Events and festivals play an essential role in the South Australian visitor economy. They are a great way to showcase the personality of a region, build community pride and social connections, and are important drivers of visitation and economic development.
 
Events and festivals are an area of strength for South Australia. They showcase our passion for arts and culture, live music, sport, and food and wine - and come in all shapes and sizes. 
 
Events South Australia provides sponsorship to leisure events throughout the year through its funding programs.

Adelaide Festival 2020
Adelaide Festival 2020

 

 

Funding Streams

Major Events

Major events are large-scale signature events that generate significant economic benefits for the state and align with wider government and strategic priorities. They are typically world class triggering interstate and international visitation to South Australia. Major events provide a strong media profile for the state often including a national and international broadcast. They will also provide a sustainable legacy for the state, offering additional opportunities to leverage or host other major events.

Examples of major events include: ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open, ICC T20 World Cup 2020, NRL State of Origin.

If your event is classified as 'major', please refer to the Leisure Event Bid Fund guidelines for sponsorship opportunities. 


Regional Events 

Regional events are significant to their location and community providing a good economic return and boosting the profile of the region. They will attract local, intrastate and interstate visitors to the region. Regional events will generate good local and state-based media coverage and have the ability to attract national media attention.

Examples of regional events include: South Australian Living Artists Festival (SALA), Handpicked Festival, and Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend.

If your event is classified as 'regional', please refer to the Regional Event Fund.


Ineligible events

  • Business events including industry and trade events 
  • Charity or fundraising activities
  • Sporting, social or cultural club events, including for example team sponsorship, rallies, reunions, tours, open days, pageants, concerts, markets, anniversaries
  • Special event celebrations such as Christmas, Australia Day or New Year’s Eve celebrations
  • Cultural festivals that do not present a unique experience
  • Familiarisations, individual projects, programs, or presentations 
  • Events that do not have relevant approvals or certification from key stakeholders such as national or international federations.
  • Events that have previously failed to acquit a South Australian Tourism Commission grant.

The Leisure Events Bid Fund has been set up by the South Australian Government and committed to Events South Australia to secure, support or develop new major events for the state.
 
South Australia's strong calendar of annual managed and sponsored events is complemented by one-off events, which usually have a high profile or involve a large number of participants. This approach ensures there is a balance of activity across the year and that key venues, facilities and services are used.
 
The Leisure Events Bid Fund has proudly supported a diverse range of major events such as:

  • ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open (2017- 2022)
  • Adelaide International (2020 - 2024)
  • Mundine v Green II (2017)
  • 2018 Lifesaving World Championships
  • 2019 Australian Scouts Jamboree.

 
Please read our Leisure Event Bid Fund guidelines for detailed information about the application and sponsorship process.
 
The Leisure Event Bid Fund supports events on a case-by-case basis. There is no open or close date for applications.
 
For more information contact the Business Development Team on +61 8 8463 4700 or email esa@sa.gov.au.

Funding sources

Before applying for sponsorship it’s important to consider the application criteria and whether the funding stream is appropriate for your event. A range of local, state and federal government bodies provide funding opportunities that may be more suitable for your needs. We’ve collated some key sources below:

  • Adelaide Convention Bureau – Support for bidding and hosting conventions in South Australia.
  • GRANTassist - Grants and assistance for business and industry, communities, clubs or individuals.
  • GrantsSA - For charitable, social welfare, multicultural, volunteer grants.
  • Live Music Event Fund – For live music events and festivals.
  • RISE Fund - Supporting the arts and entertainment sector's cultural and creative projects, activities and events.
  • Local Council Grants – Search for your local council details and community grants available for a range of purposes.

Event Funding Guidelines

Find out more about applying for funding under the Leisure Event Bid Fund and the Regional Event Fund.

Leisure Event Bid Guidelines

These guidelines outline how to apply for funding including eligibility criteria and application requirements