Financial Support for Australian Festivals and Events
Amid some of the hardest times for festivals and events in Australia, a range of measures are being rolled out nationwide to support the industry to bolster pre-existing funding programs already in place.
The NSW government has announced emergency funding and a series of reforms to reduce pressure on events and a $3.9m funding boost to the live music industry in Victoria, further evidence that the industry has government attention, but many events are still teetering on the edge of cancellation.
The recent publication of SoundCheck 2, a 2024 update on a survey of festival organisers, confirms festivals are under immense pressure from rising costs coupled with changing ticket-buying behaviour.
The survey reported not-for-profit festivals have a heavy reliance on grants for survival, with other income including grants making up 15 - 23% of total revenue. By comparison, other income sources including grants make up 6% of the income for large commercial festivals and 4% for touring festivals.
“The vast majority of festivals can benefit from grants - they can take your event to another level and the work involved in grant applications is absolutely worth it when you see people enjoying the special piece of art or experience you got funding for.”
Top tips for applying for a grant.
There are plenty of resources offering generic tips on writing a grant application.
As recipient of a Sustainability Victoria grant for $446,000 to support growth, bettercup’s co-founder Christie Kamphuis provides tips that she believes supported the success of their application.
In an effort to support these festivals, below is a summary of grants available, along with tips on successfully applying for a grant.
“Winning our Sustainability Victoria grant was a game-changer for Bettercup, but it took a lot of work and focus to put together a solid application. My biggest tip is to be very specific about what the funding will achieve and why the funding is essential. Use clear, direct language, and support every claim with numbers and impact projections. Grants are competitive, but if you can show assessors that your project is well-planned and impactful -- you’re halfway there!”
— Christie, Co-founder of bettercup.
