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Creative NSW Collaboration Fund 2026-27

Creative NSW Collaboration Fund 2026-27

  • Grants of up to $750,000 (excluding GST) per project
  • Applicants must contribute at least 20% of project costs
  • Applications close: 10 November 2026
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The Creative NSW Collaboration Fund supports ambitious new or significantly evolved works that combine several art forms. Projects should be highly visible to the public, tied to major festival periods, and have potential to tour, be remounted, or reach interstate or international audiences.

The fund aims to build a strong program of creative experiences during NSW's peak summer and winter periods. It prioritises collaborations that help mid-career to established practitioners grow their practice and networks, new activity that adds to existing festivals or brings precincts and public spaces to life, and accessible, unexpected experiences for audiences.

The program is run by Create NSW. It gives priority to engaging young people, all-ages audiences and accessibility.

Key Requirements

Partnership requirement

Projects must be delivered by, or with, a NSW Cultural Institution or an existing festival or event with more than 5,000 attendees. The festival or event must focus mainly on arts, culture or creative industries, such as arts, screen or music.

Project requirements

  • Be a genuine collaboration across several artistic practices
  • Be delivered in NSW
  • Deliver most activity in the summer or winter period
  • Show strong artistic outcomes, feasible delivery and sound governance

Applicant requirements

  • Hold an ABN for an entity registered in NSW
  • Be registered for GST and solvent
  • Hold a business account with an Australian financial institution

The full objectives, eligibility rules and assessment process are set out in the Creative NSW Collaboration Fund guidelines.

What is eligible for funding?

Funding supports the development and presentation of new or significantly expanded cross-art-form works. This includes projects presented in public spaces or cultural precincts, or connected with established summer or winter festivals.

The fund encourages partnerships between artists, creative organisations or collectives and festivals, NSW cultural institutions and other NSW Government agencies.

What companies are eligible for funding?

  • NSW Cultural Institutions
  • Incorporated trustees on behalf of a trust
  • Incorporated associations
  • Joint (consortium) applications with a lead organisation
  • Registered charities or not-for-profit organisations
  • Tertiary institutions delivering programs for the creative industries
  • NSW local government bodies, applying as a distinct business unit
  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander corporations

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 a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here. 

How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? 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.