2025/26 Stronger Together Local Councils Major Festival Grant
Submissions are now being accepted. Submissions close at 5:00PM 19 December 2025 (AEDT).
IMPORTANT: Please read the information below to assist you in completing your application online.
Program objective
The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program aims to support multicultural festivals, events and projects across NSW. We invest in activities that foster community harmony and celebrate cultural diversity as a precious part of our identity and way of life.
The Stronger Together Local Councils Major Festival grant funding is available for Major Festivals run by local councils across NSW.
This program is funded and administered by Multicultural NSW.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival Grant applicants must:
- demonstrate how the Festival aligns with Multicultural NSW’s Strategic Plan
- be located within NSW
- have audience attendance of more than 10,000 people in a regional area or 30,000 in metropolitan areas
- demonstrate how they will measure outcomes of the Festival
- have acquitted all prior grants from Multicultural NSW
- where appropriate, partner with local multicultural organisations
- demonstrate that the Festival is cost effective and viable, with an accurate budget
- have all appropriate insurances, licences and permits
- submit an application online through the Multicultural NSW approved SmartyGrants portal before the closing date, with all aspects of the application form completed
- deliver the Festival between 1 February 2026 to 28 February 2027
- promote the NSW Government as per terms outlined in the grant agreement
- clearly show co-contributions towards the festival. The Festival will not be funded if there is no co-contribution of at least 25%. In-kind contributions must be itemised
- commit to spending a minimum of 10% of the advertising budget for the Festival across multicultural media outlets to ensure the event is accessible by multicultural communities.
- NSW local councils.
- Individuals or groups of individuals
- Unincorporated organisations
- For-profit commercial organisations.
This grant round is for Major Festivals developed by local councils. This includes Festivals that:
- showcase and represent the diversity of the local community
- will reach and engage with new audiences
- are inclusive and accessible.
The following activities are excluded from receiving grant funding:
- party political activities
- an application that seeks support for supplementing, increasing or continuing ongoing service delivery or for funding the core business of the organisation’s commercial or fundraising activities
- capital expenses, including but not limited to building works (including maintenance) and equipment purchases.
Grant funding will not be awarded to any local council that:
- does not demonstrate a commitment to multicultural principles
- has redress sanctions as described in the National Redress Scheme
- is subject to a winding up order or has an appointed administrator
- is bankrupt
- has no sound financial management and governance.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Welcome to the Multicultural NSW online grant application service, powered by SmartyGrants.
You may begin anywhere in this application form. Please ensure you save as you go.
For queries about the guidelines, deadlines, or any questions in the form, please get in touch with Ms Jaya Chivukula, Grants Officer, on (02) 8255 6779 during business hours or email [email protected].
If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
NAVIGATING (MOVING THROUGH) THE APPLICATION FORM
On every screen (page of the form) you will find a Form Navigation contents box, this links directly to every page of the application. Click the link to jump directly to the page you want.
You can also click 'next page' or 'previous page' on the top or bottom of each page to move forward or backward through the application.
SAVING YOUR DRAFT APPLICATION
If you wish to leave a partially completed application, press 'save and close' and log out. When you log back in and click on the 'My Submissions' link at the top of the screen, you will find a list of any applications you have started or submitted. You can reopen your draft application and start where you left off.
You can also download any application, whether draft or completed, as a PDF. Click on the 'Download PDF' button located at the bottom of the last page of the application form.
SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
You will find a Review and Submit button at the bottom of the Navigation Panel. You need to review your application before you can submit it.
Once you have reviewed your application you can submit it by clicking on 'Submit' at the top or bottom of the screen or on the navigation panel. You will not be able to submit your application until all the compulsory questions are completed and there are no validation errors.
Once you have submitted your application, no further editing or uploading of support materials is possible.
When you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your submitted application attached. This will be sent to the email you used to register.
If you do not receive a confirmation of submission email then you should presume that your submission has NOT been submitted.
Hint: also check the email hasn't landed in your spam or junk email folder.
ATTACHMENTS AND SUPPORT DOCUMENTS
You may need to upload/submit attachments to support your application. This is very simple, but requires you to have the documents saved on your computer, or on a storage device.
You need to allow enough time for each file to upload before trying to attach another file. Files can be up to 25MB each; however, we do recommend trying to keep files to a maximum of 5MB – the larger the file, the longer the upload time.
COMPLETING AN APPLICATION IN A GROUP/TEAM
A number of people can work on an application using the same log in details as long as only one person is working at a time. Ensure you save as you go.
SPELL CHECK
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