Creative Public Spaces Small Grants

Creative Public Spaces Small Grants seed fund art projects, creative activations and interventions in public spaces across the Byron Shire.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available.

  • Individual artists
  • Creative producers
  • Artist teams.

Applications are now closed and will reopen in April 2025.

How to apply?

Step 1.Before you apply

Step 2.Apply online

Applications are now closed.

You will need to upload your budget template before you submit your application. You can also upload other supporting documents.

Step 3.What happens after applications close?

  1. A selection committee will assess the applications. 
  2. The committee's recommendations report will be taken to Council for final decision.
  3. You will be notified of the outcome following the Council meeting.

Selection criteria

Your project should address the following assessment criteria.

These grants are open to Northern Rivers’ artists and arts producers. To be eligible to submit an application you must:

  • be an Australian citizen or resident or hold a valid work permit; and
  • live in the Northern Rivers.

Please read the guidelines for more details about the eligibility and assessment criteria. 

Creative Public Spaces Grant Guidelines

Step 1.Audiences, Engagement & Collaboration 

Ability to engage audiences in its development and/or presentation, for example:

  • a clear methodology for engaging with relevant stakeholders, or community engagement plan
  • if including Aboriginal cultural content demonstrates appropriate permission from local Aboriginal Elders
  • track record including demonstrated interest from audiences
  • supports diverse cultural expression and participation.

Step 2.Context 

The proposal is appropriate to the context:

  • site specificity
  • connection with local themes, community values, and stakeholders
  • is lead by a local artist, producer or creative organisation (Northern Rivers based) and are locally determined arts and cultural activities
  • sustainability

Step 3.Viability 

Ensures professional project execution through consideration of:

  • timeframe and budget
  • maintenance, provision for quality materials, durability / removal requirements
  • safety and risk management and other approvals such as WWC, traffic control, PPE.

Step 4.Artistic Merit and Impact 

Quality of the project vision, ideas and artistic rationale, contribution to cultural vibrancy and contemporary arts practice including:

  • quality of past work, technical skills of the artist/s and demonstrated ability to upscale creative ideas
  • artistic impact
  • artistic, social, environmental outcomes achieved through the work
  • innovation, originality, and experimentation
  • overall value for money relative to impact.

During the selection process consideration will be given to geographic spread of projects across the Shire.

Value for money, in-kind support or a third-party partnership contribution financial / in-kind / delivery support will be highly regarded.

Artist Teams or Artist/Producer collaborations must nominate one point of contact for all administration and communication with Council.

Council reserves the right to identify a strategic priority for the funds in any given year.

Recipients of the 2024-2025 Creative Public Spaces Grants were: 

  • Remedial Transmissions - Public Palace - Creative Development Phase ($5,000): Funding will support the research and development phase of a site responsive, participatory public artwork in Byron Shire. Artists Grace Dewar and Laurie Oxenford will engage community to develop recordings that will activate selected public spaces using a hidden, sensor-activated audio system.
  • Bulaan Dalang Galii Naa Gan Ngaa Leen Duu - The Returning in collaboration with Arts Northern Rivers - Mural and Artists Residency ($5,000): Bulaan Dalang Galii Naa Gan Ngaa Leen Duu is a mentoring program supporting emerging Indigenous creative practitioners. Artists will be mentored over a 12-month period by established artists and cultural leaders through professional learning sessions, time for self-directed artistic exploration and cultural workshops. A mural installation in the Byron CBD will be a public outcome of the project.
  • We are all Riverkeepers - Bruns Riverkeepers Alliance auspiced by Mullum SEED ($5,000): This project is a creative showcase about connecting to, caring for and celebrating the Brunswick River. The project will utilise multimedia arts formats including poetry, photography and video, personal biography as well as imagery to document stories of diverse ‘riverkeepers’ of the Bruns River - from Indigenous custodians to artists and creatives, fishers, farmers, boaters, ecologists, bush regenerators, and diverse landowners along the river. The intention is to inspire and link our communities to ways in which they can connect with, care for and celebrate our river. 

Key dates

Applications open

7 April 2025

Applications close

16 May 2025

Successful applicants announced

28 August 2025

Contact

Melitta Firth, Arts and Culture Officer

mfirth@byron.nsw.gov.au 

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