The ACT Government has announced a new annual Civic-based ''arts event'' as part of the Canberra Festival in March in the lead-up to the city's 100th birthday celebrations in 2013.

This follows the downgrading of the National Multicultural Festival from 10 to three days and the odd decision to give the National Folk Festival $30,000 to run the Fringe Festival which was previously attached loosely to the Multicultural.

The new event is intended to enliven the city centre and act as a genesis for the centenary celebrations. In this year's budget, the ACT Government committed $14million in funding over the next four years towards celebratory activities.

The Government will call for expressions of interest for the event next week.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times