Up to $120,000 to support individual artists, arts and cultural workers, and organisations who are touring arts and cultural work across regional New South Wales.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
What is the Regional Arts Touring Fund?
The Regional Arts Touring Fund is an initiative by Create NSW, designed to support individual artists, arts and cultural workers, and organisations in touring their arts and cultural work across regional New South Wales.
This funding aims to ensure equitable access to vibrant arts and cultural experiences in line with the NSW arts, culture, and creative industries policy, Creative Communities. The fund is dedicated to enhancing community strength through arts and culture, promoting diversity and inclusion, and fostering economic development by expanding audience reach and creating new market opportunities.
Regional Arts Touring Fund level of support
- Minimum and Maximum Amount of Funding: $5,000 to $120,000.
- Co-contribution Required: Create NSW does not fund 100% of your tour. You must contribute at least 5% from other cash or in-kind support towards your tour.
Regional Arts Touring Fund important dates
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Regional Arts Touring Fund objectives
The Regional Arts Touring Fund supports individual artists, arts and cultural workers, and organisations to tour arts and cultural work across regional NSW. This fund is designed to:
- Foster access to innovative and diverse arts and cultural presentations.
- Enable the presentation of new work by underrepresented artists and groups.
- Enhance the visibility of new work by NSW artists and arts/cultural workers.
- Contribute to personal and community wellbeing and economic development.
- Build the vitality of NSW organisations by developing new markets and audiences.
Projects and expenditure eligible for Regional Arts Touring Fund support
This grant funds a range of projects, including but not limited to:
- An artist/curator from Western Sydney touring an exhibition to multiple regional NSW galleries.
- A small group of regional theatre-makers staging a play in two locations outside their hometown.
- A performance poet partnering with regional libraries and bookshops to run poetry nights and workshops.
- A Sydney-based dance company touring to three regional NSW destinations and delivering workshops with young people.
- A regional NSW theatre organisation touring a performance to one Western Sydney and two regional NSW locations.
- A regional gallery sending a group show to two other regional galleries and offering a talk by the curator in each location.
Costs you need to cover to make sure your tour is a success.
- Renting or hiring of space for workshops, rehearsals, shows, exhibitions or presentations
- Community engagement or audience development costs
- You can apply for tours in development with unconfirmed venues.
- Paying artist fees based on awards and appropriate industry rates.
- Note: It is required that commercial events staged using, in whole or in part, public funding received from Create NSW, implement a $250 minimum fee for musicians. This fee is based on a ‘3 hour call’ as set out in the Live Performance Award and endorsed by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Note: You can apply for unconfirmed activities.
Ineligible expenditures:
- Tours or activities that directly support the delivery or course requirements of an educational program or course
- Tours or activities that are led by people who aren’t professional artists, arts and cultural workers, or creatives
- Paying back money for items you’ve already bought
- Buying equipment that isn’t directly used in your tour
- Capital Works (infrastructure/building works). For this, contact Create Infrastructure.
- Fundraising and donations
- Awards, prizes, competitions, or prize money
- Paying back loans.
See the guidelines for full details of projects and expenditure eligible for funding.
Other Regional Arts Touring Fund important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Regional Arts Touring Fund support
Individuals, are eligible to apply:
- Applicants must be 18 years or above
- Currently living in NSW (for the past 12 months)
Partnerships, groups, unincorporated associations and organisations are eligible to apply:
- Applicants must be 18 years or above
- Currently located in NSW (for the past 12 months)
- Local Government Authorities must be a distinct business unit based in NSW
Note: Non-NSW based organisations are eligible to apply. However, preference is given to NSW-based organisations. It is highly recommended that non-NSW based organisations discuss their application with Create NSW before applying.
If successful, all applicants must have an active ABN with a nominated bank account or provide details of a funds administrator.
- Individuals must have a sole trader ABN or private company ABN (only if the individual is the sole director) or a funds administrator and a nominated bank account.
- Groups, unincorporated associations that do not have legal status must be contracted by an individual or a funds administrator on behalf of the group, association or organisation.
- Partnerships and organisations with legal status must have an ABN which matches their entity name and a nominated bank account.
Ineligible applicants
Applicants who:
- Have received funding before from Create NSW or Sound NSW for the same part of their tour
- Have already started their tour or will start or finish it before the funding period starts
- Are Create NSW designated National Performing Arts Partnerships Company, State Significant Organisations or Key Festivals
- Are state or federal government department/agency, including state cultural institutions
- Are schools and educational institutions (including preschools, primary and secondary schools)
- Want funding for making films, TV shows, or film festivals. For this, you should contact Screen NSW
- Want funding for contemporary music (please refer to the glossary in the program website for this definition). For more information on this, you should contact Sound NSW.
- Are employed by Create NSW or were employed in the last 12 months.
See the guidelines for full details of organisational requirements.
Regional Arts Touring Fund assessment criteria
Applications must demonstrate a focus on arts and culture and directly benefit NSW artists, arts and cultural workers, and/or NSW communities and audiences through arts-led activities. Detailed assessment will be based on the project’s ability to meet the fund’s objectives, its impact on the community, and its feasibility.
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.
How do I get the Regional Arts Touring Fund?
Applicants must:
- Read and understand the guidelines.
- Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
- Demonstrate a strong alignment with the fund’s objectives.
- Provide complete information requirements.
Information to prepare for the Regional Arts Touring Fund application
All applicants must have an active ABN with a nominated bank account or provide details of a funds administrator. Groups and organisations must ensure their ABN matches their entity name.
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the Regional Arts Touring Fund
Applications can be submitted via the Create NSW online grants system, SmartyGrants.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Regional Arts Touring Fund resources
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