Media release
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne
Inner West Council has announced more than $790,000 in funding through its 2025 Annual Grants Program, supporting 63 projects that will benefit local residents, businesses, artists, and community organisations.
The program provides grants across ten streams, empowering the community to deliver projects that reflect Council's strategic vision of healthy, resilient and caring communities.
In 2025, the following allocations have been recommended for approval:
- Arts: Professional Development – $49,820
- Arts: Arts Projects – $98,223
- Business Chambers – $180,000
- Circular Economy – $15,000
- Community History – $25,000
- Community Wellbeing – $31,452
- Community Wellbeing (two-year projects, year one) – $112,000
- Disability Support – $59,800
- Environment (two-year projects, year one) – $44,898
- Multicultural – $33,300
An additional $140,620 has been allocated in 2025–26 to fund the second year of previously approved two-year projects.
New grant category: Supporting local businesses
For the first time, Business Chamber grants are being offered to strengthen local economic development and support Inner West business networks and associations. In 2025, $180,000 has been allocated to this stream.
From 2026–27, the funding pool will grow to $350,000 to provide longer-term support.
As part of Council's commitment to inclusion, all applicants in the Business Chambers program must demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Eligible projects may include capital works on main streets and in the public domain, delivered in collaboration with Council.
Highlights of funded projects include:
- Arts: Box of Birds will collaborate with digital artists and performers to trial new work using 3D motion capture technology at Petersham Town Hall.
- Circular Economy: A series of free workshops teaching residents to upcycle denim waste into homeware products, culminating in a community showcase event.
- Community History: A project exploring the history of queer families in the Inner West, with a focus on lesbian-headed families and their experiences.
- Community Wellbeing: Summer Hill Playgroup, a free weekly program that promotes early childhood development while reducing social isolation.
- Disability Support: Lifestart SpeakUP, supporting students with disability to build confidence, skills and strategies to participate more fully in school life.
- Environment: Friends of Whites Creek Valley Park will revitalise the local food forest and launch community workshops, a native beehive installation, and a new public map.
The 2025 Annual Grants round received 229 applications seeking more than $2 million in funding, highlighting the strong demand for community-driven initiatives.
Applications were rigorously assessed through a three-stage process, including external representatives, to ensure projects deliver strong community benefits and align with Council's Community Strategic Plan.
Successful 2024 recipients also continue into their second year of funding, including initiatives such as disability-led theatre workshops, Aboriginal Girls' Yarning Circles, and sustainability-focused toy repair workshops.
About Inner West Council's Grants Program
Inner West Council offers annual grants to support community projects across arts, environment, wellbeing, multicultural inclusion, history, disability support, business development, and circular economy initiatives. The program ensures funding aligns with Council's Community Strategic Plan priorities: sustainability, creativity, liveability, wellbeing, and inclusive civic leadership.
