Sarah Courtney,Minister for Small Business, Hospitality and Events
Joan Rylah,Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier & Member for Braddon
The Tasmanian majority Liberal Government is a strong supporter of events that draw people to our regions and showcase the very best Tasmania has to offer.
Minister for Small Business, Hospitality and Events, Sarah Courtney, said since the award-winning Unconformity Festival in Queenstown was established in 2010, it has cemented itself as a significant contemporary cultural event.
"The Unconformity Festival has become a draw-card event on the West Coast, as well as undertaking cultural development initiatives that seek to redefine the future of the region," Ms Courtney said.
"I am pleased to announce we are increasing our support for the Festival this year to $375,000, enabling the festival's transition beyond simply an event, to a community development vehicle that will deliver a range of ongoing programs and initiatives across the year, including building greater partnerships with the local community, to promote even greater exposure and visitation to the whole West Coast region."
Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Member for Braddon, Joan Rylah, said the festival has helped shape the region's cultural transformation and delivers significant social and economic benefit to communities on the West Coast.
"The festival draws up to 4,000 visitors to Queenstown, resulting in all accommodation in the area reaching capacity and a huge boost to local business," Ms Rylah said.
"It's initiatives like these that have the potential to position our West Coast as an internationally relevant destination, with three world class festivals over the next four years, and greater year round investment into the region's visitor economy."
