Funding flows for Festivals but
River of Art runs dry
Council grants and donations program – Recipients announced:
56 recipients of Council’s Community Grants and Donations Program for 2025–26 have been announced with funds totalling just over $223,000 to be distributed across six funding categories supporting local events, community wellbeing and education.
Iconic event recipients were Narooma Oyster Festival and Sea Otter Australia, each receiving $75,000 dollars across three years, and Sculpture for Clyde receiving $45,000 dollars across three years.
Major events recipients include Crank It Up Batemans Bay, Narooma Forest Rally, Sharkskin NSW IRB Championship, Fungi Feastival, Fox Superflow Eurobodalla Gravity Coast Racing, and Coastrek South Coast.
After 21 years of operation, the River of Art Festival was not awarded funding for the 2026–2028 period.
The Festival reported “River of Art has received support from Eurobodalla Shire Council over many years and was previously recognised as one of only two ‘Hallmark Events’ in the Shire, a status we held for six years across two funding rounds in acknowledgement of our significant cultural and economic contribution.
In 2024 alone, the Festival contributed over $14 million in economic return for the region.
Since 2022 River of Art has consistently contributed approximately $10 million annually to the Eurobodalla economy. (2024 Outcomes Report linked 2024 Outcomes Report).”
“The data speaks for itself. But relying solely on economic metrics is an incomplete picture — and misses the deeper value of what the Festival brings to this region.”
Eurobodalla Mayor Hatcher said Council’s focus was on supporting events, projects and programs that align with Eurobodalla’s Community Strategic Plan. Recipients of the event funding streams also aligned strongly with the Eurobodalla Destination Action Plan and the Eurobodalla Events Strategy.
“While grant funding isn’t intended to be the primary source of income for events, it plays an important role in helping organisers add extra elements or elevate their event to the next level,” Mayor Hatcher said.
“Council’s support enables these opportunities to happen.”
Mayor Hatcher said this year’s program was hugely competitive, with assessment panel judges reviewing 122 applications, totalling over $950,000 in grant funding and donations requested – more than quadruple the budget allocated.
“Even though we could not fund everyone, the response has been great to see there’s still strong interest in Council supporting events, projects and programs across the region,” Mayor Hatcher said.
A full list of recipients is available on Council’s website.
Mayor Hatcher mentioned how challenging it can be to run an event and, while not all applicants received funding, Council’s events team continues to help organisers navigate the process and provide plenty of in-kind support.
“Each year Council helps facilitate around 90 events on community land,” he said.
“Events not only bring people together, but they also bring real economic value. Regional NSW sees more than a billion dollars of event-related visitor spending each year, and that money lands directly in local cafes, accommodation, shops and tour operators.
“Council’s investment in local events pays off for the whole community. When we back events, we are backing local jobs and a stronger regional economy.”
2026 successful recipients
Iconic events grant
Iconic Event funding is provided across a three year program.
These activities have been awarded funding across three years (2026, 2027, and 2028):
- Narooma Oyster Festival Limited T/A Narooma Rocks:
$75,000 ($25,000 per year) for Narooma Oyster Festival - Rocky Trail Entertainment Pty Ltd:
$75,000 ($25,000 per year) for Sea Otter Australia - Sculpture For Clyde Incorporated:
$45,000 ($15,000 per year) for Sculpture for Clyde
Major event funding
These activities have been awarded funding across two years, with allocations provided in 2026 and 2027:
- Brindabella Motor Sports Club Inc:
$10,000 ($5,000 each year) for Narooma Forest Rally - Broulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club:
$10,000 ($5,000 each year) for Sharkskin NSW IRB Championship - Rocky Trail Entertainment Pty Ltd:
$12,000 ($6,000 each year) for Fox Superflow Eurobodalla Gravity Coast Racing - Batemans Bay Rock’n’Rollers:
$18,000 ($9,000 each year) for Crank It Up Batemans Bay - Fungi Feastival Association Inc:
$20,000 ($10,000 each year) for Fungi Feastival - Wild Women On Top Pty Ltd:
$20,000 ($10,000 each year) for Coastrek South Coast
Community events grant
- Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber:
$2,000 for Christmas in July - Broulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club:
$2,000 for Broulee Bay to Breakers Ocean Swim - Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels:
$1,500 for Christmas in July - Fortem Australia Limited:
$2,000 for A Day of Thanks at Mogo Wildlife Park - Mirrabooka Riding Club:
$2,000 for Mirrabooka Showjumping Cup - Narooma Woodies (The Narooma District Woodcrafters Association):
$1,500 for Far South Coast Regional Exhibition of Woodwork - North Shore Sporting Car Club:
$2,000 for Rally of the Bay - South Coast Seaweed:
$2,000 for Sea Country Connections: Seaweed Foraging and Ocean Conservation Workshops - Southern Women’s Group:
$2,000 for Play, Lead, Inspire: Elevating Women and Girls in Sport (South Coast forum) - Surfair Motor Sports Club Inc:
$1,000 for RSA 4 Cylinder Aussie Title - Tilba Chamber of Commerce Inc:
$2,000 for Tilba Festival
Community wellbeing grant
2026 successful recipients
- 2earFM:
$2,000 for On-Air Wellbeing: Access for All - Australian Breastfeeding Association
$1,650 for ABA Eurobodalla Postpartum Wellbeing Program - Broulee Surfers Surf Life Saving Club:
$2,000 for building surf lifesaving capability - Campbell Page Limited:
$2,000 for The PEEP Learning Together program - Dalmeny Narooma Bushwalkers Incorporated:
$600 for volunteer leaders’ first aid training - Malua Boardriders Inc:
$2,000 for Being Swell - Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council:
$2,000 for Wallaga Lake Breakfast Club - Moruya Amateur Swimming Club:
$2,000 for “Stroke & Strength” swim development clinics for youth wellbeing - Mrs Farann Bussa:
$1,751 for Darwin Polocrosse Nationals - Noah’s Inclusion Services:
$2,000 for inclusive therapy-based school holiday workshops - Relationships Australia Canberra and Region:
$2,000 for Pride Ready – Queerobodalla - Rotary Club of Moruya:
$2,000 for Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) - South Coast Volleyball:
$2,000 for expansion of playing venues - St Cecilia Youth Music Scholarships:
$2,000 for St Cecilia Youth Music Scholarships - The Circle Foundation Cooperative Ltd:
$2,000 for Dementia Choir - Tollgates Combined Probus Club Inc: $2,000 for the acquisition of laptop computer