More regional events, more often - part of million-dollar boost

Regional South Australia will welcome more events more often, with nearly 40 regional events today receiving a financial boost to help them attract more visitors and support more regional jobs.

Round one of the South Australian Tourism Commission's Regional Event Fund will support 37 regional events - including 16 events receiving support through the Fund for the first time, and eight which are entirely new events to SA.

Premier Steven Marshall today announced the expansion of SA's regional event calendar as A Little More Barossa and the state-wide SALA kick off their month-long festivals. They are among the many events set to share in an extra $1 million allocated to regional events by the State Government.

"We are doing exactly what we said we'd do - more events, more often, delivered across all of South Australia to create and sustain jobs across the state," Premier Marshall said.

"With an extra $1 million for regional events, we're strengthening the state's regional event calendar and helping bring new events to SA, from the Flinders Ranges to the Limestone Coast.

"Regional tourism is going gangbusters, with regional SA breaking all-time occupancy records for seven consecutive months since December. With more and new events across the state, we're giving more reasons for locals to keep seeing SA and we're driving South Australia's economic recovery."

Events to receive grants in round one of the 2021-22 Regional Event Fund include the upcoming Feast Festival in November held at venues across Adelaide, Grapes of Mirth the Festival in the Barossa to be supported through the Fund for the first time, three new events to the Clare Valley, two new events to the Eyre Peninsula, and continued support for popular regional events such the Adelaide Hills wine festival, Winter Reds.

SALA runs from 1-31 August and is the largest community-based open-access visual arts festival in Australia. Supported by the Regional Event Fund, SALA has exhibitions across the state and organisers are delighted the festival is "full-steam ahead".

SALA operations manager Bridget Alfred said in its 24th year, the South Australian Living Arts festival has over 600 exhibitions from the Limestone Coast to the Flinders Ranges, and the program has been largely unchanged by the recent lockdown.

"This year's SALA Festival boasts a huge program of exhibitions in venues from galleries, retail stores and cafes, to studios community spaces. After a heavily virtual 2020 event, we've seen a strong shift back to seeing the work of South Australia's incredible artists in person - we have a record number of 9,167 artists, an increase in the number group shows and we've launched our inaugural regional SALA Weekend in partnership with the Port Pirie Council. There's such a range of art to be explored from border to border, so, download the SALA app to check out what's on and get out across SA this August."

With the support of the Fund, a new month-long food and wine festival in the Barossa, A Little More Barossa, offers more than 70 events at venues across the region.

Barossa regional tourism manager Jess Greatwich said: "We are thrilled to be presenting A Little More Barossa right across the month of August, highlighting the hidden gems, new discoveries and generational tales of our region. With this support we're able to put on such a significant event, featuring the region's diverse and vibrant wine and food offerings and which will generate significant economic benefit for the Barossa."

The Regional Event Fund is managed by the SATC, through Events South Australia, and was allocated additional funding to support more events through a greater range of purposes such as the engagement of short-term specialised personnel, hire of temporary infrastructure, strategic plan development and marketing costs.

The 2021-22 Fund supports events held from 1 September 2021 to 30 August 2022, with grants available from $5,000 to more than $50,000 under four categories. Round two is open from 1 August - 30 September 2021.

Events receiving funding in round one of the 2021-22 Regional Event Fund:

**Note: Some dates still to be confirmed and therefore may change.