First round of Foundation Events announced for NSW

The Sydney Festival, the Parkes Elvis Festival, Vivid Sydney and the Bathurst 1000 are among 14 renowned NSW events to be included in the first round of Foundation Events and to benefit from less red tape in recognition of their importance to the state’s identity.

The NSW Government has introduced a new events framework which complements the NSW Government’s focus on experience tourism to maintain repeat visitation.

Events are a significant contributor to the NSW visitor economy. In 2023-24, events supported by the Destination NSW alone delivered $1 billion in visitor expenditure for the state.

In classifying these events as foundation, the NSW  Government not only protects them but also ensures their ongoing contribution to the NSW visitor economy, support for local businesses and role as jobs creators.

The event framework recognises that foundation events contribute not just economically but to the cultural fabric and tradition of the state. For example, the NRL Grand Final should be assessed and supported differently to a travelling Premier League match due to its significance over many decades to NSW.

Beyond generating economic value through direct event visitation, the framework will assess the social contribution and community benefits, as well as social and cultural legacy of events.

The event framework gives event organisers certainty, which allows them to innovate with programming, drives culture, connects communities and generates economic growth.

Foundation Events will be assessed differently, and provided additional support –

Prioritised for a minimum three-year Strategic Investment Agreement with Destination NSW (or three events for bi-annual events) with renewals negotiated one year prior to the last event. This gives events greater certainty and room to plan.

A more favourable regulatory environment will support events to maximise benefits for the community.

An event assessment approach which provides greater consideration of strategic, economic, marketing and brand, social and cultural benefits.

Events included in the first round of Foundation Events

• Bathurst 1000

• Biennale of Sydney

• Bluesfest

• Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash

• Deni Ute Muster

• NRL Men’s & Women’s Grand Final

• Parkes Elvis Festival

• Sydney Festival

• Sydney Fringe Festival

• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

• SXSW Sydney

• Tamworth Country Music Festival

• TCS Sydney Marathon

• Vivid Sydney

This list will be reviewed periodically, and more events will be announced in the future.

NSW Minister for Arts, Tourism, Music and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham advised “we are building the calendar and investing for growth. These events light up the calendar, they have become part of who we are, and it’s time we give them the recognition and certainty they deserve.

“The NSW calendar has an incredible line up of events, special times in our annual calendar that allow us to come together for iconic moments. The foundation events framework gives these festivals certainty so they can keep producing these important experiences for us all to share.

“What these incredibly fun and unique events speak to, is government supporting local communities to play to their strengths and then tell their local story to the world. Locals know what works in their patch. We support them to do it.

“The foundation events framework gives events certainty, which drives culture, connects communities and generates economic growth.”

Background

The three new event categories

• Foundation Events: Regular, recurring events that may grow in size and significance over time. These events are often essential to NSW’s identity and visitor economy.

• Major Events: Large-scale events that bring in significant visitor economy and economic benefits. They could happen once or several times and have a major impact on an area.

• Local Events: These events are typically smaller in scale and contribute to a local visitor economy and the community.

The stage process:

• Step 1: Classify the event

• Step 2: Assess the event based on criteria

• Step 3: Make a recommendation and prioritise

Image. Parkes Elvis Festival