Agricultural societies in the Highlands and Tablelands have the opportunity to strengthen their shows this year through applying for a share of $5 million in grant funding.
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The state government's Country Shows Support Package can be dedicated to facets of shows such as engaging local performers, hiring equipment and making events COVID safe.
AgShows NSW President Tim Capp said these funds would be essential to sustaining country shows and provide agriculture societies with financial confidence.
"Agricultural shows are an integral part of Australian culture and the most authentic and accessible display of Australian farming and regional life," he said.
"Shows are community driven, institutional events that in the recent past have been disrupted by drought, bushfires, floods and COVID-19."
COVID-19 has resulted in over 130 shows and field days being cancelled across NSW.
"These cancellations impact the community, local economy, agriculture competition and the volunteers, who run in the hundreds and thousands," Mr Capp said.
There are three tiers of maximum funding available for agricultural societies that apply.
A total of $15,000 is available for shows that have a crowd of up to 1999 people, shows with between 2000 and 4999 people can respectively secure $30,000 and $45,000 can be secured for large shows that attract an audience over 5000.
Agricultural shows and field days contribute more than $1 billion to the economy every year, attract more than 6 million patrons and are supported by more than 50,000 volunteers.
The $5 million Country Shows Support Package is part of the NSW Government's $200 million Regional Recovery Package, which is going to deliver long-term support and certainty for the regions as the state reopens.
Applications close on April 29 or when the funding has been exhausted.
For further information, including program guidelines and eligibility criteria, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/CountryShows.
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