Coffs Harbour is internationally recognised as an event friendly city, being awarded the globally acclaimed World Festival and Event City Award for the last 4 consecutive years by the International Festival and Event Association.
The Coffs Coast plays host to a diverse range of events of local, regional, national and international attraction, which continues to strengthen each year.
In 2016 Coffs Harbour City Council adopted the Coffs Harbour Events Strategy 2020, which provides the strategic framework to attract, grow and retain events in Coffs Harbour and aims to provide expertise and support to increase the capacity of others to run successful events.
The event funding program is currently closed. Please check back later for information on the next round. To subscribe for updates on the program, please email coffscoastevents@chcc.nsw.gov.au
Assistance is available to event organisers in the following categories:
Event Seed funding
Grants of up to $5,000: For start-up or new events* running within the Coffs Harbour LGA, aimed at providing support to events in their most critical early stages.
Event Seed Funding is available to events* that are either:
- New (never run before)
- Within their first three years in Coffs Harbour (or first three events, whichever occurs first)
- New to Coffs Harbour (for example an established / touring event coming to Coffs Harbour for the first time)
- An event returning to Coffs Harbour for the first time in over ten years
Event Destination Marketing funding
Grants of up to $10,000: For events* targeting overnight visitation from outside the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area (LGA). This funding is designed to assist in developing a marketing campaign to drive visitation to the Coffs Coast, and the event, from outside the LGA.
Event Destination Marketing is available to events* that are:
- Established events running within the Coffs Harbour LGA (must have run a minimum of 3 times within the past 5 years)
- Recurring events (not one-offs)
- Targeting or attracting overnight visitors to the event from outside the LGA
The purpose of allocating event funding is to support the strategic goals identified in the Events Strategy of attracting, developing and retaining unique events on the Coffs Coast as they play an important role in reflecting the attractiveness of our region and provide significant economic value back to the community.
*Please note: Markets are not eligible for event funding.