Attendees at Pause Fest 2019.
A collective of tech and startup event organisers are demanding changes to the $50 million Business Events Grant Program, saying tight eligibility criteria means “very few events” will receive support.
The call for extended support comes in an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, penned by Pause Fest founder George Hedon and signed by 15 other event organisers.
Signatories include Southstart founder Danielle Seymour, SingularityU co-chief Christina Gerakitkeys, Spark Festival’s Maxine Sherrin and the organisers of TEDx events in Sydney, Melbourne and Docklands.
The letter calls on the government to reconsider the “very narrow” eligibility criteria for the scheme, to open up support to small and medium-sized businesses both those attending and hosting events which it says are currently excluded.