NSW Live Performance Venue Grant Program – Round 2

  • Grants from $15,000-$80,000, 10% cash co-contribution required
  • Applications open until September 23rd, 2025

The Live Performance Venue Grant supports hospitality venues to host live performances, with funding for sound or staging equipment, programming, marketing, and other delivery costs.

Key Requirements

The purpose of the Live Performance Venue Grant Program is to:

  • Increase the number of hospitality venues staging live performance in NSW
  • Increase the number and diversity of live performances in the NSW night-time economy
  • Create employment opportunities for those working in the live performance sector in NSW (e.g. artists, audio-visual professionals, hospitality and venue staff).

 

What is eligible for funding?

Projects that support and increase the number of existing hospitality venues staging live performance.

What costs you can apply for

  • Acoustic appraisal of the venue by an acoustic consultant
  • Audio-visual equipment training for venue staff
  • Paying live performance artists
  • Paying booking agent costs – for performances starting after 5pm
  • OneMusic licence for the period of the project
  • Hiring sound/staging equipment
  • Hiring contractors to provide security services for performances starting after 5pm – only applicable on dates where live performances have been programmed

Marketing for performances starting after 5pm, including:

  • advertising and/or marketing campaigns (including design and production costs)
  • brand and asset development
  • public relations activity

Purchase and installation of sound and staging equipment, including:

  • speakers
  • PA systems
  • Microphones
  • mixing desks
  • lighting
  • soundproofing equipment

What companies are eligible for funding?

The Live Performance Venue Grant program is an open, competitive grant program, open to existing small to medium hospitality venues who meet the eligibility criteria and do not currently stage a regular and recurring program of live performance but have a desire to diversify their business to do so.

The Program would suit a venue that has an existing space that could be dedicated to live performance, without needing to undergo significant structural alterations to the venue.

Eligible Venues

A venue will be considered if it can demonstrate it meets the following criteria:

  • Venue is located within NSW
  • Is an Australian incorporated organisation with an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Has the relevant development consent, including current and valid occupation certificates in force as its primary purpose and, if relevant, can demonstrate that the proposed activity meets exempt development standards
  • Is a hospitality venue that provides a commercial on-premise food and/or beverage offering;
    • If a restaurant, bar, cafe, winery, brewery, hotel/pub, distillery: have a maximum total venue capacity* of 300 patrons – and not be owned and managed within a larger complex that exceeds 300 patrons
    • If a registered club: have a maximum total venue capacity* of 600 patrons – and not be eligible to participate in the ClubGRANTS scheme
  • Possess relevant approvals to operate at least once per week after 5pm
  • Possess a valid, current NSW Liquor Licence (licensed venues only)
  • Has been operating for at least 12 months at the time of submitting this application
  • If venue not owned by the applicant: hold a lease of the venue with a minimum period of 24 months remaining of the lease term (excluding any option to renew) from 1 January 2026, or if a shorter lease arrangement is in place, then a letter of intent from the landlord is required indicating the lease will continue for a minimum of 24 months from 1 January 2026.
  • The business owner and the venue building owner support the project

*total venue capacity means the venue in its entirety (combined indoor and outdoor)

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.