The responses came before a meeting next month to discuss the draft strategy between the QLDC and representatives of ASB JazzFest Queenstown, Arrowtown Autumn Festival, Southern Lakes Festival Of Colour, Winter Games NZ, Warbirds Over Wanaka, Michael Hill New Zealand Open, and Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
Others, including the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, are likely to participate.
JazzFest director Harvey Maguire said the proposed $50,000 sum demonstrated the low level of importance the council placed on events which pumped millions of dollars into the district.
"In this time of economic recession, we need the investment in events to draw people to town. It's not a time for council to be stingy but open their minds to supporting events that provide a reason for people to return on a regular basis."
Mr Maguire said council support would enable organisers to book bigger acts, which would raise the district's profile and entice more visitors to point-of-difference events.
The payback for council funding would come from the commercial boost from the greater influx of visitors staying longer and spending more.
Mr Maguire said $2 million set aside each year for district-wide events would be a start.
The fund would be allocated to meet the needs of the individual events.
Festival Of Colour director Philip Tremewan said events were critical to a community's prosperity and a small investment by a local authority made for huge returns for the local economy.
Festival organisers had been talking about securing 5% of the budget from the QLDC, which would be used as leverage when negotiating grants and sponsorship.
The Wanaka festival received $70,000 from Creative New Zealand, but the organisation had been talking about tying a dollar-for-dollar grant with local authority contributions, he said.
Mr Tremewan said $50,000 was "not in the league that's required" and if the QLDC delayed its roading projects for one week, it would find $1 million to support district events.
Winter Festival director Sally Feinerman said it was not appropriate to comment yet as the strategy was still a draft, but she was looking forward to meeting the QLDC.
