The Aboriginal Affairs NSW Cultural Grants Program supports Aboriginal community organisations across NSW to celebrate Aboriginal culture and hold key cultural events and activities. 

Important Dates

The AANSW 2023–2024 Cultural Grants Program opens twice a year.

Round 1

Applications Open - Monday, - 28th August 2023

Applications Closes - 11 am on Monday, 9th October 2023

Project must be starting on or after - 1st January 2024

Projects must be completed on or before - 31st December 2024 

Round 2

Applications Open- Monday, 15th January 2024

Applications Closes- 11 am on Monday, 26th February 2024

Project must be starting on or after- 1st July 2024

Projects must be completed on or before- 30th June 2025 

Timing

Applications will be accepted at any time during the open period. An organisation can only receive one grant from the 2023-2024 Cultural Grants Program. An organisation may additionally act as an auspice for a maximum of one project in each Round.

Please read all the details in the Program Guidelines before applying under 2023-2024 Cultural Grants Program.

The project must be completed by the dates detailed in the table above. Where an application does not confirm that a project will be completed by this date, Aboriginal Affairs NSW (AANSW) reserves the right to set the application aside for further consideration.

2023-24 Cultural Grants Program is a non-competitive program where applications will be assessed in the order they are received. Applications that cannot be considered in Round 1 due to the funding allocation being exhausted, will be given the option to opt in to having their application assessed in Round 2. Applicants can re-apply in Round 2 if they wish to. 

How much can I apply for?

Applicants can apply for grants from $500 to $20,000.  

Funding Allocation

Aboriginal Affairs NSW has allocated $1 million for the Aboriginal Affairs NSW Cultural Grants Program in 2023-2024.

Round 1 - $500,000

Round 2 - $500,000

Any Round 1 allocation not expended in Round 1 may be made available in Round 2, at the sole discretion of AANSW.

The AANSW Cultural Grants Program objective are to:

• support Aboriginal communities to strengthen, protect, and maintain traditional and contemporary expressions of Aboriginal culture
• support key contemporary Aboriginal cultural events and activities
• contribute to Aboriginal community wellbeing and healing, through the use of Aboriginal culture and community connection
• facilitate sharing of Aboriginal cultural knowledge and skills between generations. 

What can I apply for?

Funding can be used for projects that meet the objectives of the Cultural Grants Program. The following are examples of the types of activities that may be funded, where they are aligned with the program objectives:

• women’s or men’s gathering on Country
• delivery of a culture and wellbeing camp for Aboriginal youth
• creation of a digital installation showing Aboriginal history of the local community
• statewide music or cultural festival
• a series of online and/or face-to-face workshops

Note: Where events are ticketed, any income generated from ticket sales must be included and expended within the program budget.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their nearest Aboriginal Affairs NSW Regional Office to discuss their project. Regional office staff are available to provide advice regarding program objectives and eligibility requirements, however, they cannot assist with the development of an application. 

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online at the Aboriginal Affairs NSW online grants platform. Applicants are encouraged to contact their nearest Aboriginal Affairs NSW regional office to discuss their project.

Applicants can choose to submit a video response to application questions on project objectives and outcomes. Aboriginal Affairs NSW regional staff are available to support applicants with recording and preparing a file for upload if required.

An organisation can only receive one grant in any round from the 2023-2024 Cultural Grants Program.

Auspicing organisations may only auspice one Cultural Grant Project in addition to their own.

Unsuccessful applicants will be offered a feedback session if requested and may reapply for funding in the next opening period (if any).

Resources

• Program Guidelines
• Step by Step Guide for Applicants
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Budget Fact Sheet

Support and Contacts

For any questions regarding the AANSW Cultural Grants Program, please contact your nearest AANSW Regional Office on the phone numbers below or email grants@aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au

Region/Office- Phone number

Illawarra Southern Batemans Bay - 02 8575 1013

New England North-West Tamworth - 02 8575 1172

Greater Northern Coffs Harbour - 02 9566 8318

Murdi Paaki Broken Hill - 02 9228 4877

Binaal Billa Dubbo - 02 8575 1518 / 02 8575 1073

Hunter Central Coast Newcastle - 02 8575 1680

Greater Sydney Sydney - 1800 019 998

Other information

Aboriginal Cultural and Intellectual Property (ACIP)

AANSW has developed an Aboriginal Cultural and Intellectual Property (ACIP) Protocol that aims to build awareness and respect for Aboriginal culture. The Protocol sets a standard for how AANSW engages with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities regarding their cultural and intellectual property and what it expects from the organisations it funds.

Any Aboriginal Cultural or Intellectual Property submitted in a grant application to AANSW remains the property of the relevant community organisation or Aboriginal person.

AANSW will not distribute or communicate any ACIP contained in SmartyGrants and agrees to respect the cultural protocols of Aboriginal people to whom it may apply.

More information on the ACIP, including the protocol, is available on the AANSW website.

Funding arrangements and reporting

 Successful applicants will be required to:

• enter into a Funding Agreement with AANSW within 2 weeks of the offer being made
• start and complete funded activities and events by the dates specified in the Funding Agreement
• notify AANSW of any proposed changes to your funded activity and complete a project variation request
• acknowledge the support of AANSW in accordance with the Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines
• report on outcomes from the activity and acquit the grant within one month of project completion. Evidence to support this can be uploaded in SmartyGrants and must include evidence of expenditure (copies of invoices and receipts) as well as photos, media coverage and links to video clips where relevant. If the acquittal is not completed within the required timeframe, you will be at risk not being eligible to apply for AANSW grants until acquitted or an agreed timeframe.

Discloser of information

Information relating to successful applications will be included in:

• public media releases
• an announcement on the AANSW website
• NSW Grants Finder website
• AANSW social media.

This information may include the name of the applicant and their business, a description of the funded project and the funding amount.

Applicants should be aware that information provided to AANSW may be made publicly available under the GIPA Act. Information may also be made publicly available as a result of an order for papers made by the NSW Legislative Council under Standing Order 52.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that this publication is free from error and/or omission at the date of publication. The authors, publisher and any person involved in the preparation of this publication take no responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of information contained herein.

2022/2023 successful applicants

 View the 2022/2023 Cultural Grant recipients as at 22 March 2023 here.