More than 50 regional events across Western Australia will receive funding through Tourism WA’s 2014-15 Regional Events Scheme (RES).
The scheme, which is jointly funded by Royalties for Regions, sponsors a wide variety of cultural, sporting, arts and culinary events throughout WA.
It supports smaller, developing regional events and recognises the importance of these events in providing significant economic, social and cultural benefits to their respective communities.
Ten events will receive funding through RES for the first time, including the Pilbara Food Festival, Albany Urban Downhill, Nannup Flower and Garden Festival and the Astro Rocks Fest in Mount Magnet.
On top of that, the scheme will also continue to support popular events such as the Blues at Bridgetown, the Channel Seven Mandurah Crab Fest, Ningaloo Whaleshark Festival and the Quit Forest Rally.
Regional events are important as they attract visitors and media attention that will help raise the profiles of regional communities. They also involve and inspire the local community while enhancing the overall vitality and vibrancy of WA.
Visit Tourism WA’s corporate website to view the list of successful recipients.
About the Regional Events Scheme
The Regional Events Scheme (RES) is an annual funding round administered by Tourism WA, through its Eventscorp division.
RES is jointly funded by Tourism WA and the Department of Regional Development through its Royalties for Regions program.
The scheme is designed to assist with the development of events as tourist attractions within regional WA.
The scheme is administered through a competitive application process. Applications are reviewed and assessed against RES criteria and compared against each other. Those criteria include:
- bringing additional tourism income to regional communities by increasing visitor expenditure in the host community (economic impact);
- attracting media coverage that will help raise the profile of the region as a tourist destination (media impact);
- extending the length of the traditional tourist seasons and better utilise tourism facilities and services during off-peak or shoulder periods;
- involving and inspire the local community (social benefits); and
- achieving a representation of diverse areas across regional WA is also considered as part of the assessment process.
RES is jointly funded byRoyalties for Regions, a funding program delivered by the State Government to reinvest 25 per cent of mining and offshore petroleum royalties into regional WA. Royalties for Regions is a long-term vision that recognises that the sustainable development of regional WA is vital to the State's future.It is a plan for the whole of WA, with a focus on building communities in regional areas through six policy objectives:
- building capacity in regional communities
- retaining benefits in regional communities
- improving services to regional communities
- attaining sustainability
- expanding opportunity
- growing prosperity
2014-15 Regional Events Scheme
51 regional events have been awarded funding as part of the 2014-15 RES. These events will run between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015.