NSW Govt partnership funding 21 multicultural festivals

The New South Wales Government is partnering with 15 local councils to boost the state’s event calendar, investing $8 million into 21 major cultural events and festivals across Sydney, the Hunter, Newcastle and the Illawarra. 

The 15 local councils that will benefit are:

• Blacktown City Council
• Campbelltown City Council
• City of Canterbury Bankstown
• Cumberland City Council
• Georges River Council
• Inner West Council
• Lake Macquarie City Council
• Liverpool City Council
• Maitland City Council
• City of Newcastle
• Port Stephens Council
• Shellharbour City Council
• Strathfield Council
• Willoughby City Council
• Wollongong City Council

Grant funding of up to $500,000 a year for two years has been awarded to 15 local councils across the state’s Six Cities regions to host major multicultural events and festivals in partnership with the New South Wales Government. 

The Six Cities Regions comprise the Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle City, Central Coast City, Illawarra-Shoalhaven City, Western Parkland City, Central River City and Eastern Harbour City.

New South Wales Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure, said each partnership with the Councils will help make their events bigger tourism attractions and local economy boosters.

“To have 21 different multicultural events hosted by 15 councils across the state’s Six Cities regions is a testament to New South Wales’ rich cultural and religious diversity,” Mr Coure said.

“This funding will help each of these councils take their events and festivals to the next level.”

Funding recipients include:

•  Liverpool City Council – $800,000 over two years:

1. Motherland African Cultural Festival
2. Pacific Summer
3. Primavera Latin American Festival

• Cumberland City Council – $700,000 over two years:

1. Lunar New Year
2. Ramadan Street Food Festival
3. Diwali

• Willoughby City Council – $980,000 over two years:

1. Lunar New Year
2. Gai-mariagal Festival
3. Emerge Festival

• Strathfield Council – $468,000 over two years:

1. Strathfield Festival

• Inner West Council – $137,454.80 over two years

1. Culture X Ashfield

• City of Canterbury Bankstown – $1,000,000 over two years:

1. Ramadan Nights Lakemba

• Wollongong City Council – $625,000 over two years:

1. DancePlant Festival

• Port Stephens Council – $100,000 over two years:

1. Winter Heat Raymond Terrace

• Shellharbour City Council – $400,000 over two years:

1. Cultural Treasures – Enchanted Forest

• Blacktown City Council – $500,000 over two years:

1. Flavours of Blacktown

• City of Newcastle – $400,000 over two years:

1. New Annual

• Georges River Council – $240,000 over two years:

1. The Good Taste Festival featuring Lunar New Year

• Maitland City Council – $650,000 over two years:

1. Maitland Riverlights Multicultural Festival

• Campbelltown City Council – $600,000 over two years:

1. Campbelltown Ramadan Night Markets

• Lake Macquarie City Council – $400,000 over two years:

1. Living Smart Festival Weekend

New South Wales Minister for Local Government, Wendy Tuckerman, said the partnerships will be a real win for the residents and visitors of local communities.

“Local councils are the level of government closest to the community, so the New South Wales Government working directly with councils in our six cities will ensure these celebrations benefit their communities directly,” Ms Tuckerman said.

“By partnering with councils, we are boosting local cultural celebrations led by local leaders, helping to cater for bigger crowds so tourists can experience everything their city has to offer.”

Successful councils can use the funding for festivals in 2023 and 2024, with all successful councils partnering with the New South Wales Government and co-fund to host the events.