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Events Sponsorship/Partnership Applications

CONTACT
Economic Development
First Floor, 62 Cathedral Street office complex
Brendan du Plessis bduplessis@george.gov.za
044 801 9111

DOCUMENTS
Click for Events Support Application Form for events taking place 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. (Deadline 30 June 2021)

EVENTS SPONSORSHIP/PARTNERSHIP APPLICATIONS
George Municipality Economic Development section has an Events Partnership programme that supports events taking place in the municipal area in various ways according to the municipality’s available resources. This applies to qualifying local lifestyle, sports and cultural events that have the potential to promote the city as an attractive tourism, lifestyle and investment destination.

The municipality works with event organisers, local organisations, government, industry, media partners and other relevant stakeholders to provide support that could range from basic marketing and funding to availability of services such as traffic and law enforcement, and infrastructure such as venues and sport fields.

While the current Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact on industries across all sectors, the George Municipality remains committed to support responsibly organised events across its municipal area and will assist as much as possible within the limitations and restrictions, and with the resources available to us.

The municipality aims to increase the destination profile of George and surrounds through the leveraging of events that:
• Deliver tourism and economic benefits to the local municipal area.
• Enhance and align with strategic niche activities such sport, adventure, food and beverages, arts and culture.
• Generate extensive media coverage through various channels.
• Attract international and domestic visitors to the city.

AN EVENT MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT IF IT:
• Has a functional website or social media platform that contains all the relevant up-to-date event information.
• Has visitor potential: the extent to which the event may attract visitors, including consideration for the uniqueness of the town/venue where the event is being held (inherent characteristics that may attract visitors).
• Provides significant economic value to the hosting town.
• Has good timing: current support is available for events taking place from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
• Enhances the niche initiatives of sport, adventure, food and beverages, arts and culture.
• Has a marketing plan and budget.
• Is willing to host and/or provide in-kind support for media, trade members or partners.
• Has demonstrated a commitment for growth and ongoing financial viability.

AN EVENT THAT WANTS TO APPLY FOR SUPPORT MUST:
• Address a niche activity aligned with sport, adventure, food and beverages, arts and culture.
• Combat seasonality: events requiring vast amounts of accommodation should not take place in peak accommodation periods.
• Create jobs: the event must have potential to contribute towards job creation.
• Include destination profiling by providing media opportunities and positioning the local town as an events destination and/or gaining wide exposure through various channels that profile the destination as a great place to live, work and play.
• Have an endorsement letter from the regional or local governing body of the sport or business organisation, such as a local Business Chamber or Residents or Ratepayer’s Associations.

GEORGE MUNIPALITY OFFERS SUPPORT THAT MAY INCLUDE:
Financial support
• A call for application for events funding takes place annually between April and June. (2021/22 applications close 30 June 2021)
• A call for proposals is made via the George Herald, the George Municipality website and social media channels.
• Forms are also distributed to known event organisers.
• Approved allocated funding is made towards event infrastructure and marketing and is for a specified period only.
• George Municipality enters into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the organisers of the approved events.
• Events are funded at the sole discretion of the George Municipality’s nominated events committee.
• All decisions are final and binding, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding events not funded.

Marketing
• Listing on websites www.visitgeorge.co.za/Event and www.george.gov.za/events.
• A feature in a dedicated Blog on George Tourism website and included in the Cape Town and Western Cape Events Guide.
• Listing on the George Events Calendar that is electronically distributed to stakeholders every month.
• Social media: hashtags will be provided for individual events.
• Media release: quote of support from the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, relevant Councillor or official.
• Mayor, Deputy Mayor or relevant Councillor attendance to either the event or media launch, or both, depending on availability.
• Permission to erect lamppost posters and banners that bear the sponsorship logo of George Municipality.

Infrastructure and services support
Infrastructure and services support will be considered on a case-by-case basis, must be pre-arranged and may be paid-for according to the municipal fees structure or may be in kind. These may include:
• Municipal venues (closed due to Covid-19 regulations and therefore currently not applicable)
• Equipment
• Permits
• Temporary land use (land-specific and dependent on Covid-19 regulations)
• Road closures and traffic control
• Law Enforcement
• Health and Safety

Sponsor and media hosting
• Hosting opportunities will be considered and discussed with organisers on a case-by-case basis.
• Travel media and influencers may be identified and invited to attend selected regional events.
• George Municipality, in partnership with the event organisers may cover transport, accommodation, entry tickets and meals.
• The hosted media are encouraged to profile the destination on their social media platforms, blogs and websites.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 1: Call for proposals
• This phase runs from April to June every year.
• Application forms and proposals must be submitted via e-mail to bduplessis@george.gov.za or hand-delivered to Brendan du Plessis at the George Municipality Economic Development offices: First Floor, 62 Cathedral Street, George.

Step 2: Events review
The George Tourism Events Committee will analyse each event application as an opportunity to meet its strategic objectives and events sponsorship criteria. Events that align with the destination niche activities such as sport, adventure, food and beverages, arts and culture will be considered.

Step 3: Communication and feedback
• All submitted events applications and proposals are acknowledged immediately.
• Event organisers will be informed if there are outstanding documents or more information required.
• The outcomes of the applications will be communicated, via the e-mail address provided upon submission of application, to the successful and unsuccessful applicants by end of July.

Step 4: Memorandum of Agreement
• George Municipality and the approved event organiser(s) will sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).
• The document will clearly state the role and responsibilities of the parties.
• Upon returning the signed MoA, the event organiser will receive confirmation of the amount sponsored in the form of a Purchase Order for invoicing and payment from the municipality.

Step 5: Monitoring and evaluation
• Event organisers will be provided with an Event Report Template which they will be required to complete in detail and submit with images, within 30 days of the event taking place.
• The event report must highlight the number of attendees, jobs created and estimated economic impact.