__The Covid-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for Sydney’s night-time businesses. These follow the difficulties many bars, restaurants and live music venues were facing before the lockout laws lifted in January.__

We’re working to support restaurants, bars and other venues. One way we’re doing this is through our latest round of grants.

The grants help support businesses such as shops and live music and performance venues to diversify or expand their programming and upgrade their equipment. 

These grants add to our other Covid-19 relief measures and they’re part of our [long-term investment in Sydney’s night-time economy](https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/sustainable-sydney-2030/business-and-economy/sydney-at-night "night time economy"). 

Learn more about the 3 grants on offer for live music and performance, night-time diversification and city centre activation.

![Dulcie's Bar received support for new entertainment equipment](//images.ctfassets.net/kcmyw5u53voi/5C9qq9YBfYQcUChvSHqEOT/1cb2e8613a546984cd88ed9adfd3b093/_DSC7063.jpg)

## Live music and performance grants

These grants help businesses to upgrade their venues and equipment, improve acoustics and minimise noise to surrounding properties, and introduce live entertainment.

The last round of live music and performance grants were given to help upgrade venues. 

These include: 

- The New Theatre, Newtown: Funding for a replacement roof
- Griffin Theatre Company, Darlinghurst: Upgraded stage
- Venue 505, Newtown: Roof and acoustic upgrade
- Dulcie’s Entertainment, Potts Point: Seating, stage, audio and lighting upgrades
- Golden Age Cinema and Bar, Surry Hills: Support to buy DJ equipment
- Yulli’s Brews, Alexandria: Purchase of a sound desk
- Giant Dwarf Theatre, Surry Hills: Technical equipment upgrades
- MoshPit, Erskineville: New backline equipment

This grant is for activities from January to December 2021.

[Find out more about live music and performance grants.](https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/community/grants-and-sponsorships/business-grants/business-support-grants/live-music-and-performance?utm_source=cosnews&utm_medium=content&utm_content=nighttimearticle&utm_campaign=grants_rd2_2020 "Live music and performance grants")

![Grand Days in Woolloomoolooo has received a night time diversification grant to run events after dark](//images.ctfassets.net/kcmyw5u53voi/4GsTGf1VunnkKCSULmyhRh/1d9a2425550567264c853bc7ba761fd5/Grand_Days_owners.jpg)

## Night time diversification grants

These grants help businesses offer something different after dark. 

[Past recipients](https://news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/articles/3-businesses-making-night-time-their-time "Past night time diversification recipients") found that running creative events after hours brings in new customers. Having businesses trading later also helps to create safe and engaging night-time precincts.

The last round of night-time diversification grants supported evening events across the city, from literary dinners, playwriting events and filmmaker storyteller sessions to dance and sewing workshops. 

Participants also enjoyed tea appreciation events and fermentation classes where they learnt to make breads, beers and wine, pickles and meat.

This grant is for activities from January to December 2021.

[Find out more about night-time diversification grants.
](https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/community/grants-and-sponsorships/business-grants/business-support-grants/night-time-diversification?utm_source=cosnews&utm_medium=content&utm_content=nighttimearticle&utm_campaign=grants_rd2_2020 "Night time diversification grants")


## CBD activation matching grant 

The Sydney city centre has been particularly hard hit by Covid-19 regulations on social distancing. Businesses in the city have lost the patronage of thousands of workers, as well as the many tourists that normally visit throughout the year. And creative and cultural practitioners and enterprises have been greatly affected. 

This grant matches your funding of up to $10,000 for businesses and creative and cultural practitioners for businesses in the city centre and Haymarket area. 

It’s designed to help activate shopfronts or nearby spaces and encourage visitors to return safely to the city centre.

[Find out more about the CBD activation matching grant.](https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/community/grants-and-sponsorships/community-grants/matching-grants?utm_source=cosnews&utm_medium=content&utm_content=nighttimearticle&utm_campaign=grants_rd2_2020 "CBD activation matching grant")

## Talk to us about your idea for funding

Apply for this grant round before Monday 31 August. 

