Boost for regional events and festivals

More than 30 South Australian regional events and festivals have today received a financial boost with $369,000 of funding announced across the state.

The South Australian Tourism Commission has confirmed 32 events across the state – including a rodeo, several food and wine festivals and a dingy race – will be supported under its Regional Events & Festivals Program.

The annual event funding provides financial and marketing support to tourism events that generate an increase in visitation to and throughout South Australia and lift the profile of the state's tourism regions beyond the specific region they are held in.

South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex said the funding would assist regional South Australian communities looking forward to some sense of normality, and to help plan ahead.

"Clearly COVID-19, and even the bushfires early in the year, has impacted regional South Australia, with community events and festivals being cancelled or postponed, so it is positive news that we can today look ahead and plan for the next 12 months," he said.

"The successful applicants cover a very broad cross-section of sporting, cultural, gourmet and the arts – a great snap-shot of all the creative and innovative events South Australia is renowned for."

Applications are assessed to ensure they align with the South Australian Tourism Plan 2030, the Regional Visitors Strategy and contribute to the state's $7.8 billion visitor economy.

The funding is from two programs – the Regional Events & Festivals Program, which aims to generating an increase in tourism activity and does not have a maximum funded amount per event, and the Community Events Development Fund, which is aimed at smaller, community-based events that have the potential to grow into a regional tourism event, with a maximum grant of $5,000 per event.

Applications for the 2020/21 program opened on 31 January 2020 and closed on Friday 1 May, with the closing date for applications extended this year due to COVID-19.

Of the 32 events that will receive sponsorship in 2020/21, a total of eight are under the Community Events Development Fund and 24 are under the Regional Events & Festivals Program.

See below, the full list of events receiving funding in 2021-21 Regional Events & Festivals Program: