LEADER Rural Development Programme Supports for Community Festivals and Events

Overview  LEADER Rationale / Criteria  Eligible and Ineligible Projects  Rates & Types of Grant Aid Available  Application Process

Community Festivals and Events   Tourism Measure of the LEADER / Rural Development Programme provides for supports for community festivals and events   Projects must meet guidelines / operating rules and CWP policy for festivals and events

Capital Building modifications / Equipment Analysis & Development Development / marketing Plans Group Marketing Local branding initiatives, cluster activity Training on a group basis to assist with developing the festival / event Rates of Grant Aid: Capital and Collective Marketing projects 50% up to a maximum grant of €150,000. Analysis & Development Projects may seek 75% support to a maximum of €30,000 Types of Grant Aid

Rates & Ceilings Capital and Marketing support Max 75% to a ceiling of €150,000 Feasibility Studies Max 90% to a ceiling of €30,000 Training Max 100% to a ceiling of €15,000 Budget – national allocation

Guidelines   There must be evidence that there are no other sources of funding available e.g. Failte Ireland, Sports programmes/bodies, Heritage Council, Arts Council, Local Authority   Elements of projects must be stand alone   No co-funding with other public bodies   Preference will be given to new and emerging festivals   Existing festivals will only be considered where there is a new aspect that will develop and/or expand the festival /event. The group must provide a very strong case in this regard   Consideration is given to the number of existing festivals in the area   Projects must be innovative

Guidelines ctd   Groups must demonstrate that the project will result in sustainability for the community festival / event   LEADER cannot be an ongoing source of support – the project must demonstrate that it can become self-sustaining   Economic impact – a report on the economic impact achieved must be submitted prior to grant payment

CWP Policies   Capital, PR, Event Management and Marketing support – eligible where its outside the remit of Failte Ireland or other relevant agencies.   Programming funding – this will only be given in exceptional cases to new festivals / events or highly innovative aspects of existing festivals. Eligible costs include marquee hire, fencing, street entertainment etc. This will be assessed on a case by case basis.   Rates – festival / event / marketing groups with a membership of over 50% from the business community will only be eligible to receive business grant rates as there can be no secondary economic beneficiaries (circular 07/10)

CWP Initiatives Community Festival and Events Animator Signposting Networking Good practice guides Training Cluster activity - capital / marketing applications

Application / Decision Process   Projects come through Festival and Events Co-ordinator where relevant   Group submit enquiry form   Application process   Development officer assigned to project   Development Officers present projects to Evaluation Committee   Evaluation Committee make recommendation to the Board   Board makes decision   Department check follows Board decision   Contract Issues - NB this can take up to 2 months from Board Decision. Work cannot start until contracts are signed and returned

Wicklow Festival Supports Package 1. Development of up to date database of festivals and events – networking opportunities 2. Development of a calendar of events and promotion of same (in the form of a brochure) in conjunction with the Gathering including wall chart & postcard – 130,000 copies 3. Capital funding opportunity to be offered to cluster festivals in the region 4. Training opportunities incl. AOIFE Conference/ application traning

Some Potential Clusters in Wicklow – sample of four Bray Summerfest / Greystones Arts Festival / Wicklow Arts Festival/Arklow Seabreeze – Coastal Events Guide Glendalough Arts Festival / Vale of Avoca WH Week/Glendalough Walks Festival / Glendalough Arts Network – PA System/Marquee Knockanstockan / Bray Sumerfest - Large Marquee Tinahely Show / Carnew Show – Ground Tracking Balto Balloon Festival / Baltinglass Music Festival - PA Equipment, signage

Sample LEADER Funding at 75% in Castleblaney  6½ Pages in Northern Standard €6,300  6 x 7 Day Advert on Northern Sound€3,654  Programme Book and fliers €6,218  2011 Annual Calendar€3,993  Seven Pop up Stands with graphics€4,840  6 Aluminium road sign stands€1,975  36 (8ft x 4ft) Road Signs€1,990  40 control barriers€1,920  100 Cones€1,983  24 (10ft x 2ft) Street Banners€1,430  20 Corporate Flags€1,600  1 Outdoor PA System€1,940

Benefits to Date  Increased awareness of events  Increased potential numbers attending events  Professional approach to promotion  Greater synergies amongst groups  Members supporting each others event

Thank You