November 2nd, 2021Backing regional Victoria

The state government is backing regional Victorian events of all sizes, to ensure the state’s diverse and vibrant calendar of community events can continue to thrive.
Minister for Regional Development and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas has the Kyneton Mechanics Institute to announce local councils, community groups and small-scale event organisers could apply for grants under the $1 million Regional Community Events Fund.
The fund opened on November 1 with grants of up to $25,000 available for small-scale events and festivals held across the state.
Eligible events could include community festivals, sporting carnivals and arts and cultural events. Kyneton is known for its diverse calendar of events, including the Daffodil and Art Festival as well as regular markets and music festivals.
Support will go towards a range of costs associated with hosting events in a COVIDSafe environment including for density limit management, record keeping, good hygiene practices and marketing.
The new Fund is part of the Labor Government’s targeted support for local communities to come together safely to help Victoria recover from the pandemic. The Fund will be administered by Visit Victoria, which is well connected to regional event organisers and positioned to respond swiftly to event proposals.
Visit Victoria will work with Regional Development Victoria to ensure that regional councils and event organisers have more support and confidence to plan and stage events with COVIDSafe settings.
The Regional Community Events Fund complements the $20 million Regional Events Fund, a commitment to bring blockbuster events to Victoria’s regions as part of the $633 million Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan.
The Fund comes off the back of the recent Play On regional series, featuring more than 20 regional Victorian artists at eight outdoor events across the state this weekend.
Concerts will be held for double vaccinated audiences at outdoor venues in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Halls Gap, Warrnambool, Castlemaine, Archies Creek and Avenel, with the line-up featuring regional Victorian talent including Gareth Liddiard, Dan Kelly, Kutcha Edwards & Friends, Dallas Frasca, The Kite Machine and Jess Ribeiro.
The Fund will close on 30 November. For eligibility details and information on how to apply, visit rdv.vic.gov.au/rcef.
Quote attributable to Minister for Regional Development and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
“Rural and regional Victoria plays host to some of our state’s most vibrant community events and this funding will help organisers get back on their feet to plan more events for local communities as the state opens up.”