Forbes Shire Council has leased VANFEST “to ensure the music festival continues to be held in Forbes with the aim of optimising benefits to the community”.
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Council issued a media release on Monday night, saying it had secured the future of the summer flagship event to continue its contribution to the regional community.
The music festival, in its fourth year, will be managed by co-founder Matt Clifton.
General Manager Danny Green said Council had been negotiating with VANFEST promoters to retain the festival “because of its significant value add to the Forbes Shire each year”.
Now they have entered a lease agreement of the event.
“VANFEST is one of the biggest events held in Forbes and Council acknowledged the strong representation that did not want to see the event lost from the town,” Danny said.
The two-day music event has been earmarked as one way to fulfil a long-term strategy within the region and across NSW, to engage 18 to 25-year-olds.
"An estimated growth increase of up to 6,000-10,000 visitors are drawn to the Shire in attending VANFEST, and with Council’s ongoing support it will ensure the music festival continues to boost our economy through the added resources Council can provide, allowing the event to naturally grow and prosper," Danny said.
Danny said the event would be leveraged for destination marketing for Forbes as well as the region and will continue to create growth in the local visitor economy.
“Council looks forward to strategically growing the event to increase visitor numbers as well improve the visitor experience while visiting Forbes. Council will work with the community to ensure the benefits are far reaching to the business community and community groups.
“Council will continue to engage the professional services of Matt Clifton to manage the event, and Council will be working closely with Matt to make the event a sustainable success.
“The festival market is highly competitive in Australia and Council congratulates the work Matt has done so far in creating this event. The advantages of the event are community focused, and driven, with a manageable and longer-term approach to leverage visitor growth and infrastructure upgrade opportunities under the NSW Government’s Rebuilding NSW Program, the Regional Growth – Environment & Tourism Fund (RGETF).
"We are very excited about this opportunity and we are looking forward to continuing to put Forbes on the map with VANFEST."
Tickets for this year’s event are on sale from 9am Tuesday, July 25. Sign up for all the latest news and announcements on the VANFEST website www.vanfest.com.au
