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Creative Nations — NSW

$10K – $100K available

Create NSW

Creative Nations is a Create NSW funding program supporting First Nations artists, groups and organisations in New South Wales. It funds projects that strengthen First Nations arts and culture through artistic creation, storytelling, festivals, collections, accessibility and professional development.

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Funding

$10K – $100K

Closed

2 Dec 2024

Duration

Projects must start after 2025-04-07 and be completed by 2026-06-30

Location

New South Wales

Who Can Apply

• Applicants must be First Nations individuals aged 18 or over, groups with all members First Nations and aged 18 or over, or First Nations organisations. • Individuals and group members must have been located in New South Wales for the last 12 months. • Organisations must have operated in New South Wales for at least the last 12 months. • Group applications must be submitted by an individual on behalf of the group. • Applicants can submit only one project application in this project funding round. • Projects must start after 2025-04-07 and be completed by 2026-06-30. • Applicants must contribute at least 5% of project costs through cash or in-kind support. • Organisations must provide a description of workplace safety and wellbeing activities and policy. • Successful applicants must provide an active ABN matching the applicant or use an eligible funds administrator/auspice arrangement where applicable. • Applicants cannot be non-First Nations individuals, groups or organisations. • Applicants cannot have already received Create NSW or Sound NSW funding for the same part of the project. • Applicants cannot have already started the project. • Applicants cannot be state or federal government departments or agencies, local government authorities, schools or educational institutions. • Applicants cannot be Key Festivals, State Significant Organisations, National Performing Arts Partnership Organisations, or recipients of Create NSW ACFP Multi-year funding or Annual Organisation Funding. • Projects related to films, TV shows, film festivals or contemporary music are not eligible. • Applicants employed by Create NSW now or within the last 12 months are not eligible.
Applicants must be First Nations individuals aged 18 or over who have been located in New South Wales for the last 12 months, groups whose members are all First Nations, aged 18 or over and located in New South Wales for the last 12 months, or First Nations organisations operating in New South Wales for at least the last 12 months. Groups must apply through an individual on behalf of the group. Applicants may submit only one project application in this project funding round. Projects must start after 7 April 2025 and be completed by 30 June 2026. Applicants must contribute at least 5% of project costs through cash or in-kind support. Organisations must provide a description of workplace safety and wellbeing activities and policy. Successful applicants must provide an eligible ABN or use a funds administrator/auspice where applicable. Ineligible applicants include non-First Nations applicants, applicants seeking funding for the same part of a project already funded by Create NSW or Sound NSW, projects already started, projects starting or finishing before the funding period, government departments and agencies, local government authorities, schools and educational institutions, certain major funded organisations, applicants seeking film, TV, film festival or contemporary music funding, and current or recent Create NSW employees.

What's Funded

Eligible activities include creating and presenting new work, artistic and professional development, storytelling projects, maintaining collections and archives at First Nations cultural centres or keeping places, festivals and events, marketing and promotion, community gatherings and forums, accessibility supports, travel, venue hire, materials and artist fees.

Before you apply

Check Creative Nations fit and evidence gaps before 2 Dec 2024

Use this mixed grant page to sanity-check eligibility, funding fit, evidence gaps and application effort before you commit days to drafting. If you already know the grant you want, the 48-hour audit gives a practical go/no-go view, reviewer-readiness score and next-step risks.

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Expected Outcomes

Projects are expected to strengthen First Nations arts and culture in New South Wales, create employment and professional development opportunities, support First Nations-led organisations and leaders, share First Nations stories and truth telling, improve access and participation, and deliver community wellbeing and economic development outcomes.

Grant not accepting applications

Applications for this round are closed. A new round may open in the future.

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Key Information

Applicant Types

individualnon_profitother

Stage

any

Funding Purposes

communityemploymenttrainingmarketingresearchother

Keywords

First Nationsartscultureartistscreative industriesstorytellingfestivalsprofessional development

Official Grant Page

Create NSW

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the Creative Nations?

The Creative Nations is a mixed grant offered by Create NSW in Australia, providing $10K – $100K in funding. Creative Nations is a Create NSW funding program supporting First Nations artists, groups and organisations in New South Wales. It funds projects that strengthen First Nations arts and culture through artistic creation, storytelling, festivals, collections, accessibility and professional development.
2

How much funding does the Creative Nations provide?

The Creative Nations provides $10K – $100K in funding. The typical project duration is Projects must start after 2025-04-07 and be completed by 2026-06-30.
3

Who is eligible for the Creative Nations?

  • Applicants must be First Nations individuals aged 18 or over, groups with all members First Nations and aged 18 or over, or First Nations organisations.
  • Individuals and group members must have been located in New South Wales for the last 12 months.
  • Organisations must have operated in New South Wales for at least the last 12 months.
  • Group applications must be submitted by an individual on behalf of the group.
  • Applicants can submit only one project application in this project funding round.
  • Projects must start after 2025-04-07 and be completed by 2026-06-30.
  • Applicants must contribute at least 5% of project costs through cash or in-kind support.
  • Organisations must provide a description of workplace safety and wellbeing activities and policy.
  • Successful applicants must provide an active ABN matching the applicant or use an eligible funds administrator/auspice arrangement where applicable.
  • Applicants cannot be non-First Nations individuals, groups or organisations.
  • Applicants cannot have already received Create NSW or Sound NSW funding for the same part of the project.
  • Applicants cannot have already started the project.
  • Applicants cannot be state or federal government departments or agencies, local government authorities, schools or educational institutions.
  • Applicants cannot be Key Festivals, State Significant Organisations, National Performing Arts Partnership Organisations, or recipients of Create NSW ACFP Multi-year funding or Annual Organisation Funding.
  • Projects related to films, TV shows, film festivals or contemporary music are not eligible.
  • Applicants employed by Create NSW now or within the last 12 months are not eligible.
4

When does the Creative Nations close?

Applications closed on 2 Dec 2024.
5

What activities are funded?

Eligible activities include creating and presenting new work, artistic and professional development, storytelling projects, maintaining collections and archives at First Nations cultural centres or keeping places, festivals and events, marketing and promotion, community gatherings and forums, accessibility supports, travel, venue hire, materials and artist fees.
6

How do I apply for the Creative Nations?

Start by checking your eligibility using the free Beta Docs eligibility checker. If eligible, Beta Docs' AI-powered platform can help you draft, review, and refine your application to maximise your chances of success.

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