Major event grant
Kuopio wants to be a partner of the event organizer and with its activities enables the smooth organization of the event in Kuopio. As a partner, we can communicate the event in the city’s media, advise on permit and space matters, and possibly support the event financially.
What is the Major Event Grant?
The City of Kuopio allocates budget funds for event grants, intended to enable events organised in Kuopio. The purpose is to support events that are significant for the city and that generate clear regional economic impacts, image benefits, and attractiveness. Event grants may be awarded for organising and production costs, separately defined development targets, as well as for enabling new events through start-up funding.
Applications are evaluated, and possible funding is determined according to the evaluation criteria approved by the city and the available funds. Event grant applications are assessed based on their impact. Grants may be awarded for organising costs, development needs, and initial or development funding for new events. Eligible applicants include legally competent organisations such as associations, cooperatives, and companies.
The most important criteria for evaluating event support:
- Regional economic effects of the event and ROI calculation, e.g. tourism revenue effect.
- The possibilities of using the event in city marketing, e.g. the visibility and marketing of the event and the target groups of the event.
- The welfare effects of the event, e.g. health effects, promotion of exercise and hobby activities, community and equality.
- The event’s sustainable operating model, resource wisdom, environmental effects and the event organizer’s responsibility.
- Development and growth goals of the event.
Instructions
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Event grant applications are processed on an ongoing basis by the event team. The typical processing time is 2–3 weeks. After processing, a positive or negative official decision is made, and approximately one month should be reserved for the decision to become legally valid.
Applicants may be asked to provide additional information if necessary, and applications can also be supplemented afterwards using an additional information form. Requests for supplementary information will affect the processing time.
Please ensure that you apply for funding well in advance and complete the application as carefully as possible.
The grant is always partial funding. Please ensure that your production has other sources of financing, and that these are included in the application. Funding cannot exceed 50% of the total costs, and is typically less than 30%.
Apply for event funding electronically via the e-service by completing the event grant application form. The grant is always paid after the event has been organised or the production has been completed, within the same calendar year.
Submit the event grant report through the same e-service no later than two (2) months after the event has ended, within the same calendar year. During the event, make sure that visitor numbers and other key information are recorded. Also compile the final costs and financing.
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Submit the event grant report to the City of Kuopio within a maximum of two (2) months after the activity has taken place, and within the same calendar year.
The report is submitted through the same e-service used for the application; there is no separate reporting form. You may supplement the report after submission if needed.
How to submit the report:
- Open your event grant application in the e-service.
- Select Additional Information Form – Event Grant Report.
- Complete the required details and submit the report.
Payment
The event grant is always paid after the event has been organised or the production has been completed, within the same calendar year.
Before payment, the event grant report is reviewed, as well as any receivables of the City of Kuopio. The City has the right to offset any recoverable receivables in part or in full against the granted funding.
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Event grant applications are processed in the City of Kuopio’s Business Services, according to the appropriations and evaluation criteria set by the City Board.
Applications are assessed by the event team, and official decisions are made by the Director of Business Services. For larger grants, decisions are made by the Economic Development Committee.
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Event grants are not intended to cover rental costs for the City of Kuopio’s own premises or areas.
Event grants are also not awarded for:
- basic operations of the applicant or the use costs of their own premises or equipment
- local camps, courses, or training
- individual matches or sports game events
- prizes, catering, or fireworks
- private events or galas
- theatre productions, performances, individual concerts, or gigs
Contact us
Event team
Our Kuopio Grant
The Our Kuopio Grant supports activities organised by associations, communities, and residents in Kuopio. The goal of the grant is to strengthen community-building, support community development, enhance residents’ wellbeing, encourage collaborative activities, and promote equality.
The one-time grant is intended for a wide range of community-enhancing activities that are open to everyone (e.g., events, small excursions, courses and clubs, bicycle repair workshops, neighborhood wellbeing projects). All activities must be free of charge and open to all.
Event Cooperation
Professional large-scale event organizers operating in the Kuopio area may propose event cooperation to the City of Kuopio’s Vitality Services. The aim of this cooperation is to strengthen the city’s vitality, well-being, and visibility. Proposals are evaluated by the event team based on their impact and alignment with the city’s values. The cooperation may include marketing visibility as well as activities that promote value-based well-being.
