More than 150 projects will benefit from City of Sydney funding worth $6.85 million, that will boost local businesses and not-for-profits.
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said the funding would help kickstart a wide range of projects and initiatives.
“These grants make a real difference and fund projects that often would not be possible without the City of Sydney’s support,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Local grants provide local jobs, as well as boosting the social, cultural and economic life of our city.
“Last year, we committed more than $22.2 million in funding to 441 projects that helped celebrate Sydney’s culture and creativity, supported the local economy and encouraged sustainability and business growth.”
The creative grants and major festivals and events sponsorship programs funded 61 projects totalling almost $2.1 million. As well as sponsorship of major events like the Sydney Writers’ Festival and SXSW, dozens of creative enterprises have also received funding, from music programs and theatre workshops to a short film production and global innovation summit.
Diversity Arts Australia will receive a $35,000 grant for its new leadership and capacity-building program.
Lena Nahlous, CEO of Diversity Arts Australia said the program aims to address gaps in the representation, development and career longevity of culturally and linguistically diverse, and racially marginalised leaders in the arts and cultural sectors.
“We’re excited to receive seed this funding from the City of Sydney to help launch our ‘Shifting the Balance Leadership Program,” Ms Nahlous said.
“This is a bespoke, human-centred arts leadership program for people from culturally diverse, migrant and refugee backgrounds that aims to empower participants to take on leadership roles, foster greater diversity in arts leadership, and contribute to a more inclusive creative sector.
“This crucial backing from the City of Sydney, paired with matching funds from Create NSW, will enable us to pilot and test this new program."
Community services (including city homelessness services), food support services and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collaboration Fund programs have bolstered 46 social grants to the value of $3,475,830 in cash and in-kind support.
Neami National has been awarded $800,000 for its Way2Home service to support people experiencing homelessness. By using a housing-first approach, outreach workers directly connect with people at risk, providing assistance, case management and post-crisis support.
“Huge thanks to the City of Sydney for awarding this grant to Way2Home,” said James Bell, Director, Safety and Homelessness at Neami.
“This investment will make a difference in the lives of the people we support. It is much needed for services such as ours that meet people experiencing homelessness where they’re at.”
Through 2 economic grant programs $1,127,853 in cash and in-kind funding will be split among 19 business sector support grants and 13 innovation and ideas grants.
The business sector support grants will help a diverse range of businesses to upskill, adapt to new technologies, look at alternative business models and increase accessibility.
Innovation and ideas grants will help drive innovation, highlight local talent and explore new solutions to address both local and global challenges in Sydney’s social, cultural, sustainability, and business sectors.
More than $95,000 in environmental grants will be shared among 13 recipients to help improve their environmental performance. Support covers electrification and renewable energy assessments for numerous residential buildings and an improved energy system to reduce the carbon footprint of a 524-room hotel.
The City of Sydney’s next round of grants will open at the end of July.
To find out more about the City of Sydney’s grants and sponsorships programs, visit cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Media contact: Elaine Kelly, phone 0477 362 550 or email ekelly@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO contact Paul Mackay. Phone 0436 816 604 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au