News edition for 18 October 2026. Added to Nungya on 22 October 2026 as part of our retrospective news archive. Reporting reflects information available by the edition date.

First Nations artists, cultural practitioners and businesses in New South Wales have a new opportunity to develop visitor experiences on their own terms. Create NSW has launched the First Nations Cultural Tourism Creativity Fund, with $400,000 in total investment.

The 14 October announcement sets out two streams. Develop offers $20,000–$50,000 for early-stage projects. Grow offers $50,001–$100,000 for experiences ready to expand, launch or scale. Applications close on 12 November.

The program covers arts, culture, storytelling, heritage, food and other creative experiences led by First Nations practitioners, organisations and businesses. It is co-funded by Create NSW and the Australian Government through the Strategic Indigenous Tourism Projects program.

Applicants can book an online appointment with the Create NSW First Nations program team to discuss questions. The complete guidelines set out who can apply and what each stream supports.

The two-stream design recognises that enterprises arrive at different stages. An early idea may need time to develop its shape, while an established experience may be ready to reach more visitors. Both need cultural leadership to guide what is shared, how the experience is offered and how it supports the people creating it.