The application process for Waterford City and County Council’s Festivals & Events Grants Scheme 2024 is now open for applications. The scheme aims to help support events across Waterford which help contribute towards making Waterford a more vibrant and sustainable place.
Following the success of some of last year’s festivals offering a more environmental and greener agenda, this year’s application, once again, has an emphasis on sustainability. The Local Authority is looking to work with festivals and events on delivering Waterford’s goal of becoming Ireland’s first carbon neutral area.
This year’s Harvest Festival showcased a range of sustainability measures, such as the use of an innovative form of renewable energy through Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to power the festival, along with a complete ban on all single-use plastics and the provision of onsite refill water stations.
For 2023 Waterford City and County Council allocated €1.5m in festival and event funding. The allocation supports 57 festivals and events throughout Waterford City and County with the aim to promote local festivals that have an economic, tourism, cultural/artistic or community benefit for Waterford. Funding is also in place to provide training support to help local festivals and events develop and grow.
Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Joe Conway is encouraging new festivals to apply for funding, saying, “We are seeing over sixty festivals in the city and county this year alone. They range from the mainstays such as Spraoi, Winterval and Comeragh’s Wild festivals to exciting and first-time festivals like the Waterford International Organ Festival and the Gealach Gorm Fit Up Theatre Festival to name but a few.
“Waterford has an exhilarating and eclectic festival calendar throughout the year. We hope that existing, and new and emerging festivals apply for funding so we can continue to showcase what an amazing, talented, and artistic place Waterford is.”
Applications must be submitted online at www.waterfordfestivals.ie where applicants can also find resources to assist in delivering their event.
The closing date for applications is November 27th, 2023.
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