Cash boost for nine events announced

iD Dunedin Fashion Week
iD Dunedin Fashion Week
The organisers of nine major events in Dunedin have received a cash injection totalling almost $400,000 from the Dunedin City Council.

And two of Dunedin's staples - the iD Dunedin Fashion Week and the Otago Festival of the Arts - have both received increases on last year's funding, council events special projects co-ordinator Kim Newman said.

The cash came from the council's events assessment subcommittee - chaired by Cr John Bezett - which yesterday announced the recipients of its annual premier and major events funding round.

The list of recipients included the Dunedin Fringe Festival, which received $40,000, and the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival, which received $25,000, both the same as last year's funding, Miss Newman said.

However, the iD Dunedin Fashion Week received a funding increase, to $90,000 from $80,000 last year, while the Otago Festival of the Arts received $70,000, up from $60,000 last year, she said.

So, too, did the NZ International Science Festival, up by $10,000 to $70,000, while organisers of the Otago Rally would have to cope with a small cut, from $35,000 to $30,000.

Organisers of last year's Ride the Rhythm event at Forsyth Barr Stadium were also underwritten for $10,000, rather than a repeat of the $10,000 grant approved by the subcommittee last year.

The Cadbury Dunedin Marathon - formerly the Moro Marathon - was the one new event to feature on this year's list, with $10,000 allocated, Miss Newman said.

The Port Chalmers Seafood Festival, which made its debut during the 2011 Rugby World Cup festivities, was also awarded $50,000 for a repeat performance, up from $20,000 last time, she said.

The successful candidates were among 15 applicants seeking council support from the latest funding round.

Miss Newman said it was hoped that major event organisers could eventually secure alternative sources of funding as their events grew.

That would allow council funding to be allocated to newer events to help them develop.

''That would be the ideal, but we appreciate sometimes that's not possible.

''It is very, very hard in the current market.''



The funding
• Dunedin Fringe Festival (March 20-30, 2014) $40,000
• Dunedin Midwinter Carnival (June 21, 2014) $25,000
• Ride the Rhythm (January 31-February 2, 2014) $10,000 underwritten
• iD Dunedin Fashion Week (March 2014) $90,000
• Port Chalmers Seafood Festival (September 21, 2013) $50,000
• Cadbury Dunedin Marathon (September 8, 2013) $10,000
• Otago Rally (March 30-April 6, 2014) $30,000
• Otago Festival of the Arts (September-October 2014) $70,000
• NZ International Science Festival (July 5-12, 2014) $70,000



- chris.morris@odt.co.nz

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