Applications are now closed.

Do you have an arts or cultural project that you want to bring to life? Apply for the Blacktown City Creative Arts Fund and you could receive up to $5000!

The Blacktown City Creative Arts Fund offers funding opportunities for new projects, creative growth and professional artistic and cultural development for local artists, creatives, groups and organisations.

Applicants are invited to submit creative ideas, initiatives and projects across a range of mediums including performance, visual arts, music, digital art, podcast, multimedia, dance, photography or professional development and more.

Check your eligibility and important information before applying here

Key Dates

Applications open: Tuesday 4 March 2025

Information session: Thursday 20 March at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre, 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm

Applications close: Tuesday 1 April 2025

Announcement of successful applicants: August 2025

Need some assistance?

If you have further questions or require assistance with your application, contact Blacktown Arts via email blacktownarts@blacktown.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9839 6558 Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm to request a call back from a staff member from the Blacktown City Creative Arts Fund team.

Read about Mel.wav’s experience

1. Who are Mel.wav?

Mel.wav is a Filipino-Australian music trio based in Western Sydney. Their sound is defined as progressive house.

Playing music as childhood friends from Western Sydney, the band yungdookiii, Tigue, and Mel got together to work towards an EP.

2. How did you come to be a group? What inspired you?

Mel.wav initially came together with the intention of forming a jazz band, they experimented and found themselves gravitating towards dance music.

The transition wasn’t forced; it was a joyful discovery of a sound that blended house, R&B, and electronic elements, while still holding onto the warmth and musicality that jazz gave them.

3. Why did you apply for the Creative Arts Fund and how has it assisted the group’s development?

The Creative Arts Fund was instrumental in bringing Mel.wav’s debut EP to life. It provided the group with access to professional studio time, project development and collaborators both local and global (Philippines). It also gave them the resources to shoot a music video and a series of video content.

More than just funding, it gave the group the confidence and structure to approach the project seriously and create a body of work that reflected their collective identity and creativity.

4. Have you seen a change in your professional practice as a group and what have you accomplished/created since applying?

Since forming, Mel.wav’s approach has become more intentional. They’ve moved from casual song releases to carefully crafting projects. Key milestones include the release of their debut single “I Wanna,” a standout collaboration with Pette Shabu (Philippines), and building a growing audience who resonates with their unique sound.

5. How would you like to see Mel.wav progress in the future?

Mel.wav envisions tours, club classics boundary-pushing visuals. They also hope to build a platform that uplifts other Filipino-Australian artists and creatives from Western Sydney, creating a ripple

This project is presented by Blacktown Arts and supported by Blacktown City Council