Haymarket activation grant

The activation will attract people to Haymarket, celebrate Asian cultures and strengthen community inclusion and cohesion. It will activate public places, business premises and vacant space with cultural programming.

Haymarket Chinatown

Colourful street at night adorned with neon lights and signs. A person in the foreground captures the scene with a smartphone. People walk down the street.

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We’d like to help you choose the right grant and provide tips for a successful application.

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

Applications are now closed

Applications open: early 2026
Applications close: 5 weeks from opening date
Project timeline: 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027
Recommendations to Council: mid 2026

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About this program

This grant program supports one major activation in the Haymarket precinct per year. The activation will be produced through collaborations to activate public places, business premises and vacant space.

Project collaborators may include:

businesses in Haymarket
landowners and others in Haymarket wanting to activate vacant space
a media agency
an arts/cultural operator
a creative producer or event manager
a local community group wanting to reinvigorate Haymarket.

Programs supported will align with the social sustainability policy and action plan, environmental strategy, cultural policy and action plan, economic development strategy and open Sydney strategy and action plan.

Our funding will prioritise projects that:
- celebrate Asian cultures and communities
- strengthen social inclusion, enable connectedness and reduce social isolation
- support the visitor economy through activations, events and promotion
- represent the cultural and social diversity of our community
- activate Haymarket with creative and cultural programming.
Proposals are assessed against:
- potential reach and impact of the activation including proposed timing
- capacity and experience of the applicant and their partners to produce the activation
- demonstrated partnerships, connection and benefit to Haymarket and the local community
- evidence of diversity, inclusion and equity in planning and producing the activation
- how the project meets the funding priorities.
- For comprehensive information, including definitions and other details, refer to the Haymarket activation guidelines.
- For information on how to ensure a safe and successful event refer to the our event guidelines, associated policies and procedures.
- If your project involves an outdoor event in the City of Sydney area, please discuss your event with the outdoor events and filming team at [email protected] or on 02 9265 9333.
- Sustainable Sydney 2030–2050 Continuing the Vision outlines the goals we have set to make the city green, global and connected.

Funding available

Cash funding of $200,000 plus up to $100,000 of value in kind (for example banners, venue hire) is available for one major activation.

Within the cash funding component, applicants can apply for up to $20,000 worth of capital expenditure or equipment purchase.

Not-for-profit and for-profit organisations can apply, specifically:
- eligible not-for-profit organisations
- incorporated associations
- corporations
- co-operatives
- trustees of a trust.
Funding is not available for:
- activations proposed outside of the Haymarket area (marked on Figure 1 in the guidelines)
- operational costs or overheads for the core business of an organisation
- activations that are part of or at the same time as pre-existing festivals and events taking place within or in the vicinity of the Haymarket area (for example Sydney Lunar Festival, Vivid Sydney or SXSW Sydney)
- projects that directly contravene the eligibility and ethics framework or existing City of Sydney policies.