Applications are being invited for Argyll and Bute Council’s Strategic Events and Festivals Fund for 2020-21.
Councillors on the Policy and Resources Committee today (Thursday 15 August) approved the criteria for distributing the £90,000 Events and Festivals Fund, with invitations being accepted from Monday 26 August until noon on Monday 7 October.
In an effort to simplify the process for applicants, this round will involve a single fund pot, with the normal upper limit set at £5,000.
For new or growing events there will be the potential to apply for up to £15,000 where it’s clear that events have the potential to draw new audiences to Argyll and Bute. For exceptional events – where applicants can show the event has the ability to attract more than 10,000 visitors and generate more than £1million for the local economy – a £30,000 upper limit will be in place.
No grant request should be greater than 20% of the total cost of the event.
The Council aims to ensure the maximum economic benefit is secured from the limited funding available. The focus will therefore be on strategic events and festivals that are primarily focussed on attracting visitors from outside the area and increasing the appeal of Argyll and Bute as a world class tourist destination.
Councillor Aileen Morton, Policy Lead for Sustainable Economic Growth, said: “Events and festivals are part of what makes Argyll and Bute such a popular place for visitors to come, and we are proud to be able to support events with this Fund. It will be competitive, as ever, and I would encourage applicants to read the guidance closely and give their events the best chance of being awarded funding.”
As the 2019-20 round of the Strategic Events and Festivals Fund was oversubscribed, it is anticipated that this will also be the case for 2020-21. Therefore applicants will have to clearly evidence why the event requires public money and how it will benefit the area.
Application forms for the Strategic Events and Festivals Fund can be downloaded from /events-and-festivals-grants where guidance will also be available from 26 August.
For smaller scale community events, our Supporting Communities fund will launch later this year.
This press release is also available in Gaelic at: /news/2019/aug/%E2%80%99-mhaoin-thachartasan-fh%C3%A8isean-%E2%80%99-sireadh-iarrtasan-airson-2020-21