Arts, Culture and Events Grants 2025/2026

Please read the below information before beginning your application for an Arts, Culture and Events Grants. 

Applications will need to comply with The Hills Shire Council Grants Policy. 

Arts, Culture, and Events Guidelines

Community Grants Policy 

Please note:  Your application must be received before your event / program takes place to be considered for a grant.

Council’s Arts, Culture & Events Grants will provide financial assistance to local not-for-profit, incorporated, registered charitable organisations, registered bodies and/or for-profit organisations delivering services or providing activities for residents of The Hills Shire.

Eligible applicants can apply for amounts between $5,000 to $30,000.

All grants are required to provide dollar-for-dollar match funding.

Projects must be delivered in the Hills Local Government Area. 

The aim of the Arts, Culture & Events Grants round is to provide funding for arts, culture and event opportunities in line with The Hills Shire Plan and the Arts and Culture Strategy (once adopted). This will be achieved through funding diverse activities and events that support a vibrant community and prosperous economy.
The Arts, Culture & Events Grants aim to:

a) Deliver creative opportunities for Hills Shire residents
b) Promote and support arts and culture in The Hills Shire
c) Support economic outcomes for The Hills Shire
d) Celebrate diversity in The Hills Shire through arts and culture

Applicants will be required to provide information within the application about how their project meets the relevant priority areas.
Funding priority areas may be amended each year based on current or emerging needs within the community.

When will I receive my funding to begin my project ?

Funding will be paid following Council endorsement of recommended applications by the assessment panel. Successful applicants should expect their funding payment by October 2025. **Subject to change. 

Projects must be delivered within the timeframes outlined in your project application.

What types of funding require an acquittal/completion report?

All grants require an acquittal or a completion report within 60 days of the end of the project or before the end of the financial year, whichever comes first. 

For Grants amounts over $5,000 the report must include a financial acquittal with all revenue and expenditure confirmed by accredited independent accountant or auditor.

Invoices and / or receipts will also be required for all expenditure items over $2,000.

Arts, Culture & Events Grant funding will be administered once a year in line with the allocation specified by Council’s annual budget process.

For relevant application dates, timelines and up to date information, please find details on the grant’s webpage located on The Hills Shire Council’s website.

Please ensure all event plans are made in line with the Local Event Planning Guide which can be located on The Hills Shire Council’s website. All applications for events must include a detailed timeline reflecting the Local Event Planning Guide and must ensure all event permits are completed prior to the running of the event.

For information on Council’s venues and availability, please visit the Venues webpage on Council’s website. Venues | The Hills Shire Council 

Council will run annual grants training sessions for applicants to attend. It is recommended that applicants attend a training session to better understand the application process and what is required. More information about these sessions can be found on the Grants webpage located on The Hills Shire Council’s website.

Applications must be submitted online through Council’s online grants management system. Council will not accept applications via any other means of communication (e.g. hard copy or via email).

Council will not accept any submissions received after the closing date and time.

Applications received will be assessed by a Grants Officer who will determine if the application is eligible.

Once the applicant has submitted their application, ineligible applications will be emailed and given five (5) business days to amend their application in order to make it eligible. Applications that are still deemed ineligible or incomplete after this five (5) day period will not progress to the panel for consideration.

All grant applications will be assessed in line with Council’s adopted Grants Policy
2024-2028.

The panel may recommend full funding, partial funding or no funding.

Applicants must:
a) Provide the activity in The Hills Local Government Area
b) Ensure the activity is available to Hills Shire residents
c) Apply through Councils online grant management system

a) Applicants who have already received a grant in the same financial year, from the same grant pool (excluding auspice arrangements)
b) Projects that do not benefit residents of the Hills LGA
c) Retrospective funding
d) Organisations with outstanding completion reports or acquittals from previous funding
e) State and Federal Government agencies and their entities (including schools, P&Cs, childcare/preschool services, TAFE/Universities/Colleges, Area Health
Services, hospitals and political organisations)
f) Councillors, staff and their immediate family
g) Applicants applying entirely for staff costs

Assessment Criteria:
• Applications must be made online and meet the applicable eligibility criteria.
• All relevant sections of the Application Form are to be completed, and all supporting documents must be uploaded.

All applications must include the following:

• Applicant’s organisation or auspice organisation’s ABN.

• For funding requests between $5,000 and $30,000, applicants are required to provide financial statements including profit and loss statements and balance sheets covering 24 months and certified by an accredited independent accountant or auditor. 

• At least 2 quotes for all expenditure items over $2,000, unless the grant is for a Council venue.

• Comments on the project or activities viability should Council not provide 100% of the financial assistance requested.

• Expected project dates, project milestones including acquittal and completion reporting dates.

• Current Public Liability Insurance for a minimum of $20 million is required for all organisations applying for funding (mandatory).

• All organisations must declare whether their board members have any conflicts of interest.

• If the project involves children, applicants should include information on how their project meets child safe guidelines. 

If fundraising, the following must be included with the application:
• Amount expected to raise.
• Articulate how the funds raised will be used.
• Charity status of the organisation documentation.
• Supporting letter from the charity the fundraising is for if another entity.
• Any other assistance an applicant is planning on receiving from Council must be detailed in their application.

A proposed recipient who acts for private gain is not ineligible to be granted financial assistance but must not receive any benefit under this section until at least 28 days' public notice of the council's proposal to pass the necessary resolution has been given.

Single year and multi-year commitments may be approved under this Policy. Multi-year Funding Agreements may be approved for a maximum of three consecutive years in order for THSC to continue to support, develop and create a dynamic range of opportunities in the community into the future.

Funding Agreements will be available for between one (1) and three (3) consecutive financial years, subject to the requirements of the Grant category within the CGP, annual deliverables and an Acquittal and approval process tied to the annual payments. This is also subject to THSC’s annual budget processes.

Based on the assessment score, projects will be eligible for funding up to the amounts outlined in the table below.

Applicants who apply for funding for the same project/event across consecutive years will be subject to the following funding reductions:

Grant Application Score Grant Funding
21-25 Up to 100% Funding
16-20 Up to 75% Funding
11-15 Up to 50% Funding
6-10 Up to 25% Funding
0-5: Zero funding; applicant to be taken through the grant writing course. 

Year of Application % of Eligible Funding
First Year 100%
Second Year 75%
Third Year 50%
Fourth Year and Beyond Not eligible

Please send an email to grants@thehills.nsw.gov.au should you wish to discuss a multi-year funding agreement. 

Community Outcomes Team

Email: grants@thehills.nsw.gov.au

Phone: 02 8848 6718