$225,000 for local tourism events

089/11

Eleven local events including a new summer food and wine event the Summertime Festival, will share in $225,000 in funding through the 2011-12 Events Assistance Program (EAP).

The EAP is a competitive, grant-based funding scheme designed to assist local events maximise their tourism impact through business development, marketing, promotion and research.

Tourism events are an important part of Canberra’s tourism offering, and the ACT Labor Government is committed to supporting key tourism events that enhance the overall tourism experience in the national capital.

Each of the eleven events have been funded based on their potential to attract visitors to the Canberra region, bringing direct benefits to the ACT economy, and contributing to a vibrant calendar of events.

The Events Assistance Program is a competitive process and applications are assessed by an industry panel experienced in the fields of tourism and events. Events funded under the 2011-12 Events Assistance Program are:

• Canberra International Film Festival, 26 October to 6 November 2011
• Ironman 70.3 Canberra (triathlon), 10-11 December 2011
• FFA Futsal National Championships, 9-13 January 2012
• Summertime Festival, February 2012
• Capital Punishment MTB Enduro, 17 March 2012
• National Folk Festival, 5-9 April 2012
• Australian Running Festival, 14-15 April 2012
• Groovin’ the Moo, 13 May 2012
• Capital Country Truffle Festival, June and August 2012
• Australian Open Squash Championships, 13-19 August 2012
• Fireside Festival, August 2012

Funding will also go to the Foreshore Summer Music Festival 2011, Summernats 2012 and the Kanga Cup 2012. All three events secured multi-year support as part of previous EAP funding rounds.