Festivals and events sponsorship

Major festivals and events must contribute to at least three of the following priorities:

• celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culture
• strengthen social inclusion, enable connectedness and reduce social isolation
• support the visitor economy through activations, events and promotion
• attract intrastate, interstate or international visitation and investment in Sydney
• represent the cultural and social diversity of our community
• activate local precincts with creative programming
• encourage cultural organisations and artists to locate and operate in Sydney.

We encourage applications from organisations, groups and individuals that support Aboriginal and Torres and Strait Islander communities and culture, including Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and networks.

Proposals are assessed against:

• evidence of the need for the major festival or event and proposed outcomes
• capacity and experience of the applicant to deliver the major festival or event
• demonstrated connection and benefit to the local area and community
• evidence of diversity, inclusion and equity in the planning and delivery of the major festival or event
• how the project delivers against the funding priorities
• evidence of track record, organisational viability for multi-year funding, large scale audience or market reach and national or international brand awareness.

Festivals and/or events seeking cash funding of $100,000 or more per year fall within this funding tier. Funding is available for up to four years in this funding tier.

Value-in-kind in the form of street banner and venue hire fee waiver, and other negotiated City of Sydney services and resources. Not-for-profit organisations are also eligible for a 25% reduction on equipment hire fees at Landmark Venues (for equipment owned by the City of Sydney).

Major Festivals and Event sponsorships will usually include both cash and value-in-kind contributions.

For-profit organisations are required to match the funding requested with cash (value-in-kind will not be accepted).

Applicants can apply for up to $10,000 worth of capital expenditure or equipment purchase.

The City of Sydney wants to support applicants to provide fair pay to the artists and creative professionals working on funded projects. Fees for artists and creative workers should be clearly included in your application budget and you are encouraged to set these fees in accordance with industry standards.

To be eligible an applicant must operate within the City of Sydney’s local government area or be able to demonstrate significant benefits for the area’s residents, workers and/or visitors.

These organisations can apply for both Tier 1 and 2:

• Not-for-profit organisations
• For-profit organisations
• Government departments or agencies.

These individuals and organisations can apply for Tier 1 only:

• Sole traders
• Individuals 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 program guidelines.

Funding is not available for:

• operational costs or overheads for the core business of an organisation
• fees and charges associated with event personnel or staffing at landmark venues
• projects that directly contravene the eligibility and ethics framework or existing City of Sydney policies.