Starting in 2026, the Eureka Springs City Advertising & Promotion Commission will change the guidelines of funding requests for events, as well as the timing for when those requests should be made to be considered by the commission.
As previously, applications may be submitted by printout provided by the CAPC or accessed online at visiteurekasprings.com. Applications will be considered during the meetings in February, May, August, and November, and a representative of the applying event must be present.
Combined with a requirement that events receive marketing support two months prior to the event this means, as an example, events happening in December need support requests turned into the CAPC prior to their August meeting.
Guidelines for funding include:
- All funds must be used for promotion and advertising of the event.
- Fifty percent of advertising must take place within a one-hour drive of Eureka Springs.
- Each application will be scored by the Tourism Director for potential economic impact before being presented to commissioners.
- Maximum funding is $5,000.
- Approved funds can only be applied for the specified event and may not be used for subsequent events or carried over into another calendar year event.
- Incomplete or insufficient applications will automatically be returned. Corrected applications may be returned but will receive a new “receipt date.”
- No more than 90 days (or end of calendar year, whichever comes first) after an approved funded event has ended, will receipts be accepted for reimbursement in keeping with funding guidelines.
The funding support request guidelines also state that while the CAPC reserves the right to continue to fund events for a longer period it is their intention that “no single, same event be routinely funded for longer than three years.” As in the past, the applicant must also handle needed permits, reservations, and other considerations regarding local municipalities and participating entities. A narrative report within 90 days of the event must also be filed that details the use of funds.
For a full list of the new guidelines coming into effect in 2026 you can go to visiteurekasprings.com/partners.