Call for Applicants: Audience Development Program (Australia)

The Audience Development Program 2026/27 provides funding through Screen NSW to support public screenings, film festivals, and touring screen events across New South Wales. The program offers grants from $5,000 to $50,000 to help organisations deliver diverse screen experiences, expand audience participation, and strengthen the sustainability of the NSW screen sector.

Audience Development Program 2026/27

The Audience Development Program 2026/27 supports public screenings, festivals, and touring events that provide communities throughout New South Wales with opportunities to experience high-quality screen content and innovative screen practice.

The program aims to improve access to screen culture, strengthen the screen exhibition sector, and encourage greater participation from diverse communities across NSW.

Program Objectives

The Audience Development Program aims to:

• Increase access to quality screen experiences across New South Wales.
• Support public screenings, film festivals, and touring screen events.
• Strengthen the sustainability and accessibility of the NSW screen sector.
• Support the growth and long-term impact of NSW screen organisations.
• Promote Australian screen culture through public exhibition.
• Encourage audience engagement with filmmakers and screen practitioners.
• Increase participation from underrepresented communities across NSW.

Priority Communities

The program encourages projects that increase participation from:

• Regional NSW communities.
• Western Sydney communities.
• First Nations people.
• People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• People living with disability.
• LGBTQIA+ communities.

Grant Amount

The program provides grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.

Applicants may apply for:

• Single-year funding.
• Multi-year funding.

Funding is available for one-off events as well as recurring annual programs.

Eligible Activities

Funding supports public screen events held at one or multiple venues across New South Wales.

Eligible activities include:

• Public film screenings.
• Film festivals.
• Touring screen events.
• Community screening programs.
• Screen culture events.
• Audience engagement activities.
• Events that connect audiences with filmmakers.
• Programs celebrating culture, collaboration, community, and on-screen storytelling.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include Australian organisations that meet Screen NSW eligibility requirements, including:

• Companies.
• Incorporated not-for-profit organisations.
• Co-operatives.
• Trusts.
• Local government authorities.
• Eligible consortiums or collaborative groups with a nominated lead organisation.

Applicants must:

• Hold a valid Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Be legally constituted.
• Meet the general eligibility requirements under the Screen NSW Terms of Trade.

Who Is Not Eligible?

The following applicants are not eligible:

• Individuals.
• Partnerships.
• Unincorporated organisations.
• Government departments and government agencies.
• Schools.
• Tertiary institutions.
• TAFE colleges.
• Previous NSW Government grant recipients who have not met outstanding funding obligations or reporting requirements.

Funding Requirements

Applicants are encouraged to secure additional financial or in-kind support where possible.

Examples of additional support include:

• Sponsorship.
• Government grants.
• Subsidies.
• Ticket sales.
• Fundraising income.
• Donations.
• Other earned revenue.
• In-kind contributions.

Applications demonstrating diversified funding sources are generally considered more competitive.

Eligible Events

Projects supported through the program may include:

• Local and regional film festivals.
• Community cinema events.
• Touring film programs.
• Screen exhibitions across multiple venues.
• Public audience engagement initiatives.
• Screen storytelling events.
• Cultural film showcases.
• Industry and community collaboration projects.

Program Benefits

The Audience Development Program helps to:

• Expand access to quality screen content across NSW.
• Support cultural diversity within the screen sector.
• Increase participation from priority communities.
• Strengthen local screen organisations.
• Build sustainable audience development initiatives.
• Encourage collaboration between filmmakers and communities.
• Promote Australian and international screen storytelling.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Demonstrating strong community demand.
• Showing how the project will increase audience participation.
• Explaining benefits for priority communities.
• Presenting realistic budgets and delivery plans.
• Securing sponsorships or additional funding support.
• Demonstrating organisational capacity and experience.
• Highlighting partnerships and community collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the Audience Development Program 2026/27?

Eligible Australian organisations, including companies, incorporated not-for-profit organisations, co-operatives, trusts, local government authorities, and eligible collaborative groups with a nominated lead organisation, may apply.

How much funding is available?

Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 per project.

What types of events are supported?

The program supports public screenings, film festivals, touring screen events, and other initiatives that increase community access to quality screen content across New South Wales.

Can applicants request multi-year funding?

Yes. Applicants may apply for either single-year or multi-year funding, depending on their project.

Are individuals eligible to apply?

No. Individuals, partnerships, unincorporated organisations, schools, government agencies, tertiary institutions, and TAFE colleges are not eligible.

Is additional funding required?

While not mandatory, applicants are encouraged to secure additional financial or in-kind support. Applications that demonstrate sponsorship, grants, ticket income, fundraising, or other revenue sources are generally more competitive.

Conclusion

The Audience Development Program 2026/27 provides important funding for organisations delivering public screenings, film festivals, and touring screen events throughout New South Wales. By supporting audience engagement, cultural participation, and diverse storytelling, the program helps strengthen the state’s screen sector while increasing access to high-quality screen experiences for communities across metropolitan, regional, and priority population groups.