Audience Development Fund
With M&G NSW investment in 2026, the Audience Development Fund (ADF) has been broadened to accept applications from NSW public museums and Aboriginal Cultural centres, as well as galleries.
The ADF offers assistance in targeting and developing new audiences. It encourages organisations to create innovative public programs that engage with collections, visual arts practice, and communities. The fund is designed to support organisations to develop and trial new models for engaging audiences that will increase immediate and future attendance, access and participation.
Funds can be used for costs that support the development and implementation of public or educational programs, provide seed funding to trial new models for public engagement and/or build new partnerships for audience development.
Examples of past programs supported include Gosford Regional Gallery’s Studio Gossie, removing barriers for accessibility; Fairfield City Museum & Gallery’s digital art program Immaterial; Blue Mountains Cultural Centre’s ARTbabies, engaging parents and babies with visual arts; and Orange Regional Gallery’s Connecting to Place, building new relationships with migrant and refugee communities.
Amount available: up to $8,000 for each grant (no minimum)
OPEN 1 APRIL – 30 JUNE 2026
For further information email:
Gallery Team
Susan Wacher susanw@mgnsw.org.au or Vanessa James vanessaj@mgnsw.org.au
Museum Team
Emily Cullen emilyc@mgnsw.org.au or Alana Leslie alanal@mgnsw.org.au
‘The project has had a positive community impact by strengthening relationships with local accessibility groups, creating paid opportunities for local creative and cultural workers, and embedding disability-led practice within the Gallery’s core interpretation.’
Recipient of an Audience Development Fund grant, 2024‘ARTbabies has provided an opportunity for families to come together, find like-minded friends, belong and create; to start a journey of a life-long appreciation of art; to provide the skills for young parents to feel confident and welcome in an art gallery.’
Recipient of an Audience Development Fund grant, 2024‘Connecting to Place has been the first project of this depth at Orange Regional Gallery with a completely new audience, made possible by the crucial financial support through MGNSW’s Audience Development Fund. The strength of the planning, the embedded evaluation process and the willingness to adapt have resulted in a clear, replicable framework.’
Recipient of an Audience Development Fund grant, 2024PREVIOUS AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT FUND GRANT RECIPIENTS