The Cultural Grants and Sponsorship Program provides support for cultural organisations, and organisations undertaking cultural activities, in or benefiting the City of Sydney’s Local Government Area.

The City takes a broad view of cultural activity, including performing and visual arts and crafts, literature, film, digital arts, design, architecture, history and heritage, food and wine, and their expression through public debate, festivals, exhibitions, performances, competitions and public celebrations of importance to individual communities and/or greater Sydney.

The Cultural Grants and Sponsorships Program provides funding over $5,000 (excluding GST). It is an annual program for which applications are accepted once a year. Any applications over $30,000 will require the applicant to have met with a Cultural Development Officer (or other relevant Council officer) to discuss their proposal.

If you are applying for funding for an outdoor event please also contact a Cultural Development Officer. You can also refer to the NSW State Government’s Events Starter Guide at www.events.nsw.gov.au as a general resource on planning and implementing events.

Projects funded should occur between 1 October 2011 – 30 September 2012.
If applying for triennial funding project must occur between 1 October 2011 – 30 September 2014.

Cultural Grants and Sponsorships Program Objectives

The Cultural Grants and Sponsorships Program aims to:

• enable all of our citizens and visitors to participate in and enjoy the widest cultural experience, including targeting initiatives to combat social exclusion;
• recognise and promote the importance of culture in the development of children and young people, and that cultural activities contribute to lifelong learning;
• support and develop those cultural activities that enrich and extend personal and community engagement, especially those which celebrate individual community identity;
• encourage the highest standards of creativity and excellence in all aspects of cultural activities;
• demonstrate the unique qualities of a community or city village/activity hub (as defined in Sydney 2030 strategy);
• foster partnerships with organisations working in, or supporting cultural activities such as universities, arts companies, museums, galleries, State and Federal Governments and business;
• develop lively and sustainable cultural industries, creative spaces, employment and infrastructure, including preserving and celebrating the City’s heritage; and
• promote locally and internationally the expression of Sydney’s cultural identity and recognise the reciprocal benefits of international cultural exchange.

Eligibility and Exclusions

To be eligible for funding, an organisation must:

• be not-for-profit;
• be an incorporated body, or be auspiced (sponsored) by one;
• offer a project in the City of Sydney, or primarily for the City of Sydney community (minimum of 75% participants from the LGA); and
• acquit previous City of Sydney grants and have no outstanding debts to the City of Sydney.

Ineligibility

The City of Sydney does not provide funding for:

• projects that duplicate existing services or programs;
• projects that do not meet the identified priority needs of the Sydney Local Government Area;
• projects that will rely on recurrent funding from the City of Sydney; or
• projects that directly contravene existing Council policy.

General Exclusions

The City will not provide grants and sponsorships in this program for:

• individuals;
• general donations to Charities (however, the City may provide grants to specific projects run by charities where they meet the criteria);
• ongoing operational costs including non-project staffing;
• capital expenditure over $5,000 (equipment up to a cost of $5,000 may be funded); or
• waiver of fees including those for Development Applications, health approvals, Section 68 approvals, place of public entertainment approvals, temporary road closures and filming fees.

The City will not provide in house design, printing and distribution services. The City will not waive fees for cleaning and waste removal services. You may include cleansing, waste, design, printing or distribution costs in your budget as part of your cash grant request.

Support will not be given to overtly political activities or activities that could be perceived as benefiting a political party or political campaign.

Support will not be given for overtly religious activities that could be perceived as divisive within the community.
Generally, the City of Sydney will not accept applications from:

• commercial organisations operating on an expected profit basis, unless there is a significant benefit to the City;
• unincorporated organisations, unless auspiced by an eligible incorporated organisation;
• previous grant recipients who have not fulfilled the conditions of the particular grant;
• previous sponsorship recipients who have not fulfilled the requirements of the sponsorship agreement; or
• applicants that have not included the required supporting documentation.

What Can the Grant be Used For?

