Funding boost for major events as research proves value of industry

A total of 25 major events will be funded through the latest round of Northern Territory Major Events Company’s Event Funding Program.

This comes amid findings from independent research revealing seven Territory Government supported events generated more than 31,000 visitor nights and delivered an economic benefit of $8.4 million in the 2020-21 Financial Year.

Events included Dark Skies Festival, FABAlice, Thailand Grand, West Macs Monster, Alice Springs Beanie Festival, Barunga Festival and Wide Open Space.

The seven events attracted almost 20,000 attendees, with nearly 20 per cent coming from interstate.

More than 4,500 attendees said the event they attended was their main reason for visiting the host region.

The research shows the events has a combined net promoter score of +64.2 – with any score above 60 considered to be excellent.
The Event Funding Program is designed to help grow the events industry and support local jobs.

Five of the 25 events to receive support fall under the new ‘Mass Participation Events’ category, created to stimulate the tourism sector.
They include Australian Masters Indoor Cricket Championships, the Australian National Handgun, Rifle and Shotgun Championships, the Australian Outback Marathon, the National Veteran Cricket Event and the City2Surf & The Mile.

Successful events must attract more than 300 visitors who will stay in paid accommodation for at least three nights.
The 25 events will share $1.5 million and successful events are chosen by an independent panel.

To receive notification of when the next round of funding opens, visit www.ntmajorevents.com.au.

EVENT FUNDING PROGRAM – SUCCESSFUL RECIPIENTS 

COMMUNITY CATEGORY
• Desert Festival
• Easter in the Alice Mountain Bike Race
• Pup-Up Park Series
• Red Dirt Poetry Festival
• Carols by Candlelight
• Deadly Cup Carnival
• Garmalang Festival
• Kindness Festival
• Thailand Grand Festival
• 30th Anniversary Variety NT Bash
• Smile A Mile Children’s Fun Day
• Wagait Arts Festival

EVENT DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY
• Blacken Open Air
• FABAlice
• Wide Open Space
• NT Writers’ Festival

MAJOR EVENT CATEGORY
• Barunga
• West Macs Monster
• DAAF
• NT PGA

MASS PARTICIPATION CATEGORY
• Australian Outback Marathon
• City 2 Surf
• National Veteran Cricket Event
• Australian Masters Indoor Cricket Championships
• Australian National Handgun, Rifle and Shotgun Championships