Deadline: 31-Mar-2027
The Local Activation Grants 2026–2027 program supports events, arts and culture initiatives, activations, and community or business-led projects that create public benefit in Perth. Funding is available across four tiers, from up to $5,000 for smaller projects to up to $20,000 for larger activations attracting at least 3,000 attendees. Eligible projects must take place within the City of Perth local government area between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
Overview
The Local Activation Grants 2026–2027 program provides funding to support projects that make Perth more vibrant, inclusive, sustainable, and economically active.
The program supports events, activations, arts and culture initiatives, and community or business-led activities that attract people to the city and create public benefits.
The City of Perth recognises that local events, cultural activities, creative projects, and business participation help strengthen the city’s appeal as a destination for residents, visitors, and local communities.
Key Funding Details
- Program Name: Local Activation Grants 2026–2027
- Location: City of Perth, Australia
- Project Period: 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027
- Funding Range: Up to $20,000
- Funding Type: Grant funding for local activations, events, arts, culture, and community or business-led activities
- Eligible Applicants: Legally constituted entities or individuals with an Australian Business Number
- Project Requirement: Activities must take place within the City’s local government area
- Main Focus: Visitation, vibrancy, sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and economic growth
Purpose of the Program
The purpose of the Local Activation Grants program is to support projects that bring people into Perth, encourage longer visits, and create engaging public experiences.
The program aims to strengthen Perth’s reputation as a vibrant, liveable, green, inclusive, and prosperous city.
It also supports projects that generate benefits for local businesses, especially in the hospitality and retail sectors.
Program Focus Areas
The Local Activation Grants program supports projects that contribute to city activation and public benefit.
Key focus areas include:
- Visitation
- City vibrancy
- Environmental sustainability
- Community engagement
- Diversity and inclusion
- Economic growth
- Arts and culture
- Events and activations
- Local business participation
- Hospitality and retail support
- Neighbourhood activation
- Public benefit
- Sustainable practices
- Destination appeal
Program Outcomes
Applicants must address all five program outcomes relevant to their chosen funding tier.
The five outcomes are:
- Attracting visitors to the city
- Encouraging longer stays in city neighbourhoods
- Creating vibrant and engaging experiences
- Supporting environmental sustainability
- Celebrating diversity and inclusion
- Stimulating the local economy
- Promoting the use of local businesses and suppliers
Projects should clearly demonstrate how they will contribute to these outcomes through practical activities, audience engagement, and measurable benefits.
What the Grants Support
The program supports public-facing projects that activate Perth and create value for the local community, visitors, and businesses.
Supported activities may include:
- Events
- Festivals
- Arts and culture projects
- Creative activations
- Community-led activities
- Business-led activations
- Public performances
- Neighbourhood activities
- Cultural programming
- Inclusive community experiences
- Sustainability-focused events
- Activities that attract visitors
- Projects that support local hospitality and retail businesses
Funding Tiers
The Local Activation Grants program offers four funding tiers based on grant amount and expected attendance.
Tier 1: Up to $5,000
Tier 1 provides funding of up to $5,000.
Projects under this tier must expect a minimum attendance of 200 people.
This tier may be suitable for smaller events, local activations, community activities, creative projects, or neighbourhood-based initiatives.
Tier 2: $5,001 to $10,000
Tier 2 supports projects seeking between $5,001 and $10,000.
Projects under this tier must expect attendance of at least 800 people.
This tier may be suitable for medium-sized events, cultural activities, or activations with wider public reach.
Tier 3: $10,001 to $15,000
Tier 3 offers funding between $10,001 and $15,000.
Projects under this tier must expect a minimum attendance of 1,500 people.
This tier may suit larger activations, events, arts projects, or activities with strong visitation and economic potential.
Tier 4: $15,001 to $20,000
Tier 4 provides funding between $15,001 and $20,000.
Projects under this tier must expect to attract at least 3,000 attendees.
