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Regional Events Fund

Events bring thousands of visitors to regional areas, boosting businesses, creating jobs, and helping local economies thrive.

The $20 million Regional Events Fund supports events held in regional Victoria, showcasing our regional tourism strengths and building Victoria's reputation as an events destination.

We welcome applications from private companies, councils, Regional Tourism Boards, Visitor Economy Partnerships and not-for-profit organisations for events that meet the eligibility criteria and program objectives detailed in the Regional Events Fund Guidelines.

Support is available across three streams.

Stream 1 – Regional Event Acquisition 

Funding up to $1 million to support the attraction of one-off or ongoing major events.

Stream 2 – Event Growth and Development 

Funding up to $500,000 to grow the economic impact of medium to large-scale events.

Stream 3 – Event Industry Support 

Funding up to $50,000 to build capability and support the marketing and operations of events that attract intrastate or interstate visitors.

Apply for Stream 2 and 3

  1. Read the Regional Events Fund Guidelines to ensure your event meets the funding criteria. These contain more information about making an application and the assessment process. 
  2. Discuss the event with your Regional Tourism Board or Visitor Economy Partnership. Their letter of support is a requirement for your application to be considered.
  3. Make your application online at the 'SmartyGrants' portal.
    Stream 2 application link
    Stream 3 application link

Please submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Apply for Stream 1

Discuss your proposed event with Visit Victoria or your Regional Tourism Board or Visitor Economy Partnership. After this, you will be invited to submit a proposal if your event meets the criteria for Stream 1.

Stream 2 application rounds

Round

Applications open

Applications close

Funding decision

1 November 2021

31 December 2021

February 2022

2

1 February 2022

31 March 2022

May 2022

3

2 May 2022

30 June 2022

August 2022

4

1 August 2022

30 September 2022

November 2022

1 February 2023

31 March 2023

May 2023

6

1 May 2023

30 June 2023

August 2023

7 - Apply here

1 August 2023

29 September 2023

November 2023

8

1 February 2024

29 March 2024

May 2024

*Dates and timings are subject to change at the discretion of Visit Victoria
*Funding rounds will not open if funding is fully committed

Stream 3 application rounds

Stream 3 funding remains open through to June 30, 2024.

To start your application, click here

Applications will be batched in the month received and submitted for assessment at the end of that month.

Applications will not be considered if the event is scheduled to start before the expected funding decision.

Sample of Stream 3 timing

  • Application received November 
  • Funding announced February 
  • Event cannot start before May
Regional Tourism Board Contact Details

Your local Regional Tourism Board or Visitor Economy Partnership is your first point of contact. Discuss your event with them at the earliest opportunity. They will work with you to determine the strength of your proposal and advise on the suitable funding stream.

You need a letter of support from the board for your application to be assessed.

Regional Tourism Board / Visitor Economy Partnership

Phone

Ballarat & surrounds
Tourism Midwest
+61 437 628 101

Daylesford and Macedon

+61 419 574 813

Geelong and the Bellarine

+61 (03) 5223 2588

Great Ocean Road

+61  448 385 176

Goldfields
Bendigo

+ 61 (03) 5434 6000

Grampians

+61 (03) 5356 4865

High Country
Tourism North East

+61 (03) 5728 2773

Gippsland

+61 (03) 5668 2141

Mornington Peninsula +61 (03) 5925 9346 
Phillip Island +61 466 620 856

The Murray

+61 (03) 5480 7110

Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges +61 (03) 8739 8000

Regional Event Fund Guidelines

The Regional Events Fund Guidelines outline the fund objectives, eligibility, application and assessment process.