Funding – Southern Tablelands Arts

Funding

Open Now (listed by closing date)

14 April 2024 – Sound NSW Venue Upgrade Grants up to $250,000 are available for dedicated live music venues through Program 2 to support venue upgrades that enhance audience and visitor experience, including sound, lighting and staging equipment and audio-visual technology, as well as infrastructure development works including soundproofing, ventilation, accessibility and energy efficiency improvements.

15 Apr 2025 – Screenrights Cultural Fund
Supports people with exciting and innovative new initiatives that foster the creation and appreciation of screen content in Australia and New Zealand.

17 Apr 2025 – Pride Foundation Australia – Large Grants This program aims to advance LGBTQIA+ equity and inclusion and provide direct support to affected communities/individuals. It raises awareness of LGBTQIA+ disadvantage and works to increase philanthropic support for the Australian LGBTQIA+ and allied communities through fundraising, grant giving, collaboration and commissioning projects.

30 Apr 2025 – Documentary Australia Foundation – Fiscal Sponsorship This program aims to support independent documentary filmmakers in utilising their films to create positive change in the world. It will elevate projects in all stages of development, production, post-production, distribution, outreach and impact campaigns helping filmmakers who may otherwise not be able to secure the funding they need to see their projects financed, finished and unleashed to have impact.

30 April 2025 – Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund NSW contemporary live music festivals will be supported through Sound NSW’s new two-year funding program which supports existing large-scale contemporary music festivals presented in NSW with a track record of delivering significant outcomes for contemporary music.

30 Apr 2025 – National Energy Bill Relief for Small BusinessesThe Commonwealth Government has announced that all eligible small businesses will receive up to $325 to help with the cost of their electricity bills in the financial year 2024–25.

30 Apr 2025 – Arts and Cultural Funding Program – Cultural Access: Priority Area Projects for Individuals and Organisations. Supports individuals and organisations that are led by and/or support specific communities to develop and deliver a diverse range of arts and cultural experiences for artists, arts workers, communities, and audiences. In response to Creative Communities, the NSW arts, culture and creative industries policy, the purpose of this funding is to strengthen communities through equitable access to vibrant arts and cultural experiences.

1 May 2025 – Churchill Fellowships Offer a diverse range of people from all walks of life an opportunity to travel overseas for four to eight weeks to explore a topic or issue that they are passionate about, and come back and share knowledge about international best practice and innovation. Applications from all sectors and in any field or topic of interest are encouraged.

2 May 2025 – Transgrid Community Partnerships Program Our communities are the backbone of the places we work and live. We aim to create positive and lasting relationships with our local communities. It’s part of our commitment to building a sustainable future.

🔥19 May 2025 – Create NSW Art s and Cultural Funding Program – 2-Year Multi-year Funding – applications now open. Applications have opened for Create NSW’s 2-year Multi-year Funding for arts and cultural organisations.

30 May 2025 – Southern Highlands Symphony Orchestra (SHSO) 2025 Composer Competition for an original orchestral work. $4000 in prize money.

30 May 2025 –Wingecarribee ClubGRANTS Category 1 program funding to support projects that enhance community wellbeing. The NSW ClubGRANTS scheme is a community development initiative funded by local registered clubs and administered by the NSW Government.

31 May 2025 – QPRC Cultural Grants – aims to assist local arts, artists, musicians, performers, writers and arts/cultural groups to start and develop their own projects, and to improve the community’s opportunities for involvement in cultural and arts activities. Applications are open throughout the year, or until funds have been exhausted.

30 Jun 2025 – Regional Filming Fund Offsets costs associated with shooting in regional areas of NSW. The objectives of the program are to:
– Increase economic activity in regional NSW, by encouraging NSW screen productions to film outside of metropolitan areas
– Enable regional NSW to benefit from the growth of film and television production in the State.

3 Jun – Creative Australia – Giving Day to the Arts Micro Grants This program aims to support and enable a collective action by artists and arts organisations to fundraise on one national day – increasing the visibility of arts philanthropy and encouraging greater generosity in support of the arts.

3 Jun 2025 – Creative Autralia – Playing Australia Project Investment
Supporting performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia.

30 Jun2025 – North Queensland Production Incentive, attracts footloose screen productions to North Queensland.

2 Sep 2025 – Creative Australia Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups – This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities. Grants are available from $10,000 to $50,000. Supported activities must not last longer than two years from the proposed start date

2 Sep 2025 –Creative Australia – Arts Projects: Organisations This program aims to fund a range of activities for organisations that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities.

28 Nov 2025 – Touring and Travel Fund Offers quick response funding for domestic and international touring and travel activity for NSW contemporary music artists, acts and music industry professionals.

30 Nov 2025 – (1 Feb 2025 opens) –Regional Arts Fund – Quick Response GrantsAssists regional NSW artists, arts organisations and communities with funds for professional or skills development, or small project opportunities, at short notice.

Always open

Development Program
Supports writers and producers to develop fiction or unscripted (documentary) and online projects with distinctive ideas and ambitious stories.

The Eden-Monaro Grants Bulletin is now available online – providing details of more than 400 grants, scholarships, and funding rounds from Local Government, the NSW Government, and the Australian Government, including private and philanthropic grants.

