Event and festival funding

Council supports event organisers and community groups to deliver events, festivals, sporting celebrations and conferences across the City, which benefit the community and support the outcomes of Council's Event and Festival Strategy and Action Plan 2019-2024(PDF, 4MB)

The program aims to fund meaningful, creative and high-quality events for our community and visitors.

Funding is prioritised for events and festivals that:

  • celebrate community and Lake Macquarie's unique culture and identity
  • assist in building diverse and economically strong communities
  • are attractive to visitors
  • are engaging, surprising and entertaining 

We accept applications twice a year across three categories:

Round one applications 2024
Funding category Round one applications open/close Outcome known For events held within
Community events 18 March - 26 April 2024
28 June 2024
10 July 2024 - July 2025
Local events and celebrations 18 March - 26 April 2024 28 June 2024
10 July 2024 - July 2025
Sponsored events and festivals 18 March - 26 April 2024 28 June 2024
10 July 2024 - July 2025
Round two applications 2024
Funding category Round two applications open/close Outcome known For events held within
Community events 5 August - 23 September 2024 27 November 2024
January 2025 - November 2025
Local events and celebrations 5 August - 23 September 2024 27 November 2024
January 2025 - November 2025
Sponsored events and festivals 5 August - 23 September 2024 27 November 2024
January 2025 - November 2025
How to apply

Online

Step 1.Review our policy

Take a moment to read our Funding from Council Policy.(PDF, 551KB)

Step 2.Select your category

Local events and celebrations

Local events and activities for smaller audiences may be funded to support local businesses or sporting clubs and increase community participation. These may be one-off activities or new events that celebrate a location or themes relevant to the local population. Applications can apply for up to $2,000.

Community events

Community events foster community pride and connectedness between residents and local businesses. They should make a positive and ongoing contribution to the community. Funding is provided to assist event organisers to develop new events or improve existing ones while working towards event sustainability. Applicants can apply for up to $10,000

Sponsored events and festivals

These types of high-profile events and festivals encourage visitation to the City from outside the region, help raise the City's profile and drive economic development. Sponsored events provide residents and visitors with opportunities across sporting, recreational, cultural or community-based activities. Applicants can apply for up to $20,000.

Step 3.Apply

The assessment process is a competitive one. Putting together a strong application takes time and energy. Give yourself plenty of time to plan, review and gain support for your application before submission. You can find some helpful tips from our Events and Festivals Funding Workshop.

Use clear, simple language to outline your event or activity. You should demonstrate how it meets the assessment criteria and how it supports the key themes of Council's Event and Festival Strategy and Action Plan 2019-2024.(PDF, 4MB)

Applications will be assessed on merit, against the selection criteria outlined in the funding guidelines.
(PDF, 490KB)

Apply now