Sponsorship and support for events that enhance regional and local Christchurch as a place to live and visit and to strengthen the distinctive lifestyle, qualities and identity of Christchurch.
The Events and Festivals Sponsorship Fund is a community events fund that aligns to the Events Policy Framework, Community Events Implementation Plan and the Central City Activation Plan.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome in June 2022.
For assistance email eventsfunding@ccc.govt.nz.
In accordance with the Events Policy Framework(external link) the following goals have been set for what the city aims to achieve through involvement in events:
In December 2017, the Council adopted an Events Policy Framework to replace the 2007–2017 Events Strategy. The purpose of this framework is to:
ChristchurchNZ is the city’s tourism and economic development operator and was formed in 2018.
The Council and ChristchurchNZ both have key roles to play in the events industry. Responsibility for different types of events has been split between Council and ChristchurchNZ.
ChristchurchNZ | Christchurch City Council |
Mega events
|
Regional events
|
Major events
|
Local events
|
Community events
|
Before you apply for Events and Festivals Sponsorship Funding(external link) from the Christchurch City Council, please make sure you:
Please ensure your application is submitted by 11.59pm on Sunday 3 April 2022 so it can be considered. Before you submit your application, please ensure you review the funding checklist and have all your documents attached. Organisations can request to be considered for multi-year funding from the Events and Festivals Fund.
When you submit your application, you will receive an automated response. If you do not receive this, please go back and check your information.
After the submission period has ended, a panel will review all of the applications received. The applications are then submitted to the Council Committee meeting, then full Council for consideration and decision making.
To be eligible to apply for support from the Events and Festivals Sponsorship Fund, the event and/or event organisers must meet the following criteria:
Please note: All events securing funding through the Events and Festivals Sponsorship Fund will be required to hold up-to-date public liability insurance, which covers the proposed activity in the proposed location.
Eligible applications are prioritised for support from the contestable Events and Festivals Fund based on criteria. The support provided by the Council is based upon the assessed benefits of the event on the city as a whole.
Please make sure you are clear about the items for which you are applying for Council support. Once the decision has been made and approved by the Council, these details cannot be changed.
There is no maximum amount an event organiser can apply for. However, it is not the Council's position to sponsor an event and be the main financial provider. The Council is looking to support a number of events from the annual fund and there are other events the Council has committed to for the 2022/23 financial year.
Please make sure your application form is supported by the following documents:
A detailed budget outlining all event expenses and income is an essential part of the application for funding. Budget information should be based on quotes from suppliers you intend to use.
Ensure you include all the relevant regulatory costs involved in your event, such as resource consent fees, costs for the preparation of traffic management plans by an approved contractor, building consents etc.
Please note that the Council will not fund some event-related costs – refer to Ineligibility criteria.
You must provide the structure and details of your company or a full list of trustees who are responsible for the governance of the trust and owner of the event.
In addition to the above criteria, the following will be considered:
All applicants must disclose if a Christchurch City Councillor or local board member or a Council employee, or their immediate family, has any interest or involvement in the event in any way. This should be outlined in the space provided on the application form.
Any Councillor or local board member involved can be present at any meeting where event sponsorship or funding is considered. However, they may not partake in the decision process.
Applications for funding will be assessed initially by an internal panel. All final decisions are made by the Council.
Once funding has been approved, all successful applicants will receive a funding agreement. This is a formal contract which outlines what is expected of event organisers and the amount of funding the Council is granting. The funding agreement will also outline the post-event reporting requirements for event organisers.
Should your application for funding be successful, the following further documents will be required to facilitate your event through the Council. A meeting with the appropriate staff member will be required to initiate the process and ongoing meetings throughout the time frame of receiving the funding.
After the event, all successful applicants will be required to formally report to the Council on the following:
Applications are assessed by a panel of staff and recommendations are noted. On 8 July 2021, these recommendations were taken to Council for consideration and decision making.
There were 43 applications made to the Events and Festivals Sponsorship Fund. Of these, five applications were transferred to other funds within Council (either due to the timing of the Council decision being made, or better alignment with other fund priorities).
Congratulations to the following events that were successful in receiving sponsorship from the Events and Festivals Sponsorship Fund for 2021/2022:
Events supported for the 2021/22 financial year that are already on contract (e.g. the decision to fund was made in a previous financial year):