Australia: City Revitalisation Event Support Program

Deadline: 5-Sep-22

The City of Melbourne is now inviting applications for its City Revitalisation Event Support Program (CRESP) to provide event organisers with funding to create unmissable, uniquely Melbourne moments that will see people flocking back to the city and help create jobs as part of the city’s economic recovery.

Objectives

There are a number of key objectives that are looking to achieve through this program including:
- Driving visitation to the CBD, shopping precincts, hospitality precincts, arts & culture;
- Economic impact through increased spend for city businesses and supporting key industries;
- Creating ‘Uniquely Melbourne’ moments using the unique assets and culture to differentiate the CBD from other parts of the State and other cities;
- Positive profile for Melbourne through amplifying storytelling and positive media for Melbourne;
- Increasing positive audience reach and awareness for Melbourne; and
- Stimulate the events industry within Melbourne.

Priorities

City of Melbourne is looking for events which enhance the current Melbourne events calendar and could be from categories such as Cultural, Creative, Health & Wellbeing, Sport, Food & Wine, Knowledge & Innovation, or Sustainability.
Events which incorporate one or more of elements into their application will be strongly considered:
- Docklands: Docklands is a priority precinct and preference could be given to events that offer benefits to Docklands’ workers, residents, and local businesses.
- Winter events: Winter is a priority season to activate in Melbourne, and attracting eligible events staged during this traditionally quieter time on the event calendar is important.
- Twilight and late-night activation: Keeping Melbourne city vibrant at all times of the day is a priority. Twilight events (6-9pm) that give city workers a reason to stay and spend money in the city, and late-night event activation (post 9pm) that offer a different experience to existing late night entertainment offerings will both be strongly considered.
- Visitation and Spend: Melbourne tourism expenditure generated by an event will be a key metric in measuring the value added to the Melbourne economy, as a result of tourism activities generated by a funded event.

Funding Information

Level 1: $200,000+
Level 2: $100,000 – $199,999
Level 3: $10,000 – $99,999

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following eligibility:
- Events can be ticketed, however must be available to the public, and accessible to people of all abilities;
- Attract a minimum of 5,000 patrons;
- Events must begin between 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 and be held in the City of Melbourne municipality boundaries;
- The event organiser must have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN). Please note only one application per event and one ABN will be successful through this program;
- Funding requests must show events are not overly reliant on the program by demonstrating that a minimum of 30% of the event’s costs will be self-funded or confirmed to come from other income streams;
- Events already receiving financial support from City of Melbourne or Victorian Government that wish to apply, must demonstrate the funds will be spent on additional event programming to enhance the event increasing visitation; and
- Agree to comply with all COVID Safe practices.
Who is not eligible to apply:
- Activities such as activations, teaching programs/lectures, university open days, private functions, dinners and receptions, PR opportunities or commercial brand activations;
- Events held online or virtually;
- Events that are closed to the public, or where attendance is by invitation-only or membership;
- Events that pollute land, air or water and destroy or waste non-recurring resources;
- Events that involve the use of exotic animals;
- Political or religious events that denigrate, exclude or offend parts of the community or do not align with Council policies, priorities or values;
- Organisations that have an outstanding debt to the City of Melbourne or that have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of any previous funding agreement with City of Melbourne;
- Applications from City of Melbourne or State Government employees, immediate families and their contractors; and
- Late applications.