The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program supports multicultural festivals, events and projects, that foster community harmony and celebrate cultural diversity across NSW.
Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $250,000
- Application opened: 17 November 2025
- Application closes: 19 December 2025, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program aims to support multicultural festivals, events and projects across NSW. We invest in activities that foster community harmony and celebrate cultural diversity as a precious part of our identity and way of life.
The Stronger Together Local Councils Major Festival grant funding is available for Major Festivals run by local councils across NSW.
This program is funded and administered by Multicultural NSW.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival Grant applicants must:
- demonstrate how the Festival aligns with Multicultural NSW’s Strategic Plan
- be located within NSW
- have audience attendance of more than 10,000 people in a regional area or 30,000 in metropolitan areas
- demonstrate how they will measure outcomes of the Festival
- have acquitted all prior grants from Multicultural NSW
- where appropriate, partner with local multicultural organisations
- demonstrate that the Festival is cost effective and viable, with an accurate budget
- have all appropriate insurances, licences and permits
- submit an application online through the Multicultural NSW approved SmartyGrants portal before the closing date, with all aspects of the application form completed
- deliver the Festival between 1 February 2026 to 28 February 2027
- promote the NSW Government as per terms outlined in the grant agreement
- clearly show co-contributions towards the festival. The Festival will not be funded if there is no co-contribution of at least 25%. In-kind contributions must be itemised
- commit to spending a minimum of 10% of the advertising budget for the Festival across multicultural media outlets to ensure the event is accessible by multicultural communities.
Who can apply
- NSW local councils.
Who can’t apply
- Individuals or groups of individuals
- Unincorporated organisations
- For-profit commercial organisations.
Types of projects funded under this grant
This grant round is for Major Festivals developed by local councils. This includes Festivals that:
- showcase and represent the diversity of the local community
- will reach and engage with new audiences
- are inclusive and accessible.
What can’t you apply for
The following activities are excluded from receiving grant funding:
- party political activities
- an application that seeks support for supplementing, increasing or continuing ongoing service delivery or for funding the core business of the organisation’s commercial or fundraising activities
- capital expenses, including but not limited to building works (including maintenance) and equipment purchases.
Grant funding will not be awarded to any local council that:
- does not demonstrate a commitment to multicultural principles
- has redress sanctions as described in the National Redress Scheme
- is subject to a winding up order or has an appointed administrator
- is bankrupt
- has no sound financial management and governance.
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.
Local Council Major Festival Grant 2025-26 Guidelines (PDF 8.14MB)
The following criteria and considerations are applied in the assessment of the grant application:
- the application meets eligibility criteria and is not an excluded activity. Applications from ineligible organisations or excluded activities will not be considered.
- the application clearly and convincingly demonstrates how the Festival will support the grant criteria.
- eligible organisations can submit more than one application for different festivals or events. If successful, organisations will only receive one grant within the same funding round.
- the application form is complete and submitted on time. Applications that are not submitted online through the Multicultural NSW approved SmartyGrants portal before the closing date with all aspects of the application form completed (including all required supporting documentation, financial statements, insurances for example) will not be considered.
- the application demonstrates capacity to successfully deliver the Festival within the required time period and budget.
- the application clearly identifies resources that will be committed to ensure the Festival is a success. An event delivery plan and risk mitigation strategy must be included with the application.
- the application clearly demonstrates value for money and co-contribution, with a well-considered, proportionate, clearly itemised budget.
- the application is assessed in comparison to all other applications and in comparison, to similar applications in terms of locality, cultural focus, and type of activity or approach.
- any application that includes a festival with a ticket price should show evidence that the price is kept at a nominal charge for attendees.
Funding recognition
Recognition of grant funding support must be displayed at the Festival.
Accessibility
The Festival must demonstrate consideration for accessibility. Festival attendees’ needs will be unique. If an accessibility item is not required for your Festival, reasoning should be included in your application
response.
Consideration for the following items should be demonstrated in the Festival planning and budget:
- accessible communications - how are materials accessible in language where appropriate, are materials accessible for vision and/or hearing‑impaired persons?
- Interpreters - have interpreters been considered, including AUSLAN interpreters, for this event?
- accessible festival sites and facilities–has the applicant considered the following where appropriate for the Festival site:
- access ramps and correct width cable trays for wheelchairs and prams
- adult change and disabled bathroom facilities.
Project budget and use of funding
A detailed budget is required to be submitted with the grant application.
Catering
No more than 20% of the budget can be used for catering.
Administration
No more than 25% of the budget can be used for council administrative costs related to the grant funded project delivery. Administration costs do not include event delivery staffing such as security, casual event crew or supplier costs.
Insurances
No portion of the grant funding can be used towards insurance costs, including, but not limited to, Public Liability Insurance, Workers Compensation Insurance and Volunteers Insurance.
Capital expenditure or purchases
No portion of the grant funding can be used towards capital expenditure or purchase costs, including, but not limited to, building costs or maintenance and equipment purchase.
Cash prizes or gifts
No portion of the grant funding can be used towards cash prizes or gifts, including gift vouchers.
Independent audit fees
No portion of the grant funding can be used towards financial independent audit fees.
Multicultural media advertising
A minimum of 10% of the advertising budget for the Festival must be used to advertise across multicultural media outlets.
Assessment Process
Grants are awarded on merit following a competitive assessment process.
All applications for grants are initially reviewed by a Multicultural NSW Grants Officer to ensure mandatory compliance with eligibility criteria and required documentation. Compliant applications are then assessed by an Assessment Panel convened by Multicultural NSW.
All applications must submit a clear and complete project budget outlining project expenditure. The Project Budget and Use of Funding items should be considered and outlined in your budget. The Assessment Panel will make recommendations for grant funding to the Delegated Approver who will approve successful applications.
Both successful and unsuccessful grant applicants will be notified in writing.
Start the application
Applications for this grant are available via the SmartyGrants portal on the Multicultural NSW website.
Through the Multicultural NSW portal, applicants are required to log in via SmartyGrants to access the online
application form.
If the applicant organisation has previously used SmartyGrants to apply for a grant, they will already be registered and can use existing usernames and log in details, and do not need to set up a new registration/account.
All required attachments MUST be uploaded through the online application form in SmartyGrants. Do not upload documents that have not been requested.
The online application form includes an application checklist to ensure all the required information is provided. All required fields marked with an * must be completed.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Compliant applications are assessed by an Assessment Panel convened by Multicultural NSW.
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: Level 8/56 Station Street East, Parramatta NSW 2150