Inaugural Sydney WorldPride Festival receives funding support

NSW Art and Cultural institutions and local independent artists are to benefit from a $1 million funding boost to support the staging of next year’s inaugural Sydney WorldPride Festival.

Individuals and groups are invited to apply for a share of the funding through Create NSW to stage any artform from First Nations arts, visual arts, and theatre, to dance, literature, and the multi-arts.

This funding enables Sydney WorldPride to support a range of projects that are planned for the festival, and provides $300,000 for a new Sydney WorldPride Project Investment round (applications can be made via the Sydney WorldPride website).

NSW Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said the funding will create jobs for the sector, boost the state’s economy, and firmly place Sydney on the world map as a truly inclusive global city.

Minister Franklin noted “The NSW Government is proud to support and celebrate Sydney WorldPride Festival, the most internationally celebrated LGBTQIA+ festival in the world, which will strengthen Sydney’s reputation as a global and inclusive city.

“This time next year, Sydney will be host to one of the biggest LGBTQIA+ festivals in the world, and the NSW Government’s $1 million in support for arts and cultural programming at the Sydney WorldPride Festival will provide a huge boost to the state’s economy.

“This investment will allow First Nations artists, independent artists and groups to create new works and events showcasing homegrown projects, to be seen on a global stage while engaging audiences from around the world with the talent and stories of Sydney’s diverse LGBTQIA+ community.”

Sydney WorldPride Chief Executive Kate Wickett welcomed the arts and cultural investment for the Festival.

“This is such an exciting investment in LGBTQIA+ arts and culture. We are so proud of the exciting works that we will now be able to fund to be part of Sydney WorldPride.”

Festival Co-Creative Directors Ben Graetz and Dan Clarke said the funding will support the revitalisation of LGBTQIA+ arts and culture in Sydney.

“This funding gives us the opportunity to reignite the LGBTQIA+ arts and culture community in Sydney. We are looking forward to creating and presenting a once in a lifetime festival with something to suit everyone.”

Funding applications close Friday, 29th April 2022.

Learn more about the Sydney WorldPride Festival and how to apply for funding