BRISBANE Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has made a commitment to Brisbane cultural life by allocating record spending of over $2.4 million for community festivals with extra money going towards providing great family events across the city.

Cr Newman said Brisbane was quickly gaining a reputation for its exciting and vibrant festivals and community events.

“Festivals and events contribute to the social, cultural and economic life of our city – and bring benefits to the whole community,” Cr Newman said.

“That is why this year I wanted to give Brisbane families a chance to enjoy free entertainment, like billycart races, carnivals and multicultural festivals, close to their homes,” he said.

Cr Newman said this year’s budget had also allocated an additional $1.7 million for high quality entertainment in the city and suburbs including lunchtime concerts, bands in the park, Stylin’ Up music and dance program and Christmas and Australia Day celebrations.

“This year even more Brisbane families can enjoy free movies in local parks with an increase from four to 10 movies to be screened across Brisbane’s suburban parks.”

Cr Newman said Council would deliver transparency and certainty for festival organisers this year through change to funding arrangements and guaranteed three year funding.

“From now on, City Signature events and Community festivals will be supported for three years – while new festivals will be eligible to attract annual funding,” he said.

Festival Funding Tier 1 (guaranteed three year funding):

1. Riverfestival  $768,000
2. Brisbane Festival $512,000
3. Queensland Music Festival  $200,000
4. Queensland Orchestra $60,000
5. Queensland Choir $60,000
6. Queensland Eisteddfod  $60,000
7. Brisbane International Film  $25,000
8. Brisbane Writers $25,000
9. Mountain to Mangroves/ Oxley $75,000
10. Buddha's Birthday $20,000
11. Paniyiri  $20,000

Total:  $1,825,000

2/2
Festival Funding Tier 2 (guaranteed three year funding):

1. Zillmere Multicultural $15,000
2. First Contact Sports  $15,000
3. 4MBS Classics $10,000
4. Sherwood Community $10,000
5. Einbunpin  $10,000
6. Billy Cart Capers  $15,000
7. Moorooka  $10,000
8. Backyard Bonanza  $15,000
9. Racecourse Rd $15,000
10. Morningside  $10,000
11. Brisbane Jazz and Blues  $15,000
12. Two High Southbank  $10,000
13. Brisbane Cabaret  $10,000
14. Straight out of Brisbane $10,000
15. Chinese cultural $5,000
16. Wynnum Manly Jazz $5,000
17. Eritrean $5,000
18. Indian Bazaar $5,000
19. Iranian  $5,000
20. Sri Lankan  $5,000
21. St Patricks Day $5,000
22. Vietnamese New Moon  $5,000
23. Bluewater $5,000
24. Darra  $5,000
25. Centenary Community $5,000
26. Valley Jazz  $5,000
27. Grass Roots Music  $5,000
28. Indooroopilly State High  $5,000
29. Abruzzo Assoc. Italian  $5,000
30. St Josephs New Farm $5,000
31. Kooemba Jdarra $5,000
32. Uniikup $5,000
33. Vietnamese Tet $5,000
34. Queensland Poetry  $5,000 

Total:  $270,000

Tier 3 funding will be for fully contestable grants to develop new festivals in Brisbane.  A total of  $270,000 will be available for these events.