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Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund — NSW, 2025-26
Up to $500K available · Rolling Applications
Create NSW
This NSW funding program supports existing large-scale contemporary music festivals facing short-term financial challenges. It provides up to $500,000 toward government-related and operational costs to help established festivals remain viable and retain jobs during the cost-of-living crisis.
Funding
Up to $500K
Deadline
Rolling / Ongoing
Duration
up to 3 months from program end date
Location
New South Wales
Who Can Apply
• Festival is presented in New South Wales
• Programs new and original contemporary music
• Music is the primary focus of the festival
• Approved event capacity of 15,000 and above per day
• Evidence of previously delivering festivals over 15,000 capacity
• Festival is a paid and ticketed event
• Festival has occurred in New South Wales at least five times over the last ten years
• Festival is to be held within 3 months of application submission
• Festival is Australian owned or has part international ownership
• Applicant can demonstrate or legally declare solvency
• Festival does not have New South Wales Government Hallmark status
• Applicant must include an approved safety management plan or health plan
• Applicant must include audited accounts for the last two financial years
• Applicant must include a balance sheet for the current year to date and the last two financial years
• Ineligible if the festival has already taken place
• Ineligible if presented outside New South Wales
• Ineligible if it does not program new and original contemporary music
• Ineligible if approved event capacity is 14,999 or under
• Ineligible if it is the first time the festival has approved capacity over 15,000
• Ineligible if it is a free event
• Ineligible if it has not occurred at least five times in the last ten years
• Ineligible if it will not occur in the next 3 months
• Ineligible if it has 100% international ownership
• Ineligible if it cannot demonstrate or legally declare solvency
• Ineligible if it has announced it has sold out
• Ineligible if it has New South Wales Government Hallmark status
Applicants must be music festivals presented in New South Wales that program new and original contemporary music, have music as the primary focus, have approved event capacity of at least 15,000 people per day, and can show evidence of previously delivering festivals over 15,000 capacity. The festival must be a paid ticketed event, have occurred in New South Wales at least five times over the last ten years, be held within 3 months of application submission, be Australian owned or partly internationally owned, be solvent or able to legally declare solvency, and not have New South Wales Government Hallmark status. Applicants must provide an approved safety management plan or health plan, audited accounts for the last two financial years, and balance sheets for the current year to date and the last two financial years. Ineligible festivals include those already held, outside New South Wales, free events, first-time festivals over 15,000 capacity, festivals with 100% international ownership, sold-out festivals, festivals unable to demonstrate solvency, and festivals with Hallmark status.
What's Funded
Funding supports government-related and operational costs for eligible contemporary music festivals in New South Wales, including police, medical and ambulance costs, fees for New South Wales government-owned venues, insurance, venue hire, security, production and staffing.Before you apply
Check Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund fit and evidence gaps before 30 Apr 2025
Use this business 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.
Get a 48-hour grant fit auditExpected Outcomes
Recipients are expected to successfully deliver an eligible contemporary music festival in New South Wales, improve short-term business viability, retain jobs, reduce operational risk, and provide project and financial acquittal reporting.Key Information
Applicant Types
companyother
Stage
established
Funding Purposes
communityemploymentother
Keywords
music festivalcontemporary musiclive musicfestival operationsNew South WalesSound NSWCreate NSWevent viability
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund?
The Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund is a business grant offered by Create NSW in Australia, providing Up to $500K in funding. This NSW funding program supports existing large-scale contemporary music festivals facing short-term financial challenges. It provides up to $500,000 toward government-related and operational costs to help established festivals remain viable and retain jobs during the cost-of-living crisis.
2
How much funding does the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund provide?
The Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund provides Up to $500K in funding. The typical project duration is up to 3 months from program end date.
3
Who is eligible for the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund?
- Festival is presented in New South Wales
- Programs new and original contemporary music
- Music is the primary focus of the festival
- Approved event capacity of 15,000 and above per day
- Evidence of previously delivering festivals over 15,000 capacity
- Festival is a paid and ticketed event
- Festival has occurred in New South Wales at least five times over the last ten years
- Festival is to be held within 3 months of application submission
- Festival is Australian owned or has part international ownership
- Applicant can demonstrate or legally declare solvency
- Festival does not have New South Wales Government Hallmark status
- Applicant must include an approved safety management plan or health plan
- Applicant must include audited accounts for the last two financial years
- Applicant must include a balance sheet for the current year to date and the last two financial years
- Ineligible if the festival has already taken place
- Ineligible if presented outside New South Wales
- Ineligible if it does not program new and original contemporary music
- Ineligible if approved event capacity is 14,999 or under
- Ineligible if it is the first time the festival has approved capacity over 15,000
- Ineligible if it is a free event
- Ineligible if it has not occurred at least five times in the last ten years
- Ineligible if it will not occur in the next 3 months
- Ineligible if it has 100% international ownership
- Ineligible if it cannot demonstrate or legally declare solvency
- Ineligible if it has announced it has sold out
- Ineligible if it has New South Wales Government Hallmark status
4
When does the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund close?
Applications close on 30 Apr 2025. This is a rolling program — new rounds may open.
5
What activities are funded?
Funding supports government-related and operational costs for eligible contemporary music festivals in New South Wales, including police, medical and ambulance costs, fees for New South Wales government-owned venues, insurance, venue hire, security, production and staffing.
6
How do I apply for the Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund?
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.
Need help applying?
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