Kiama Council pledged $40,000 in funding to be shared by a trio of community events from the ‘Signature Community Events Fund’.

The Signature Community Events Fund offers grants to festivals and events in the Kiama LGA that provide “significant and direct benefits to our local community, demonstrate value for money and align with our community plan,” according to Kiama Council’s website.

The first grant is for $17,000 to the iconic Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival, which will next take place in March 2024. The funding will allow the festival to host performances on Sundays in Hindmarsh Park for free. Kiama Council says the funds will also be used to market the festival, now in its 37th year.

The next grant is for $3000 to a new initiative for emerging artists called ‘NEW LIGHT’. The funding will help to create a four-week exhibition with an emerging artist, who will create a new body of work for exhibition in June next year.

Kiama Council said the aim is to “engage and provide an exhibition space that is inclusive and accessible to all ages and audiences and abilities.”

Lastly, The Kazador - Mini Spiegeltent Season, which will take place over four weeks in September and October 2024, will receive $20,000 in funding. The month-long festival will see events running in the big tent aimed at bringing a big city cultural experience to the Kiama LGA.

The Signature Community Events Fund was introduced in August 2023, and although the current round of funding is closed, you can read more and apply for future funding for your event here.