Multi-million dollar cash grants enhance local economy and cultural life

More than $5 million in direct cash and in-kind or waived fee support has been awarded to community programs, sustainable projects, businesses and festivals for the next financial year.

The City of Sydney has approved funding for 179 projects that will support businesses, boost the local economy, improve the city’s environmental life, and help cultural and creative organisations bring their ideas to fruition.

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO, said funding is important in supporting communities and invigorating local businesses.

“In the last financial year, we awarded more than 360 grants over $19 million in cash and value-in-kind,” the Lord Mayor said.

“These grants have helped many wonderful projects from public art and community gardens to multicultural events and business programs. and Ideas like these help make Sydney the great place it is to live, work and visit.

“These projects make a positive difference to our communities and would often not be possible without the City of Sydney’s support.”

The grants and sponsorship funding includes:

Under its business sector support and innovation and ideas grants programs, Council approved more than $1.25 million in funding across 34 projects.

Projects include forums to help Sydney’s night-time economy, a business coaching program for creative organisations and artists, sustainability workshops for the hospitality industry, and a training program for First Nations and migrant entrepreneurs.

Diversity Arts Australia has been awarded $40,000 for an online training program in the creative sector covering racial equity and inclusion. "We're absolutely thrilled to receive this crucial support from the City of Sydney to further develop and test our self-paced online training program to the arts and creative sectors,” CEO Diversity Arts Australia Lena Nahlous said.

“Creative cultural equity training is a game-changer that fills a significant gap in Sydney's arts scene, providing tailored training to promote cultural and racial equity, tackling feelings of alienation and exclusion.

“With its accessible and affordable online delivery, our program will foster a culture of equity and inclusion, empowering organisations to embrace practical and sustainable strategies for a stronger, more diverse creative sector.”

Cultural and creative grants worth more than $2.6 million have been awarded to 64 recipients. Projects range from the creation of a legacy mural in Chinatown and a series of weekly live music performances in Redfern by emerging artists to a micro festival for artists and audiences with disability and an Indigenous film festival in cinemas across the local area.

Business Events (BE) Sydney has been awarded $300,000 to help attract big events and elevate Sydney’s profile as a world-class events destination over the next 3 years.

“BESydney is excited to continue our partnership with the City of Sydney to secure significant global conferences, meetings, and incentive events that deliver economic and social impacts for our wonderful city and country,” BE Sydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said.

“As Sydney’s independent and not-for-profit convention bureau, BESydney has promoted Sydney globally as a business events destination for over 50 years.

“Bidding for these events is hotly contested and the City of Sydney’s support helps Sydney remain competitive.”

More than $893,000 in funding will be shared among 22 community services. Projects include a free village-to-village shuttle bus service, the supply of refurbished mobile phones to vulnerable residents, a program to strengthen community connections and reduce social isolation for older women, and the provision of legal services and support to LGBTIQA+ asylum seekers.

The Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC) has been awarded $50,000 for its communications and capacity-building project.

KBHAC aims to develop a strategic communications plan that will help promote its services to the local Aboriginal community and build the digital skill set of employees to strengthen their community outreach.

“The City of Sydney’s grant will enable KBHAC to provide more services to Aboriginal and non-Indigenous community members in the area,” KBHAC CEO Dr Tiffany McComsey said.

“We will also be able to maximise our communication and marketing reach, and create culturally safe and community-accessible information and resources that will be shared on our website, social media and printed material.”

Council approved funding for 20 green buildings grants worth almost $146,000. Projects include a net zero action plan for the Shangri-La hotel to improve its environmental performance, and renewables and electrification feasibility assessments for several residential blocks across the local area.

The City of Sydney’s winter grants round is open from 25 July to 22 August.

To find out more about the City of Sydney’s grants and sponsorships programs and the application process, visit cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Elaine Kelly, phone 0477 362 550 or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore contact Zoe Delamare. Phone 0477 263 615 or email [email protected]