Village and community festivals and events sponsorship

We aim to support festivals and events that celebrate, develop and engage our communities.

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Applications are now open

Round 2 of the 2021 program is now open.

- Applications open: 24 February 2021
- Applications close: 29 March 2021
- Project time frame: from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022
- Recommendations to Council: mid 2021
- Applications open: 19 July 2021
- Applications close: 23 August 2021
- Project time frame: from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022
- Recommendations to Council: late 2021

Grants team

Before applying please contact the City concierge team to arrange a call back to discuss your project.

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

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About this program

This program supports festivals and events that celebrate, develop and engage the city’s communities.

Festivals and events make an important contribution to the economy and cultural ecosystem of the city, locally and internationally. They may provide forums to share knowledge, create opportunities for active community participation and celebrate the unique social and cultural character of a village.

We also provide support for festivals and events under the artform category.

We prioritise festivals and events that:
- celebrate the spirit of a community and build opportunities to share its cultural characteristics with a wider public
- nurture and amplify the unique characteristics of the city and village precincts
- meet our broader place-making objectives and showcase local communities, including local business
- promote community awareness of environmental issues and solutions.
Festivals and events can contribute to one or more of these outcomes:
- increased participation in community and civic life
- increased sense of identity, sense of belonging and connection to place
- strengthened social cohesion and diverse communities
- increased business patronage and economic benefit to the village or precinct
- strengthened local business and community connection
- increased community awareness of environmental issues and solutions.
Applications are assessed against the funding priorities and expected program outcomes. The assessment panel will also consider:
- evidence of audience and/or community support for the festival or event and its proposed outcomes
- evidence of how the festival or event showcases the area’s unique characteristics and identity
- evidence of ongoing economic benefit for local businesses in the village or precinct (if relevant)
- the quality of the program and appropriateness of the artists, businesses and/or partners involved (if relevant)
- evidence of the promotion of our sustainability, or walking and cycling programs and/or understanding of the strategies and objectives of these programs as part of the event (if relevant)
- evidence of partnerships with other government agencies, business, community organisations or individuals, particularly those in the local area
- the skills and experience of the organisation, its management and any third party event management provider relative to the size and nature of the proposed project
- a realistic budget showing that the festival or event will be appropriately resourced, including payment of contractor and artist fees
- appropriate outcomes and performance measures identified
- evidence of alternative or sustainable funding sources
- evidence of accessibility and inclusivity
- required supporting documentation.

Funding available

Funding is available for a 1-year program or a program of up to 3 years. New village and community festivals and events can apply for up to $30,000. Funding for established or other festivals and events are negotiated on consultation.

At our discretion, we may offer a multi-year funding sponsorship agreement based on demonstrated audience attendances, ongoing demand, the applicant’s organisational and financial performance and the quality of its programs.

This program also includes value-in-kind support in the form of street banners and venue hire fee waiver for City of Sydney owned facilities.

For-profit organisations requesting support must match the funding requested with cash. Value-in-kind is not accepted.

For applications of $20,000 and over, please contact our grants team on 02 9265 9333 to discuss your project and its alignment with our guidelines.

- organisations supported under this program may be required to provide benefits back to our local community in return for funding. These benefits are negotiated case-by-case and can be up to the value of funding provided.
- applicants approved for the waiving of hire fees for Sydney Town Hall are advised that if a cancellation occurs within 90 days of the event, you must pay for 50% of the booking’s value with cash, irrespective of any value-in-kind awarded by us.
- applicants organising outdoor events must consider their security needs, complete and upload the Crowded Places Self-Assessment Tool and review the guidance documents available from Australian National Security. Depending on the outcome of the self-assessment tool, you may need to speak with NSW Police about the security needs of your event. Security costs to ensure your event is safe and accessible can be included in your budget as a request to us.
- applicants will need to provide a Covid safety plan that addresses how you will maintain compliance with government restrictions during project implementation.

Eligibility

The applicant must offer a project within the local area, or demonstrate benefits for the area’s residents, businesses, workers and/or visitors.

These individuals and organisations can apply:
- not-for-profit organisations
- for-profit organisations
- sole traders, individual or unincorporated community groups auspiced by a not-for-profit or for-profit that is eligible to apply in their own right.
If you work with an auspicing organisation, we encourage you to choose one that is relevant to the sector and that can support the development of the proposal.

For more information on eligibility see the eligibility section in the grants and sponsorship guidelines.
Funding is not available for:
- projects that directly contravene the eligibility and ethics framework or existing city policies
- projects that duplicate existing services
- capital expenditure over $5,000 (equipment up to a cost of $5,000 may be eligible)
- applications from for-profit organisations that do not provide evidence of matched funding for the project.