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The Regional Community Bands Program supports the work of community bands in regional NSW through an annual program providing small grants to support their activities.

Through on-demand, quick response funding, the program will address challenges in sustaining community bands in regional NSW due to limited access to funding, dispersed populations from which to draw membership and travel required for members to participate.

The intended outcomes of the Program are:

• Increased access to music activities and education in regional communities
• A stable or increased number of active regional community bands across NSW
• Increased community connections in regional communities
• Increased youth engagement and participation in regional NSW community bands.

The Regional NSW Strategic Partnership Program aims to establish partnerships that strengthen the arts, culture and creative industries in regional NSW through programs for the following focus areas:

• skills development
• organisational capacity building
• audience development
• development of partnerships
• investment sourcing
• creative activation of spaces.

Through partnerships and delivery of targeted programs, the Program will address gaps in the above focus areas for regional NSW creative organisations and workers.

The intended long-term outcomes of the Program are:

• A more connected sector in regional NSW through partnerships
• Development of artists and creative workers’ practices in regional NSW
• Improved or new income streams for organisations
• Increased capacity of organisations to retain staff, deliver impactful programs and enhance community engagement.

This program is designed to grow and support the live music ecosystem in NSW through investment in the operations of established music festivals, alleviating short-term financial challenges and improving business and job retention during the cost-of-living crisis.

Funding will be available for government-related and operational costs for contemporary music festivals with an event capacity of at least 15,000 and are currently experiencing financial challenges.

Applications will be accepted on an as needs basis while the funding program is open. The program will close when the budget is exhausted, or 30 April 2026, whichever comes first.

Successful applicants will receive two milestone payments:

* Payment One – 50% of approved funds within 30 days of the execution of the funding agreement and meeting any preconditions to payment

* Payment Two – upon completion of the milestones set out in the funding agreement and successful delivery of the festival, the lesser of:

• the amount required to reach break-even, or
• the remaining 50% of the grant amount.
• If festival ticket sales are higher than break even, the remaining funding will not be paid.

Please see the Eligibility section for a full breakdown of the types of festivals that can apply and the costs that are covered.

This funding aims to:

• improve short-term viability for festival operators in NSW
• support contemporary music festivals and operators vital to the NSW music landscape
• reduce burden and risk for organisers
• build confidence for audiences and the broader music industry.

Who can apply

A music festival that:

• is presented in NSW
• programs new and original contemporary music
• has music as the primary focus of the festival
• has approved event capacity of 15,000 and above per day
• has evidence of previously delivering festivals over 15,000 capacity
• is a paid and ticketed event
• has occurred in NSW at least five times over the last ten years
• is to be held within 3 months of application submission
• is Australian owned or has part international ownership
• can demonstrate/legally declare solvency
• does not have NSW Government Hallmark status

For the purpose of this program:

• a music festival is defined as an advertised event that calls itself a music festival, has music as its primary focus, consists of at least five performances, is marketed under a single banner with a collective running time of at least five hours, and can be single or consecutive multiple days
• a contemporary music festival refers to a festival that is predominantly programming artists and acts performing new and original music
• artforms not supported through this program are:
  • experimental music and sound art
  • contemporary classical, opera, choral and ensembles.