Grants or Sponsorships can pay for any legitimate expense needed to carry out a project, including but not limited to:

• materials or equipment up to $5,000 (ex GST) (two quotes are required for equipment/materials valued at $1,000 (ex GST) or over);
• short-term or contract staff (eg. to provide expertise, present a seminar or workshop);
• transport (eg. bus hire or travel reimbursement);
• information resources (eg. pamphlet production);
• to extend a national project to deliver specific local outcomes to the City community;
• festivals or events, performance seasons, exhibitions;
• workshops / training;
• strategic development;
• design development in support of public art initiatives; or
• activities not covered by other State or Federal funding arrangements.

Evaluation Criteria

The City has determined three categories of support for cultural activities. All organisations supported must also satisfy the following minimum criteria:

• foster or provide cultural initiatives and resources which address the needs of the City’s communities;
• improve awareness of cultural services and resources in the City;
• provide creative opportunities which develop the knowledge and skills of community members;
• encourage participation in cultural activities; and
• sound management of the organisation.

Proposals should clearly describe:

1. How the City’s support will be acknowledged (eg. signage at the cultural event, acknowledgement in a program, inclusion of the City of Sydney logo in press advertising or other promotional material, acknowledgement of the City of Sydney in media releases relating to the project including radio or television advertising, acknowledgement of the City of Sydney on any project specific website including a link to the City of Sydney’s website.
2. The proposed benefits that would be offered to the City community in return for the grant or sponsorship – in particular benefits relating to audience development and improved accessibility for the city community (eg. subsidised tickets to selected performance for local residents, projects targeted at the city community, projects with a legacy for the city community).

Categories of Support

Community Development

The City recognises that the arts and culture can provide significant social capital and contribute greatly to community well-being, engagement and skills development. Participation in cultural activities can reduce isolation, encourage community participation and provide opportunities for all members of the community to articulate and express their life experiences, aspirations and visions.
Category specific guidelines:

• measurable benefits back to communities within Sydney, building a greater sense of community and providing new or supporting existing cultural resources;
• emphasis on community participation and social inclusion;
• development of cultural programs to build knowledge and skills in the community;
• provide opportunities for new audiences to be exposed to the cultural life of Sydney;
• contribute to a vibrant cultural and community life;
• demonstrate the unique qualities of a community or activity hub/city village (as defined in the Sydney 2030 strategy);
• demonstrate excellence in content and delivery; and
• showcase creative development and innovation.

Priority will be given to projects that address the needs of the communities identified in the City’s Social Policy and Social Plan 2006-2011, which you can view at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/FormsPoliciesPublication/SocialPlan.asp.

Artistic Development

The City recognises that cultural projects, events or activities are powerful, inspirational and life changing. Through the arts and culture, society shapes its future, re-evaluates its past and holds a mirror to the present. The arts give expression to the most important issues of our time. To allow a flourishing, rich and vibrant artistic and cultural community, the City supports artistic development in the form of new productions, creative spaces, exhibitions, events, creative development and innovative projects that demonstrate excellence in content and delivery.
Category specific guidelines:

• partnerships with other major organisations such as the State and Federal Governments and corporate partners in funding and development;
• provide an international profile for the City;
• presentation of work of export standard;
• provide a platform for Sydney to present internationally recognised works and artists;
• showcase Australian work or artists;
• commission new work;
• commitment to community participation;
• contribute to a vibrant cultural and community life in Sydney;
• excellence in content and professional delivery;
• showcase for innovation and creative development;
• creation of employment and career opportunities for artists and arts practitioners; and
• development of creative spaces for arts practitioners to create and present work.

Audience Development

The City supports audience development for arts and culture activities. Through creating audience development programs and opportunities for new audiences to access the arts, many community benefits are realised including social well being, community participation and economic development.
Category specific guidelines:

• measurable benefits back to communities within Sydney, building a greater sense of community and providing new or supporting existing cultural resources;
• commitment to community participation;
• contribute to a vibrant cultural and community life in Sydney;
• excellence in content and professional delivery;
• showcase for innovation in audience development;
• increase the marketplace for the arts and cultural activities; and
• creation of employment and career opportunities for artists and arts practitioners.

