Apply Now: Open Streets Program (Australia)

The goal is to help improve processes and reduce costs, strengthen existing and emerging partnerships with business and the creative sector, and deepen community connections to place.

Aims

• They invite applications for proposals that deliver on the Open Streets Program’s aims to:
  • Promote vibrant local communities through the delivery of free recurring street-based events.
  • Empower local councils to deliver reduced costs and improved efficiency for streetbased events.
  • Support cultural industries and drive economic growth with more sustainable ongoing delivery of street-based events.
  • Enable councils, community groups and businesses to activate their local streets.

Funding Information

• Applicants may apply for up to $350,000 to be expended over three years of events (across four Financial Years).

Eligible Projects

• Projects must:
  • Involve the temporary closure of a street or street/s to vehicles. The closed street/s must: o Be in council or NSW Government ownership. o Be primarily used for vehicles.
  • Be either:
    • Within 500m radius of a local centre, close to services and retail, and where available in the council area be close to public transport;
    • On a street with a public facility and/or social infrastructure, such as a school, library, sports centre or community centre, and where available in the council area be close to public transport.
    • Deliver street-based events across three years, at least once per year, on the selected closed street/s.
    • Include the preparation and implementation of a Global Development Application/s and/or Global Traffic Management Plan/s, that includes the selected street/s from dot point one, during the three-year period or demonstrate there is one already in place for the selected street/s.
    • Encourage capacity building in the local business and creative industry to empower ongoing street activation and vibrancy.
    • Target a reduction in costs associated with street closures across the life of the project.
• The events must:
  • Maintain a consistent event brand/theme across the three years, with flexibility to evolve year-on year in response to community feedback and learnings.
  • Be free and inclusive, however, free ticketed events are acceptable for managing attendance.
  • Include joint co-programming with one or more local creative organisations, e.g. an arts organisation, cultural institution, gallery, school, library, community group or similar.
  • Include collaboration with local businesses or business associations, asset owners or major nearby employers to encourage participation.
  • Host the majority of the event programming and activations on the temporarily closed street area.
  • Reflect and contribute to the local character and identity of the place.
• Projects may:
  • Include multiple different series of events, however there must be one instance of each event series per year. Projects should also consider value for money.
  • Be held more than once per year, which is encouraged.
  • Contribute to broader placemaking objectives for the selected street/s, which is encouraged.
  • Include council and/or sponsor co-funding, which is encouraged.
  • Partially close a street to vehicles. Applicants must demonstrate how safety and amenity will be maintained.

Ineligible Projects

• The following projects are ineligible for funding:
  • Events that include any type of participation fee.
  • Events that do not occur at least once per year.
  • Projects that are located on streets that are not primarily used by vehicles.
  • Existing or planned activations or events, except where the project substantially increases the event scope or footprint, for example, by closing and activating a street that was not previously planned for closure.

What they’re looking for?

• In planning projects, councils are encouraged to consider:
  • A place-based approach
    • A place-based approach focuses on the unique circumstances of a place and actively involves local people in planning, design and activation. This is particularly important for streets, where diverse activities, users, and demands vary throughout the day and night.
  • Partnerships and collaboration with community, businesses and institutions
    • The Program seeks to strengthen partnerships and collaboration between local government and the community, businesses and institutions. These partnerships should be meaningful and adapt to the specific needs of the event and stakeholders.
  • Improving walkability and connection
    • Walkable public spaces connect people of all abilities with local destinations and services. Projects should encourage walking along streets by prioritising safety, directness, and comfort, ensuring accessibility for all ages and abilities.
  • Streets as centre stage
    • Their high or main streets are home to a rich mix of businesses, services and amenities. By temporarily closing them to vehicles they can showcase these existing providers and transform their streets into a stage to platform local businesses, facilities, artists, performers and cultural institutions. Projects should focus on bringing in elements that complement rather than compete with the street’s existing offerings.
  • Longer term planning
    • Driving enduring vibrancy requires a multi-faceted approach and involves ongoing place governance, sustained funding, enabling infrastructure, improved processes, and an empowered community, business and cultural sector. Councils should consider how projects can lay the foundation for ongoing street vibrancy.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be a local council within NSW.
• Applicants can only submit one application (but may propose multiple events within the single application).

For more information, visit NSW Government.