This tier is intended for large-scale activations or events that can deliver significant public benefit, visitation, vibrancy, and local economic impact.
Who is Eligible?
The program is open to eligible entities and individuals that can deliver projects within the City of Perth local government area.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be legally constituted entities or individuals
- Hold an Australian Business Number
- Demonstrate financial viability independent of City funding
- Deliver the project within the City’s local government area
- Submit the application before the project starts
- Hold appropriate insurance coverage where required
- Meet all program eligibility requirements
Eligible Project Requirements
Eligible projects must create public benefit and align with the goals of the Local Activation Grants program.
Projects should:
- Take place between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027
- Be delivered within the City of Perth local government area
- Attract visitors to the city
- Create vibrant public experiences
- Engage diverse communities
- Support sustainability outcomes
- Generate economic benefits for local businesses
- Encourage participation from local suppliers
- Contribute to Perth’s reputation as a vibrant destination
Who is Not Eligible?
Certain applicants and projects will not be considered for funding.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Government departments
- Political parties
- Applicants with outstanding debts to the City
- Applicants involved in legal disputes with the City
- Organisations that have not met previous funding obligations
- Applicants whose conduct is considered contrary to the interests or reputation of the City
What Projects or Costs Are Not Supported?
The program does not support projects or expenses that fall outside its public benefit and city activation purpose.
Ineligible projects and costs include:
- Projects that are political in nature
- Projects that exclude or denigrate community members
- Projects that negatively impact public health
- Projects that negatively impact public safety
- Projects that harm the environment or heritage
- Reimbursement for costs already incurred
- Debt reduction
- Operational deficits
- Legal expenses
- Recurrent operational costs
- Wages and salaries
- Administrative overheads
Applicants should ensure that funding requests are linked to eligible project activities and future delivery costs.
How the Program Works
The City of Perth provides funding through four grant tiers based on project size, funding request, and expected attendance.
Applicants must choose the tier that matches their project scale and expected audience numbers.
Projects are assessed based on their ability to support visitation, vibrancy, sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and economic growth.
Successful projects must take place during the approved program period from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
How to Apply or Prepare
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the project, expected attendance, public benefit, economic impact, sustainability approach, and alignment with program outcomes.
Step 1: Confirm Applicant Eligibility
Applicants should first confirm that they are legally constituted or eligible individuals with an Australian Business Number.
They should also ensure they can demonstrate financial viability and hold appropriate insurance coverage where required.
Step 2: Confirm Project Location and Timing
The project must be delivered within the City of Perth local government area.
All funded activations and projects must take place between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
Applications must be submitted before the project commencement date.
Step 3: Choose the Correct Funding Tier
Applicants should choose the tier that matches their funding request and expected attendance.
The four funding tiers are:
- Up to $5,000 for projects expecting at least 200 attendees
- $5,001 to $10,000 for projects expecting at least 800 attendees
- $10,001 to $15,000 for projects expecting at least 1,500 attendees
- $15,001 to $20,000 for projects expecting at least 3,000 attendees
Step 4: Address the Program Outcomes
Applicants must explain how the project will address the program’s outcomes.
The proposal should show how the project will:
- Attract visitors
- Encourage longer stays
- Create vibrant experiences
- Support sustainability
- Celebrate diversity and inclusion
- Stimulate the local economy
- Promote local businesses and suppliers
Step 5: Explain Public Benefit
Applicants should clearly describe how the project will benefit residents, visitors, communities, businesses, and the city.
Strong applications should show broad community appeal and clear public value.
Step 6: Demonstrate Economic Impact
Applicants should explain how the project will support local economic activity.
This may include:
- Increased visitor spending
- Greater foot traffic
- Support for hospitality businesses
- Support for retail businesses
- Use of local suppliers
- Business participation opportunities
- Promotion of city neighbourhoods
Step 7: Include Sustainability and Inclusion Measures
Applicants should show how the project will support sustainable practices and inclusive participation.
