Council supports community events with $70,000 grants program

Community groups and not-for-profit organisations looking to run public events in Parramatta are invited to apply for funding through City of Parramatta Council’s 2020 Community Events Grants program.

The grants program aims to encourage the establishment or continuation of low-cost or free local events that will have social, recreational and cultural benefits to the Parramatta community. Previous grant recipients include Little India Fair, Carols By Twilight (Epping), Let’s Go Greek Festival, Matsuri Japan Festival, Chand Raat Eid Festival and more.

“Community events provide residents and visitors with the opportunity to connect and celebrate. By bringing people together, community events help establish relationships between individuals and groups, which strengthens our community as a whole,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer.

“The City of Parramatta is proud of its diverse calendar of events and is always looking to expand and improve on its offerings. Through the Community Events Grants Program we hope to encourage and support a range of new events that the community can come and enjoy.”

Syed Atiq ul Hassan, director of the Chand Raat Eid Festival, said receiving the grant helped support the multicultural event.

“The Community Events Grant from City of Parramatta Council for Chand Raat Eid Festival not only contributed to meeting the financial commitment in organising the event but also elevated the prestige of the event in the community,” Mr Hassan said.

“Council’s support through this grant encourages local residents, businesses and community organisations of the Parramatta area to participate in the event and promote multiculturalism.”

Kazuko Chalker from the Matsuri Japan Festival said: “Council’s Community Events grant was valuable in helping to establish our event, which gives visitors the opportunity to experience Japanese culture and customs, including tea ceremonies, calligraphy and various stage performances.”

Applicants are eligible to receive grant funding to cover up to 20 per cent of their total event budget up to the amount of $10,000 annually. A total of $70,000 in funding is available.

Applications are now open and submissions close at 5pm on Friday 31 January 2020.

For more information or to apply, please visit the Community Events Grant page.