2023/2024 festivals and activations to ignite the City
Published on 14 September 2023
Council will be injecting $390,000 to help deliver a thrilling array of festivals and events in the upcoming 2023/2024 festival season.
The allocation of funds was endorsed by Council on Tuesday night through the Signature Festivals and Activations Grants Program for 2023/24 will support festivals that represent the vibrant spirit of the City of Maribyrnong, along with place-based activities that will creatively activate public spaces, business precincts and local neighbourhoods.
In total, 18 festivals were approved for funding, including crowd favourites – West Footscray Festival of Colours and Yarraville Festival – and, Westside Slam which will return after a successful inaugural tournament in 2023.
The new festival season begins later this month and concludes with the fiery and family-friendly Blacksmiths Festival taking place next May by the Maribyrnong River in Footscray.
In addition to the festivals supported through this program, Council will also be hosting a range of partnered festivals, including ‘Fringe Westside’ as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, ‘Jazz Westside’ as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and 'Eat Drink Westside' as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, among others.
Furthermore, Council’s signature events will also add some variety, with the Footscray Night Market in early December, a Festive Season program and the spectacular New Years’ Eve Fireworks event in Footscray Park.
Mayor, Cr Sarah Carter, said the funding will help bolster a dynamic mix of community-driven festivals and activations within the City.
“The events calendar for 2023/2024 will draw from our City’s unique mix of cultures, offering celebrations that will continue to draw people to our beloved city.
"Festivals serve as a vibrant tapestry of our diversity and bring our community together to celebrate our uniqueness. It is a pleasure to be able to support these community-driven initiatives," Cr Carter said.
The grants program was created to align with the Festivals and Activation Framework 2022-2026, with applications assessed by Council’s independent Festivals and Visitation Advisory Panel. For more information and updates, please visit www.festivalcity.vic.gov.au
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