This may include waste reduction, environmentally responsible planning, accessible programming, diverse cultural representation, or inclusive community engagement.
Step 8: Prepare a Realistic Budget
The budget should clearly show how grant funds will be used.
Applicants should avoid including ineligible costs such as wages, salaries, administrative overheads, legal expenses, debt reduction, operational deficits, or costs already incurred.
Expected Benefits
Funded projects are expected to create positive social, cultural, environmental, and economic outcomes for Perth.
Expected benefits may include:
- Increased visitation to the city
- Longer stays in city neighbourhoods
- More vibrant public spaces
- Stronger community connections
- Greater support for arts and culture
- Increased business activity
- More opportunities for local suppliers
- Stronger hospitality and retail outcomes
- Improved sustainability practices
- Greater diversity and inclusion
- Enhanced reputation of Perth as a destination
Why This Program Matters
The Local Activation Grants program matters because city activations, events, arts, culture, and local business initiatives help make Perth more attractive and engaging.
The program supports projects that bring people together, increase public participation, and create stronger connections between residents, visitors, businesses, and city neighbourhoods.
By supporting inclusive and sustainable activities, the City aims to build a more liveable, green, and prosperous Perth.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting applications after the project has started.
Projects should not be vague about attendance numbers, public benefit, or economic impact.
Applicants should not request funding for ineligible costs such as wages, salaries, administrative overheads, legal expenses, debt reduction, operational deficits, or costs already incurred.
Applicants should avoid selecting a funding tier that does not match expected attendance.
Projects should not exclude or denigrate any members of the community.
Applicants should also avoid proposing activities that may negatively affect public health, safety, the environment, or heritage.
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should clearly show how the project will activate the city and create public value.
Applicants should:
- Select the correct funding tier
- Provide realistic attendance estimates
- Show broad community appeal
- Explain how the project attracts visitors
- Demonstrate benefits for local businesses
- Include local suppliers where possible
- Address sustainability clearly
- Celebrate diversity and inclusion
- Show financial viability beyond City funding
- Apply before the project begins
- Avoid ineligible operational or retrospective costs
- Explain how the project enhances Perth’s destination appeal
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Local Activation Grants 2026–2027?
The Local Activation Grants 2026–2027 support events, arts and culture initiatives, activations, and community or business-led projects that create public benefit and contribute to a vibrant and prosperous Perth.
How much funding is available?
Funding is available across four tiers. Applicants may request up to $5,000, between $5,001 and $10,000, between $10,001 and $15,000, or between $15,001 and $20,000 depending on project scale and expected attendance.
What attendance numbers are required?
Tier 1 projects must expect at least 200 attendees. Tier 2 projects must expect at least 800 attendees. Tier 3 projects must expect at least 1,500 attendees. Tier 4 projects must expect at least 3,000 attendees.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include legally constituted entities or individuals with an Australian Business Number who can demonstrate financial viability, deliver the project within the City of Perth local government area, and meet insurance requirements where required.
When must funded projects take place?
All funded activations and projects must take place between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.
What costs are not eligible?
Ineligible costs include reimbursement for costs already incurred, debt reduction, operational deficits, legal expenses, wages, salaries, administrative overheads, and other recurrent operational costs.
What makes a strong application?
A strong application clearly shows how the project will attract visitors, activate the city, support sustainability, celebrate diversity and inclusion, generate economic benefits, and promote local businesses and suppliers.
Conclusion
The Local Activation Grants 2026–2027 program supports events, arts and culture initiatives, and community or business-led activities that help make Perth more vibrant, inclusive, sustainable, and economically active.
With funding of up to $20,000 available across four tiers, the program can support projects of different sizes that create public benefit and attract visitors to the city.
This opportunity is best suited for eligible applicants with an Australian Business Number who can deliver engaging projects in the City of Perth between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027 while supporting visitation, vibrancy, sustainability, diversity, and local economic growth.
For more information, visit City of Perth.