“The Tasmanian Liberal Government has secured exciting new events, including Hockey Australia’s under 16s national championships, under 13s National Water Polo Championship, Athletics Australia and School Sports Australia Cross Country Championships, and Tennis Australia Pizzey Cup Secondary Schools Australian Teams Championships,” said Tasmania’s Premier, Jeremy Rockliff. The premier is also the state’s tourism and hospitality minister.
“We are also thrilled to announce additional funding for some of our existing winter events such as Festival of Voices and Beaker Street Festival, enabling them to expand their offering in 2024.”
Tasmania’s minister for stadia and events, Nic Street, confirmed the state government had invested more to attract mass participation events.
“Our government has invested an additional $800,000 to attract new mass participation events to further drive visitation to our regions and support businesses across the state, delivering an estimated 156,000 additional bed nights,” said Street.
The government is also opening applications next week for the latest round of its event marketing grants for events held over winter and parts of the autumn and spring shoulder seasons.
“Attracting more events to Tasmania is a key part of our long-term plan, which is why eligible new festivals can apply for up to $30,000 funding through Events Tasmania’s one-off assistance program,” said Rockliff.
While there are already 70 events set to be held in Tasmania over winter, organisers of the state’s most famous winter festival, Dark Mofo, have paused the event for 2024, running only two elements of the festival, the Nude Solstice Swim and the Winter Feast this year.
While conferences are specifically ineligible for the event marketing grants, the Tasmanian Business Events Attraction Fund, managed by Business Events Tasmania, remains open to business events organisers looking for support to hold their events in Tasmania.
