The Open Streets Program (the Program) is a $4.5 million non-competitive grant program open to all councils across NSW. The Program aims to energise our streets with free activities and events.
The Program is a part of the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Package, a $15 million investment that will help transform streets into thriving local places that support businesses, creative sectors, and the community.
The Open Streets Program aims to:
- Temporarily close streets to vehicles and open them for people, with projects over a day, or series of days, and provide safe spaces for community events and activities.
- Bring vibrancy to our streets by creating a sense of excitement and discovery with creative events and activations that are inviting and inclusive to the community.
- Support job creation in local businesses and the cultural sector.
- Support the development of longer-term place management outcomes, through projects that encourage private-public partnerships.
Successful grant recipients will receive up to $150,000 to support the temporary closure of streets for placemaking activations for people. Events and activations are to be delivered by January 2025.
Applications are now open and will close once the total program funding has been allocated, or by the application close date of 30 April 2024, whichever is first. Applicants can apply via the SmartyGrants portal.
Image: Parramatta Nights Street Festival. Credit: City of Parramatta.