South Australian regional events receive funding boost in 2022/23

South Australia’s regional events are set to receive $1 million in support with applications for the Regional Event Fund (REF) opening today and with South Australian Premier Steven Marshall advising that the funding boost strengthens the state’s events calendar especially during the COVID-19 recovery phase.

The 2021-22 funding rounds supported 55 events in South Australia, more than doubling the state’s events and festivals calendar compared to the previous year.

It supported new events from Jazz in the Park on the Fleurieu Peninsula to the Copper & Stone Music Festival in the Clare Valley to well-known favourites such as the Oakbank Easter Carnival in the Adelaide Hills and Ceduna Oysterfest on the Eyre Peninsula.

Premier Marshall notes “Regional events play an important role in driving visitation, boosting our regional economies and creating local jobs.

“The new funding will further grow our regional event calendar, helping to attract local, interstate and international visitors who will spend their hard-earned money in our state.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what new and exciting events and festivals are uncovered this year.”

The 2022-23 Regional Event Fund has four categories:

• Significant Event Funding (from $50,000) – up to three years’ funding for new large-scale signature events that have the potential to be nationally or internationally significant and which provides substantial visitation, media and profiling opportunities and economic impact for South Australia

• Established Event Funding ($20,000 to $50,000) – up to three years’ funding for events that can demonstrate a strong track record of growth and a strategy for event innovation.

• Development Funding ($10,000 to $20,000) – up to three years’ funding for events that demonstrate potential for growth and development.

• Emerging Event Funding ($5,000 to $10,000) – up to two years funding for events that are one to three years young, with a focus on smaller community events.

The 2022-23 Regional Event Fund will support events held between 1st September 2022 and 30th August 2023.

Applications for Round One will open on Sunday, 30th January 2022 and will close at 5pm on Friday, 22nd April 2022. Round Two will open in August 2022.

Applications for Significant Event Funding will be accepted year-round.

For further information, including guidelines and eligibility criteria, visit tourism.sa.gov.au/support/regional-event-fund.

Image: SA winter reds ngeringa Adelaide Hills