Pako Festa will command a third of council’s Community Events Fund after organisers initially asked for an amount equivalent to half its money.
Councillors agreed this week to give the multicultural festival $100,000 a year for the next three years, an annual contribution almost 25 per cent higher than 2019’s $82,000 contribution.
Event organiser Diversitat initially wanted $150,000 a year from council to match the Andrews Government’s annual contribution.
Council previously funded grants for Pako Festa from City Hall’s Geelong Major Events funding but would now tap the Community Event Fund’s annual allocation of $300,000 after this week’s vote, City Hall said.
“The new agreement means council will continue its proud 18-year support of the iconic event.
“The City will continue (also) providing in-kind support to the event, including free use of the Geelong West Town Hall.”
The Pako Festa street festival began in 1983, with multicultural services provider Diversitat organising and managing the event for almost 20 years.
City Hall called the festival an “opportunity for local and regional cultural groups to promote cultural diversity”.
“In continuing to provide funding to Diversitat, council is demonstrating a commitment to support one of Geelong’s most significant cultural community events,” City Hall said.
Council was initially set to knock back Diversitat’s request for more money and provide the same amount of funding as last year until councillor Kylie Grzybeck successfully moved an amendment to fork out more cash.
“As chair of (council’s) multicultural action plan advisory committee, I’m pleased council has agreed to allocate Pako Festa $100,000 a year over three years (because) the event is a fabulous showcase and celebration of our cultural diversity,” she said.
“This iconic festival also brings in a $5.5 million economic impact to Greater Geelong.
Council has a strategic objective to put the community first and we are putting our funding where the community will benefit the most, by encouraging participation and increasing understanding of the multicultural community’s contributions made to the region.”
