Grants up for grabs for community projects and creative public spaces

Published on 07 April 2025

Byron Shire Council opened its Community Initiatives and Creative Public Spaces programs this week – offering grants of up to $5,000 to eligible community groups, individuals and creatives.  

Applications need to be completed before the deadline of 16 May 2025.

Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, said the purpose of Council’s ongoing investment in the two funding programs was to deliver small grants that could make a big difference to community groups and creatives and help them to generate outstanding outcomes and innovative projects.

“We encourage applications for any event or project that supports the environment, the creative life of the community or that improves access and inclusion and opens up ways for more people to participate in our community,” the Mayor said.

The Creative Public Spaces program supported three site responsive projects in 2024 that looked at reimaging our waterways, CBD walls and public spaces.

“In particular, we are actively looking to support projects, activities and events from a diverse range of ages, cultures, abilities, and backgrounds, that look for new ways to activate our public spaces,” she said.

The Community Initiatives program supported eleven projects in 2024.

“Last year the Community Initiatives Grants supported a range of innovative projects including Junior Landcare, Elder Beats - rhythm and dance for seniors, Stories of Matriarchal Bundjalung, Music in the Valley Festival and a community access project at Eureka Public Hall. 

“Council’s grass roots funding programs have been running successfully for many years now and have been proven to help make inspiring projects happen in our community,” the Mayor said.

To find out more about the Community Initiatives Program and the Creative Public Spaces Small Grants program, go to Council’s website.  Eligibility criteria vary for each grant program, so get the details from Council’s website.