International Cultural Diplomacy Arts Fund (ICDAF) – This program aims to support activities in Australia and around the world that promote the Australian Government’s international arts and cultural engagement and cultural diplomacy priorities, and assist the Government in meeting Australia’s international commitments relating to arts and culture.

William Fletcher Artist Grants Provides grants for the development of talented Australian artists.

Roots & Shoots Mini Grants – Offers a rewarding, seed-funding initiative to promote respect and compassion for all living things in Australia.Past Mini Grant winners include everything from wombat conservation projects, sewing warm beanies for those living on city streets during winter, filling classrooms with colourful indoor plants, creating bee habitat gardens at Scout Halls, permaculture projects and so much more!

AFTRS First Nations Scholarships This program aims to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, with the costs associated with higher education at Australian Film Television annd Radio School.

SupportAct Crisis Relief Grants and support are available to musicians, managers, crew and music workers across all genres experiencing financial hardship as the result of illness, injury, mental health, older age or another current crisis that is impacting their ability to work in music.

NSW EPA Find out about the $356 million grants programs available under the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 and the NSW Plastic Action Plan.

2024 Open The Create Fund – Artist Investment Program Provides support for artists in order to help Shutterstock build a more diverse library. A production grant allocated to an artist Shutterstock would love to help develop.

Creative Australia have a range of funding opportunities and resources.

Create NSW Funding Calendar Want to know what other funding opportunities are available?

Writing NSW Grants and Prizes Offers a range of grants and fellowships that support and nourish writing talent in the state.

Screen Australia offers funding to support the development, production and marketing of Australian screen content, as well as for the development of Australian talent and screen production businesses with rounds throughout the year.

Yass Valley Council Grants programs are a way for Yass Valley Council to contribute to community organisations and others to continue their worthwhile work in the community.

QPRC Cultural Grants assist local arts, artists, musicians, performers, writers and arts/cultural groups to start and develop their own projects, and to improve the community’s opportunities for involvement in cultural and arts activities. Applications are open throughout the year, or until funds have been exhausted.

Regional Arts Fund Quick Response Grants. Monthly rounds. Support immediate need unable to be planned for or supported by other funding.

Create NSW Quick Response grants Small Project Grants (Quick Response) for Individuals
Small Project Grants (Quick Response) support the creation, development and presentation of new work and professional development opportunities for NSW-based professional artists, groups and arts and cultural workers (including museum workers). You can apply for funding from $500 up to $5000. Please note: Your project must be urgent or time-sensitiveYou must complete your project within 3 months of receiving funding.Please note: Your project must commence three weeks after the date you submit your application.

Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Programs
Offers purpose-made experiential leadership programs tailored to rural, regional and remote Australia.
The ARLF is a for-purpose organisation driving change and fostering resilience in rural, regional and remote communities through the development of courageous and authentic leadership. For 30 years the Foundation has delivered experiential leadership development programs. Their programs are tailored to connect, challenge and support the people ready to help communities thrive.

Premier’s Discretionary Fund
Supports community-based projects which are identified by the Premier through ongoing community engagement.
Please see funding provider’s website for the types of projects previously funded.

The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council Tony Manicaros Grant
Funds innovative projects which utilise, extend or develop opportunities in ethnic community radio broadcasting. Up to $2,000 can be given to a project.

Innovate Grant
Provides grants to artists and photographers to act as sparks of financial support that ignite your creative development through;New Ideas, Experiment with New Forms, Create New Work. Grant cycles are open 4 times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter). EAll recipients will be featured and recognized on Innovate’s website.

Institute of Community Directors Scholarships.
Offers part-scholarships to not-for-profit leaders to complete the acclaimed ICDA Diploma of Governance. The ICDA Diploma of Governance is the only Diploma-level course specifically designed for the not-for-profit sector.

William Fletcher Foundation William Fletcher Artist Grants
Provides grants for the development of talented Australian artists. A range of support is available, including: Support grants for students, Development grants for mid-career artists, NIDA Student Grants, Sydney Theatre Awards, Julian Ashton Half-Scholarship

Creative Partnerships Australia Australian Cultural Fund
Helps raise funds for Australian artists, via a donation-based fundraising platform. The Australian Cultural Fund is a fundraising platform for Australian artists. It is managed by Creative Partnerships Australia and was established by the Australian Government in 2003 to encourage donations to the arts.

Gandel Foundation Community Grants
Support for the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in our society, and aims to help build stronger, more resilient, more vibrant and more inclusive communities. Amounts up to $40,000.

Microsoft for Nonprofits Provides grants and discounts across Microsoft cloud products.

Club Grants are now open right across the region. Head to the Club Grants page and find out m

CASP Spotlight – Everyone’s favourite small grant the Country Art Support Program or CASP has funded creative projects and makers across the STA Region and Regional NSW for decades. Check out the exciting CASP 2025 & other projects

NSW Grant funding finder.

Australian Government’s grants information system

Grant Funding Finder

Developed by Regional Development Australia Southern Inland

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

Get a letter of support from STA – it can make all the difference between a YES or a NO.
Need to be Auspiced? STA can help. Just ask.

Need help with What to Pay?

NAVA standard rates for artists
ATO rates for travel and accommodation.

Recurring Options

Veolia Mulwaree Trust Grants and Donations Program

CASP – Country Art Support Program Annual small grants to support local projects & activities
Check out the exciting CASP 2025 & other projects. CASP will open in late 2025 for 2026 projects.