TEQ: Queensland Destination Events Program (Australia)

The Queensland Destination Events Program, formerly the Regional Development Program, seeks to leverage the crucial link between events and the destinations in which they are staged, extending the flow on effects of the economic, marketing and social benefits of events throughout metropolitan and regional Queensland.

Queensland Destination Events Program provides funding to event organisers staging events held entirely in Queensland.

Aims and Objectives

• The aims and objectives of the program are as follows:
  • Generate local economic activity and development in the host destination;
  • Attract external visitation to the destination;
  • Drive social and community outcomes for the host destination, noting the important link between community outcomes and economic benefits; and
  • Enhance the profile and appeal of the host destination.
• While each of these objectives are important, it is recognised that each event is unique and therefore the relative importance of these objectives will vary between events. It is an integral part of the program to quantify and measure these outcomes against the program objectives.

Categories

• Destination event funding
  • Apply for Destination Event Funding if:
    • Your Overall Objective is to Achieve: General assistance to enhance the professional presentation of your event to enable growth
    • You are able to complete: A simple online form that provides general detail about the event history, governance, performance and aspirations
    • You can demonstrate that: 
      • Your event is in (at a minimum) its second year
      • If you have received funding previously from this program (including the former Regional Development Program) you have provided a satisfactory outcomes report
      • Your current event has been held prior to completing this application.
    • Your Application has Support from: Local Council and RTO
    • You are committed to: Working with your RTO to:
      • Ensure risks are minimised
      • Ensure all opportunities for leveraging are identified
• Significant Event Funding
  • Apply for Significant Event Funding if:
    • Your Overall Objective is to Achieve: Growth in all aspects of the event, in particular visitor numbers
    • You are able to complete: A detailed submission, including a business case for larger sums, demonstrating how the funding will enable growth to be achieved
    • You can demonstrate that: 
      • Your event is in (at a minimum) its third year
      • If you have received funding previously you have provided a satisfactory outcomes report
    • Your Application has Support from: Local Council and RTO
    • You are committed to: Working with TEQ and your RTO through a structured schedule of meetings to:
      • Monitor progress
      • Ensure risks are minimised
      • Ensure all opportunities for leveraging are identified

Funding Information

• Between $10,000 and $100,000, for either Tier 1 or Tier 2.
• There are 2 tiers of funding available:
  • Destination event funding – single year funding for developing events seeking growth
  • Significant event funding (Expression of Interest required) – single year or up to three years of funding for events that can demonstrate a strong track record of growth or growth potential.
    • Destination event funding
      • Funding Amount: From $10,000 to $25,000 (ex GST) per year (please note, funding of no more than 25% of the total event cash expense budget may be applied for)
      • Funding Period 1 year only
    • Significant Event Funding
      • Funding Amount: From $25,000 to $100,000 (ex GST) per year (please note, funding of no more than 25% of the total event cash expense budget may be applied for)
      • Funding Period: From 1 to 3 years

Eligibility Criteria

• Destination Event Funding
  • Location
    • The event must be held in the same location each year.
    • Please note, if an event is new to the host destination it will be considered a new event proposition, and therefore not eligible. The second staging of the event will be eligible.
  • Funding Request
    • Funding of no more than 25% of the total event cash expenditure budget may be applied for. Applications for amounts over 25% of your budget will be deemed ineligible and will NOT be considered for assessment.
    • EG for a $10,000 funding request the minimum event budget would be $40,000 ($40,000 / $10,000 *100 = 25%)
  • Previous Funding from TEQ
    • Any events currently receiving financial support from TEQ under QDEP and/or any other source is not eligible.
    • Events that have previously received funding must be successfully acquitted before applying again.
    • Events that have previously failed to acquit a TEQ grant is not eligible to apply until two further editions of the event have taken place.
  • Event Profile Baseline
    • The applicant must be able to demonstrate the historical size of the event in terms of:
      • Audience
      • Spectator numbers
      • Participant numbers, and/or
      • Media profile
  • Event Growth Potential 
    • The applicant must be able to demonstrate the capacity for the event to grow against its baseline outcomes.
  • Status of Event Organiser
    • The applicant must be a Queensland based business, have an Australian Business Number (ABN), be either a Corporation registered with ASIC, an Incorporated Association, Queensland Government body or other body corporate. Applications from individuals will only be accepted at the absolute discretion of TEQ.

• Significant Event Funding
  • Location
    • The event must be held in the same location each year.
    • Please note, if an event is new to the host destination it will be considered a new event proposition, and therefore not eligible. The second staging of the event will be eligible.
  • Funding Request
    • Funding of no more than 25% of the total event cash expenditure budget may be applied for. Applications for amounts over 25% of your budget will be deemed ineligible and will NOT be considered for assessment.
    • EG for a $10,000 funding request the minimum event budget would be $40,000 ($40,000 / $10,000 *100 = 25%)
  • Previous Funding from TEQ
    • The event must have received destination event support for at least one year and successfully acquitted and fulfilled all contract requirements.
  • Event Profile Baseline
    • The applicant must be able to demonstrate the historical size of the event in terms of:
      • Audience
      • Spectator numbers
      • Participant numbers, and/or
      • Media profile
  • Event Growth Potential
    • The event must provide a recent report showing evidence of the total number of event attendees (including participants and spectators), specifically detailing the breakdown and number of visitors from outside the region; this information must be independently gathered and reported, or independently verified. The event must present a strong opportunity for Queensland and demonstrate extensive recognition outside the region in which it is held in terms of visitation and/or media profile.
  • Status of Event Organiser
    • The applicant must be a Queensland based business, have an Australian Business Number (ABN), be either a Corporation registered with ASIC, an Incorporated Association, Queensland Government body or other body corporate. Applications from individuals will only be accepted at the absolute discretion of TEQ.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following types of events are NOT eligible:
  • Business events (conferences, seminars, symposiums, presentations, etc.)
  • State championships, event series with local tournament held in multiple locations across the year
  • Anniversaries / centenaries, commemorative events
  • Trade shows/ Exhibitions
  • Award ceremonies
  • New Year’s Eve celebrations
  • Christmas events such as pageants, markets, festivals or celebrations
  • Fireworks displays
  • “World Days” or “Days Of” (World Tourism day events etc)
  • Tours
  • Open house and gardens
  • Open days
  • Dedicated markets
  • Reunions
  • Activities that form part of the regular activities of the applicant (EG. concerts in entertainment centres, regular horse race meetings, exhibitions in a gallery, events that are part of a regular series and standard theatre productions)
  • Events where the purpose is to raise funds for charity, or where the entire event surplus is going to charity are ineligible for QDEP
  • Please note, Cultural, Multicultural and Religious Festivals (including National Celebration Days and Memorial Days), Regional Race Meetings and Community Shows/Exhibitions that show little differentiation to similar events in other regions, or do not present a unique experience that will attract visitors to the region will not be eligible to receive funding under QDEP.

For more information, visit Commonwealth of Australia.