
Email: grantsinfo@multicultural.nsw.gov.au
Postal Address: PO Box 618, Parramatta, NSW 2124