Your application MUST identify which category of support you are applying for and address the criteria in that category.

Assessment process

The City of Sydney will write to inform you that your application has been received.
All grants and sponsorship applications received by the City are assessed by a panel of at least three relevant City of Sydney officers. If considered relevant, some applications may be assessed by external parties who have skills and professional expertise that adds beneficially to the assessment process.
Recommendations for all cash programs over $1,000 are presented to Council for approval. All applicants will be advised in writing whether or not their application has been successful.
Use of Funds and Accountability
If your organisation’s application has been successful you will be required to:

• provide a current Public Liability Insurance Certificate of Currency for a minimum of $10 million;
• sign a contract acknowledging the grant and accepting the conditions of the grant;
• complete the project for which funds have been granted. If you wish to vary the project after you have received a grant, you must get the City’s permission in writing before you vary the project;
• complete an evaluation report and financial acquittal for the City after the funds have been spent and the project is complete;
• permanently mark and identify any equipment purchased using the grant and ensure that it is securely stored; and
• describe how the City’s support for the project will be publicly acknowledged. Successful applicants can make use of the City’s logo and advice can be sought on how to do so. Any use of the City’s logo must be approved by the City.

Applications close 6:00pm, 11 April 2011.

A vertical garden company and a counselling service are among seven local small businesses to share in over $110,000 worth of small business grants from the City of Melbourne.

The City of Melbourne’s Small Business Grants Program has been running since 1996 and has provided almost $6 million in funding to more than 260 small businesses in the city.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the City of Melbourne was proud to have given so many small businesses their start, or helped them to expand or export.

“This unique program fosters creativity and innovation. Tonight we will bring together 100 grant recipients at Craft Victoria from the past 15 years to celebrate their success in business,” the Lord Mayor said.

Early recipients in the program included rock candy store Suga in 1997, contemporary jeweller E.G. Etal in 1998,  and community television station Channel 31 in 2003 – businesses that have come to symbolise Melbourne.

In more recent years, small businesses such as spice retailer Gewurzhaus, reusable coffee cup manufacturer Keepcup and magazine retailer Mag Nation have also benefited from a City of Melbourne Small Business Grant.

“Small businesses make up 83 per cent of all businesses in the City of Melbourne. Not only do they contribute strongly to our local economy, they offer a diverse mix of innovative products and services that make living in or visiting Melbourne a unique experience,” the Lord Mayor said.

The Small Business Grants program Recipient Directory 2010 which highlights grant recipients will also be launched tonight.

Future Melbourne (Economic Development and Knowledge City) Committee Chair, Councillor Carl Jetter said other initiatives like the City of Melbourne’s Enterprise Melbourne website also assisted in the setting up and running of small businesses.

“Enterprise Melbourne has entered its second year with a more comprehensive website of information and services for a wide range of industries,” Cr Jetter said.

The next round of Small Business Grants will open in March 2011. Visit www.enterprisemelbourne.com.au for more information.

Round two Small Business Grant recipients 2010 (awarded November 2010):

• Lushe: Start-up grant of $20,000 to assist with commercialisation of its vertical garden products
• Craft Victoria: Business support services grant of $7,300 for the development of a new craft business portal
• CounselLink: Start-up grant of $27,000 to provide accessible video counselling services
• Melbourne Business Network: Business support services grant of $10,000 for the creation of a new website
• Go West Tours: Expansion grant of $30,000 for the development of the ‘Melbourne Segway Park’
• Halogenics: Expansion grant of $27,988 for the migration of its animal tracking product to a new web-based platform
• Pharmaceutical Packaging Professionals: Expansion grant of $30,000 for the creation of a facility for the manufacture, warehousing and distribution of clinical trial supplies