Artform Boards FAQs

Artform Boards are formal Boards appointed through the NSW Public Service Commission to support the NSW Minister for the Arts to make good funding decisions. 

At Create NSW we refer to them as Artform Boards as board members review and assess funding proposals for competitive funding rounds (grants) in the Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP).

Artform Board members are to submit individual assessment results via an online grant management system to be discussed at assessment meetings within set timeframes - during which time members must be available.  

Assessment outcomes made by the Artform Boards are recommended to the Arts Minister for approval by Create NSW.

The boards help ensure the arts sector is represented in the grants assessment process in a way that is delivered in alignment with the NSW Government Grants Management Guide to ensure funding outcomes that are:

• consistent
• high-quality
• inclusive.

Assessors are expected to share their professional insights to support a fair and equitable grant assessment process.  

Artform Board members represent the full spectrum of arts and culture practice including those that create, produce, distribute, and interpret cultural and creative works, as well as management.  

Diversity of experience is key and can range from emerging practitioners through to leaders of small to medium enterprises or major institutions from across NSW. 

The board membership usually includes:

• artists, arts and cultural practitioners
• leaders of small to medium sized organisations and major institutions from across NSW.

You do not need to be an experienced grant assessor to be eligible.  

To be eligible to apply to an Artform Board individuals must be/demonstrate:

• a thorough understanding of the NSW Arts and Cultural ecology
• an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
• a NSW resident (for at least 12 months) or predominantly working in NSW
• a professional artist or arts/cultural leader or worker demonstrating employment in the NSW Art & Cultural sector 
• age 18 or over

It is important to note that individuals who have not satisfactorily acquitted any prior Create NSW funding will be ineligible for consideration unless written approval has been received from Create NSW. 

There are 10 Artform Boards with up to 20 members on each board.

The artforms are: 

• First Nations Arts and Culture 
• Classical Music / Opera / Choral/ Ensemble 
• Community Arts and Cultural Development 
• Dance and Physical Theatre 
• Festivals 
• Literature / Writing 
• Digital and Experimental, Immersive and Light Art 
• Museums and History 
• Theatre and Musical Theatre 
• Visual Arts  

The First Nations Board may also advise other artform boards on funding applications with First Nations content and may be able to seek advice from other First Nations people on other Artform boards.  

Create NSW is currently undertaking an open Expression of Interest (EOI) process.

The EOI process requires submission of an online application form. You can self-nominate or nominate others if they have agreed to be nominated. 

Create NSW staff will assess applications against experience and diversity criteria and provide recommendations for appointment to the Minister for the Arts. The Minister for the Arts approves the appointment of all Artform Board members.

Applications close 10 July 2024. 

Each of the 10 Artform Boards will have a Chair. 

The role of the Chair is to assist with moderating assessor results and discussion at the assessment meetings.  The Chair is required to read all applications, attend assessment meetings associated with their artform and support Artform Leads.  They will also work closely with Create NSW to assist with preparing final recommendations made to the Minister for the Arts.  

Depending upon the number of applications received for an individual artform, one or more assessment groups of 3-5 members will be formed from the membership of the corresponding Artform Board.  These assessment groups will each have a member assigned to lead them. 

Create NSW will coordinate the assessment process, support assessors, and facilitate the online assessment meetings.  Other roles include:

• informing eligibility and viability assessments (where applicable)
• providing sector knowledge 
• facilitate all assessment meetings
• take assessment meeting minutes
• progressing Artform Board recommendations for approval by the Minister for the Arts 

A Code of Conduct  governs Board members’ participation.

All Board members will be required to declare their interests annually and again prior to the assessment of every application to ensure the management of any conflicts.

Each year, the membership of the Artform Boards is adjusted to ensure the Boards maintain an appropriate balance of diversity and regional representation and a range of expertise and experience across the artforms. 

All assessment meetings will be conducted online. 

This provides the most efficient and effective way to bring panel members together and ensures distance and travel are not a barrier for participation by regional and remote assessors. It also ensures an equitable approach to meeting processes with all participants contributing to the conversation via the same medium. 

There will be no travel requirement as an Artform Board member. 

Board member participation is in line with the NSW Government Boards and Committees Classification and Remuneration Framework remuneration for C2 level boards.

Employees of NSW Government organisations are not eligible to receive additional remuneration when serving on a Board.