Capacity Building Program for NSW and ACT Arts Sector

Nelson Meers Foundation joined with The Sidney Myer Fund and W & A Johnson Family Foundation to co-fund a Capacity Building Program for New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory artists and small to medium arts organisations.

The program provided grants of up to $50,000 split into two equal payments over two years to independent New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory companies and collectives.

This was the first collaborative funding project between the Sidney Myer Fund, Nelson Meers Foundation and W & A Johnson Family Foundation, recognising the scale of the unmet need in the independent sector.

This capacity building program strengthens and grows the independent arts and cultural sector in Australia by granting money to ensembles, collectives and groups that are highly connected within their sector, and producing excellent work. Funds were awarded untied – to be applied as the recipients see fit in the course of their everyday activities.

Why did we fund this project? Driven by The Sidney Myer Fund, this was the third round of its kind. We were thrilled by the success of previous rounds in the other states and the real impact the funds have had for the recipients. We believe that co-funding projects increases their chance for impact and therefore continue to seek projects that strengthen the sector as a whole.