Applications for the first round of the Southland and Fiordland Regional Event Funds are now open.
The funding is part of the Government’s post COVID-19 Tourism Recovery package, with a total of $180,000 available for events in Southland and $580,000 for events in Fiordland available over the next two to four years.
Applicants have until 07 March 2021 to submit their applications this round, which will consider events for the March 2021 – February 2022 period.
Funding rounds are bi-annual and applications can be made once a year for either the March funding round or the next round in September. However, applicants can register expressions of interest all year round.
The funds are being administered by Great South and Tourism and Events General Manager Bobbi Brown encouraged event organisers to put in expressions of interest.
“The funding criteria is very clear and Great South is here to support applicants through the process”
Applications will be assessed by an independent panel against a strict set of criteria and the fund’s foundation principles, including that the events ‘drive out of region visitation’.
“Southland is using events to drive domestic tourism, so we need more events that are appealing to people outside of Southland to encourage them to stay,” Mrs Brown said.
“We’re really excited to have this support from the government for our event sector.”
Information about the Southland or Fiordland Regional Event funds and how to apply can be found here.