Two of Northern Tasmania’s most well known music events did not receive funding as part of the City of Launceston’s event sponsorship grants, despite achieving scores which would normally secure funding, after the council exhausted its 2016/2017 budget allocation.
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Party in the Paddock and Festival of Voices will miss out on council funding with twelve other applicants to receive sponsorship ahead of the musical events.
Alderman expressed disappointment when they discussed the lack of sponsorship at Monday’s council meeting.
More than $200,000 worth of funding was requested by applicants in round two of the event sponsorship but only $85,000 was allocated in the budget.
Upon moving the motion, Alderman Danny Gibson said there had been a 15 per cent increase in applicants compared to round one.
“$85,000 doesn't get us as far as we would like, and events that have received a score that would otherwise lead them to funding have not received it,” he said.
“That is something, if we are wanting to change, that we need to look at at budget time.
“I think it's exciting to note that some events that we have supported in the past have not applied because they have been able to grow their door sales to a spot where they don't need City of Launceston [support].”
Alderman Gibson said it was exciting to see that three of the events funded were completely new.
Alderman Simon Wood said it was impossible to look past the benefits of the two events which would miss out on grants.
“I do agree that all these organisations that have been recommend for grants are worthy and they will contribute greatly to our community,” he said.
“However, it’s not surprising that I am very disappointed that Party in the Paddock and the Festival of Voices have missed out on funding due to the budget being exhausted.”
Alderman Wood foreshadowed a notice of motion he will put forward to council or discuss at a workshop to try and find additional funding for the two events.
A total of eighteen sponsorship requests were received by council, and successful grants included Encore Theatre Company’s performance of Wicked, the Fresh Hop Beer Festival, the RSPCA Million Paws Walk, the Icebreaker Multisport Challenge and South Sudan Independent Day.
Holly Monery
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
