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 our Event and Festival Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2028.

The Event Funding Program has two funding categories with applications accepted twice a year.

Event and festival seed grants

Local community events and activities, whether one off or new initiatives, may be funded to support. Event Organisers and community groups increase participation, foster community pride and connectedness, and help organisers develop or improve events that make a positive, ongoing contribution while working toward long term sustainability. Funding is capped to 3 years with average grants awarded ranging from $1,000 to $8,000.

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 communitybased activities. Sponsorship applications are assessed annually against set criteria, is not capped and has an average grant amount ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.

To be eligible for all funding categories, the following criteria must be met:

1. Conduct the event/activity within Lake Macquarie City.
2. Contribute to one or more of the key themes in Council’s Event and Festival Strategy and Action Plan.
3. Demonstrate social, economic and environmental benefits to Lake Macquarie City, as per the assessment criteria.
4. Provide an event budget (income and expenditure) and demonstrate that the event/activity is financially viable with or without Lake Macquarie City funding. (Tip: your budget should be realistic, viable and make good use of the funding)
5. Obtain all regulatory approvals for the event/activity such as an event license.
6. Hold current and relevant Public Liability Insurance to the value of $20 million.
7. Commence the event/activity between six* and 12 months from the application cut-off date (retrospective funding is not available).
8. Organisations/individuals must have the ability to provide evidence of experience in delivering events.

To be eligible for Community Event or Local Event funding, the above criteria must be met plus the following:

1. Be a not-for-profit entity or have a not-for-profit entity manage the funding on your behalf.

Funding assistance will not be considered for the following:

• capital expenses
• ongoing operational or administrative costs
• individuals
• government agencies
• payment of debt or insurance premiums
• committees of Lake Macquarie City Council
• religious ceremonies
• the core business of educational, religious and medical organisations
• organisational programs
• activities that duplicate existing services
• political parties
• academic research, coursework or fees, or projects seeking financial support for research, studio work or activities that will be submitted for academic assessment
• Events that are primarily driven as fundraisers

• Email: jhemsley@lakemac.nsw.gov.au
• Website: https://www.lakemac.com.au/council/contact-us