Major Festivals & Events - Application Form

Are you seeking support for your event? Apply for assistance by completing the form below!

Whitsunday Regional Council is a proud sponsor of events and festivals in our region. We recognise the role events and festivals play in showcasing the region to potential visitors and the value they contribute to the local economy.

Council's vision is documented in the Whitsunday Region Major Festivals & Events Attraction Strategy 2019-2023 which outlines how the region can attract new events, and how to develop, grow and extend the scale and reach of existing events.

Funding, Support & Eligibility Guidelines

Funding & Support allocation is awarded under three categories - Grow and Extend (Tier 1), Develop (Tier 2) and New (Tier 3).

Regardless of categorisation, the clear intent is for these events to increase visitation (inter/ intrastate, national & international), stay, spend and exposure in the Whitsunday region. To be eligible to receive Council support, the event must align with the Whitsunday Regional Council’s Corporate Plan and the Major Festival and Event Attraction Strategy 2019-2023.

Event support may be provided as financial and in-kind or a combination of those and will be provided via sponsorship agreement. Funding will be contestable, and subject to budget allocation per financial year, with each funding request assessed individually under one of the following Tiers:

• Grow and Extend (Tier 1) - Existing events that have a demonstrated ability for generating high levels of attendance and visitation. These events have established a profile of success and typically are viewed as being successful. Council’s support is intended to assist and extend the reach either by extending the length of the event or adding an additional element to grow and extend, allowing the events to reach greater levels of success, sustainability and contribution to the visitor economy.
• Develop (Tier 2) - Existing events that may be newer additions to the event calendar or have typically been viewed as more locally / regional inclusive, but have the capacity, with support, to develop into larger events that appeal to a wider audience and attract a higher level of visitation, stay and spend from outside the region.
• New (Tier 3) - New events encompass those that may be either newly conceived ‘first time’ events, or existing, successful, out of region events that display the potential for relocation or replication. Regardless of status, new events must demonstrate the potential for fulfilling an identified market gap, capitalise on the uniqueness of the region, or leverage an existing event to increase and/or extend visitation, stay and spend.

View and download the Selection Criteria here prior to completing your application