\nThe sponsorships, worth almost $350,000, will provide certainty for both the Newcastle Writers Festival, and the Anzac Day services delivered by the City of Newcastle Returned Services League (RSL) Sub-branch.
\n
![\"City-commits-to-supporting-flagship-community-events-web.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au\/getattachment\/Council\/News\/Latest-News\/City-commits-to-supporting-flagship-community-even\/City-commits-to-supporting-flagship-community-events-web.jpg.aspx\" "\\"(L-R)")
\nLord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City was committed to supporting these quintessentially Newcastle events, which celebrate culture and the legacy of the Returned Servicemen and Women.
\n\u201cThese three-year sponsorship agreements will provide event organisers with certainty of the City\u2019s assistance for these important community events,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cCity of Newcastle is proud to have been a founding sponsor of the Newcastle Writers Festival, which since its inception in 2013, has grown into a three-day literary event renowned in the cultural community.
\n\u201cThis three-year agreement offers a commitment to the strong community focus of the Newcastle Writers Festival, with more than 40 per cent of its event program free to the public.
\n\u201cThe City of Newcastle will continue its support of the region\u2019s Anzac Day events, which provide community members with a chance to show their respect for the men and women who bravely fought for our freedom and continue to serve our country today.\u201d
\nUnder the terms of the agreement, the City will provide $40,000 per annum ($30,000 value-in-kind and $10,000 cash) to the Newcastle Writers Festival during 2020, 2021 and 2022, ensuring almost all of its events are held in the City\u2019s cultural facilities including City Hall and Newcastle Region Library.
\nThe funding is contingent on Newcastle Writers Festival keeping at least 40 per cent of its events free for the community to attend.
\nEvent organiser Rosemarie Milsom was overjoyed after locking in the long-term sponsorship, ahead of their eighth annual festival in 2020.
\n\u201cI believe this sponsorship, which will secure the venues that are key to our event, is recognition of our contribution to the cultural dynamic of the city,\u201d she said.
\nA separate sponsorship agreement will provide $75,000 per annum to the City of Newcastle Returned Services League (RSL) Sub-branch, supporting their delivery of the Anzac Day dawn service, the Anzac Day march and a United Service of Remembrance at Civic Park for three years from 2020.
\nSub-branch President Ken Fayle acknowledged the importance of the long-term sponsorship agreement, which helped provide certainty around their delivery of the various Anzac Day events.
\n\u201cBy providing alternative commemoration services, it gives everybody within the community the opportunity to attend an Anzac Day event,\u201d he said.
\nMr Fayle said this year\u2019s dawn service was the best attended in Australia, attracting more than 50,000 people to the Camp Shortland site.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"