If you’re thinking about applying, join us at an online Q&A session:
-	[CBD activations online Q&A:](https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/cbd-activation-matching-grant-online-briefing "CBD Activation Matching Grant Online Briefing") Thursday 13 August, 12pm to 1.30pm
-	[Grants and sponsorship online Q&A:](https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/grants-and-sponsorship-qa-meetings "Grants and sponsorship Q+A meeting") Tuesday 11 August, 3pm to 6pm; Wednesday 19 August, 3pm to 6pm

## What we’re doing to support our night-time economy

Sydney’s night-time economy is critical to our city’s future. It generates more than $4.2 billion in revenue each year and employs more than 35,500 people across nearly 5,000 businesses. And it’s at the heart of our vision for Sydney as a thriving global city. 

Businesses that operate at night were among the first and hardest hit by Covid-19 restrictions. Many hospitality workers and musicians lost their jobs. And with many of these being casual or migrant workers, financial support from the federal government is limited. 

It’s critical we do everything we can to help businesses get back on their feet and enter their recovery phases.

In our recent round of business support grants, we awarded 20 grants to night-time and live music businesses, worth a total of $222,334. 

We recently approved Covid-19 relief grants for 771 projects, worth a total of $10.67m, which included 144 businesses operating at night.

Since September 2017, the City of Sydney has approved more than $1.4m in funding for over 80 grants to support local businesses through its night-time diversification and live music and performance grants.  

We’re also working on [planning reforms that will help enable later trading](https://news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/articles/late-night-trading-changes-what-sydney-businesses-need-to-know "late night trading") for shops and businesses, protect live music venues and allow more small-scale cultural activities to take place across the city.


Golden Age Cinema and Bar received a live music and performance grant in 2019

Golden Age Cinema and Bar

Support available for Sydney’s after dark businesses

Audio description

Open captions

Mobility access

Closed captions

Braille

National Relay Service

Blind and low vision assistance

Sign language

Hearing loop

Talks, courses & workshops

Community & causes

Exhibitions

Nightlife

Food & drink

Sport & fitness

Shopping, markets & fairs

Theatre, dance & film

Music

Children & family

Tours & experiences

The trusted guide to tours and experiences in Sydney. Discover fun, exciting and unique experiences throughout Sydney, including free activities and things to do in the city centre.

Tours and experiences in Sydney | City of Sydney - What's On

Tours and experiences in Sydney

The trusted guide to free events in Sydney. Free activities and things to do in Sydney, including in the city centre, Inner West, Lower North Shore, Eastern Suburbs, South Sydney and online.

Free events in Sydney | City of Sydney - What's On

Free events in Sydney 

The trusted guide to what's on in Sydney this weekend. Major events, free things to do in Sydney, and activities in the city centre.

Things to do in Sydney this weekend | City of Sydney - What's On

Events in Sydney this weekend

The trusted guide to what's on in Sydney this month. Major events, free things to do in Sydney, and activities in the city centre.

Things to do in Sydney this month | City of Sydney - What's On

Events in Sydney this month

The trusted guide to what's on in Sydney today. Major events, free things to do in Sydney, and activities in the city centre.

Things to do in Sydney today | City of Sydney - What's On

Events in Sydney today

The trusted guide to what's on in Sydney this week. Major events, free things to do in Sydney, and activities in the city centre.

Things to do in Sydney this week | City of Sydney - What's On

Events in Sydney this week

The trusted guide to music events in Sydney. Discover the best music events in the city centre, Inner West, Lower North Shore, Eastern Suburbs, South Sydney and online.

Support available for Sydney’s after dark businesses

You may also like

5 fun-filled activities to shake up your night out

Let’s dance: Sydney locals share top places to boogie

Some ways to spend this Valentine's Day in Sydney