TAS One-off Assistance Grants

Purpose and Program Overview

The TAS One-off Assistance Grants program in Tasmania provides financial support to event organisers. Its primary purpose is to increase the number of events held in regional Tasmania, particularly outside the peak tourism season. This includes focusing on winter and shoulder periods.

The grant’s primary focus is to increase visitor numbers and foster local community engagement in regional Tasmania during off-peak periods. It also aims to enhance event management skills and capacity within the regional Tasmanian events sector, thereby contributing to the economic vitality and cultural vibrancy of regional Tasmanian communities.

This initiative plays a crucial role in diversifying Tasmania’s tourism appeal beyond traditional peak seasons. It encourages the development of a more robust events calendar across the state, aligning with Tasmania’s strategic tourism diversification goals.

Key Grant Details

• Grant Amount or Funding Range: Up to $20,000 per event.
• Application Open and Close Dates: Applications are open and accepted at any time.
• Eligible Industries or Business Types: Event organisers holding events in regional Tasmania.
• Required Co-contributions: Applicants must have secured significant independent funding sources for their event. A specific percentage is not stated, but a co-contribution is expected.
• Location/State/Territory Applicability: Regional Tasmania, specifically for events held outside the Greater Hobart area.

Priority Sectors

This grant targets the events sector in regional Tasmania. The priority is given to events held during the non-peak tourism season, with a particular focus on winter and shoulder periods.

Funding Scope

The One-off Assistance Grants provide direct funding to support the staging of eligible events:

• Minimum and Maximum Amounts per Stream: The maximum grant amount is $20,000. No specific minimum is stated beyond supporting event costs.
• Categories or Streams of Funding: This is a single stream of funding for “one-off assistance” for events.
• Project Timeline or Eligible Funding Duration: Funding is for specific events. The project timeline aligns with the event planning and delivery period.

Eligibility Criteria

Key requirements for events and applicants include:

• Location: The event must be held in regional Tasmania, outside the Greater Hobart area.
• Timing: The event must be held outside of the peak tourism season, with winter and shoulder periods prioritised.
• Impact: The event must deliver substantial benefits to the regional area of Tasmania.
• Audience Targets: The event must attract a mass local community attendance of at least 5,000 intrastate visitors or at least 800 interstate visitors.
• Funding: The applicant must have secured significant independent funding sources for the event.
• Collaboration: Applicants must be working with Events Tasmania to develop or further develop their event to be eligible.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

TAS One-off Assistance Grants support activities related to staging events that meet the program’s objectives. While specific expenditure categories are not detailed, eligible activities are those that contribute to:

• Increasing visitor numbers to regional Tasmania during off-peak seasons.
• Boosting local community engagement.
• Enhancing event expertise and capacity in regional Tasmania.
• The overall planning and delivery of qualifying events.

Assessment Process

The One-off Assistance Grants are competitive.

A judging panel assesses applications. Grants are awarded to eligible applicants in the order in which applications are received, until all available funding is allocated. Key considerations for assessment include:

• The event’s alignment with the program’s objectives (increasing winter/shoulder season regional events, visitor numbers, community engagement, and event expertise).
• The event has the potential to deliver substantial benefits to regional Tasmania.
• The ability of the event to meet the required audience targets (mass local attendance, or specific intrastate/interstate visitor numbers).
• Evidence of significant independent funding secured for the event.
• The applicant’s collaboration with Events Tasmania in developing the event.

Recent Updates of TAS One-off Assistance Grants

The One-off Assistance Grants program is ongoing and accepts applications at any time, ensuring its accessibility and continuity. No specific recent updates indicate new funding rounds or altered eligibility rules beyond the standard program continuity.

Application Tips

• Contact Events Tasmania early to discuss your event and ensure it aligns with their development objectives for regional events.
• Develop a clear plan for how your event will attract the required visitor numbers (local, intrastate, or interstate) and deliver benefits to regional Tasmania.
• Prepare documentation demonstrating your secured independent funding sources.
• Highlight how your event will increase local community engagement and contribute to the growth of event expertise in the region.
• Ensure your event is scheduled outside of the peak tourism season, with a preference for winter or shoulder periods.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting with a professional grant specialist, such as Pattens Group. We offer initial assessments to review your business’s eligibility and evaluate how well your project aligns with the grant’s objectives. You can also visit relevant government websites for application templates and further guidance.