Culture Mix Development Grants

Funding through this program is open to:

• Applicants who live in the Wollongong Local Government Area, between Windang and Helensburgh;
• Organisations, individuals and groups who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders or culturally and linguistically diverse;
• Creative and cultural practitioners who can demonstrate strong collaboration with multicultural and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities;
• Physically and socially isolated communities.

Applications will not be accepted from:

• Activities that take place outside the Wollongong Local Government Area;
• Artists or arts organisations that are party-political or whose purpose is primarily political;
• Government departments, foundations, grant making or fundraising bodies;
• Artists or arts organisations or applications that seek to exclude or offend parts of the community;
• Artists or arts organisations that have an outstanding debt to Wollongong City Council or that have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of any previous funding agreement with Wollongong City Council;
• Where projects will financially benefit a profit-making individual, organisation or Government Department;
• Where an acquittal has not been received for a previous Wollongong City Council grant;
• Current Wollongong City Council employees, immediate families and their contractors;
• Artists who are currently supported by Wollongong City Council through a funding program for the same concept and/or activity;
• Where applications are received by Wollongong City Council after the published closing date.

Applicants must identify and declare any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest (if applicable) in accordance with Council’s Code of Conduct PDF, 658.08 KB .

Activities that could be supported through this program include rehearsals and / or development for:

• Live music
• Dance performance
• Roving performers
• Visual art works
• Visual art interactive workshops
• Festival decoration
• Food

Your application should show how you will:

• Work together with community members to create a performance or activity;
• Make or create something new, or teach a cultural activity and build skills for newcomers or beginners;
• Build on an existing performance, tradition or activity so that it is different and exciting;
• Be available for the Culture Mix festival on Saturday 20 September 2025.

Funding can be used for:

• Community based workshops and project development sessions;
• Choreographer, director, artist or creative mentors;
• Rehearsal space hire;
• Costume/props;
• Equipment and materials.

Funding will not be provided for:

• Performance at the event (a separate agreement and performance payment will apply to successful applicants);
• Travel costs to the event;
• Food or drinks at the event.

Eligible applicants can apply for a one-off grant up to the value of $3,000 (excluding GST).

Successful applicants will be advised of the final amount approved for their project.

Please note, any grant funding provided is for the development of an activity for Culture Mix only. There will be a separate agreement and payment in place for your performance at the festival.

Here are some tips to help you prepare your application for this program:

1. Download and read our list of the Questions You'll Need to Answer PDF, 848.58 KB;
2. Write all your answers out in a Word document or similar, so they're ready to copy into the online form;
3. Gather your supporting information (eg your group's website, social media links, documents to support your application);
4. When everything's ready, use the button at the bottom of the page to apply!

Do you need help with your application?

We can help you understand the application over the phone or face to face.

We can also provide interpreting or translation to help you understand the information.

If you need help or more information, please email the Cultural Development team.