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2026 Community Arts Applications -

Community Arts Application for the 2026 National Folk Festival, 2nd - 6th April 

 
We're thrilled that you are applying for the 2026 National Folk Festival! As seasoned participants in the festival process, we understand the excitement and effort that goes into these applications. Our goal is to make this process straightforward and meaningful for both you and us. We greatly appreciate the time and energy you dedicate to submitting your application, and we look forward to reviewing it as we build an outstanding Festival for the folk community to enjoy! 

Artistic Directors Chris, Holly and Michael, and the Community Arts volunteer team.   

WE WANT YOU!  

A diversity of artists and groups makes up the heart of the National Folk Festival: musicians, dancers, poets, circus performers, visual artists, crafts folk and artisans among them.  
 
The National Folk Festival actively encourages applications from our First Nations Peoples, our LGBTQI+ communities, people from a non-English speaking background, and people living with diverse access needs, alongside artists with young children. We ask all folks to include in their application any additional costs or supports they may need to participate in the Festival. 

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR? 

In particular, we are looking for folks who align with our Festival ethos of empowering people to connect, create and celebrate, who share our passion for the Festival ethos, and can articulate how their proposal addresses our four guiding principles:  

  • Excellence in artistic vibrancy and community engagement.    
  • Integration between artists and audiences, fostering creative participation.   
  • Inclusivity ensuring all feel welcomed, with a diversity of perspectives showcased.   
  • Sustainability, developing folk communities and cultures to nurture excellence year after year. 

COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM OVERVIEW
  • The Community Arts Program is coordinated by a volunteer team alongside the support of the Festival staff.
  • Workshops are run in the Community Arts area of the Festival site, typically in a marquee divided into spaces suited to different workshop sizes and requirements, fitted with trestle tables and chairs with basic amenities available.
  • Workshops are facilitated by a variety of people including volunteers, stallholders, craft guilds or groups, specialist artisans or artists involved in other aspects of the program (musicians, poets, dancers etc.)
  • Workshops are typically 60 – 90 minutes. Some workshops are scheduled only once during the Festival, whilst others happen once each day, or some may happen twice on the same day.
  • For participants, workshops range from free or low-cost options, through to more expensive offerings. The Community Arts volunteer team administer workshop bookings.
  • The workshops are featured in the hardcopy print program and on the Festival website, alongside general Festival promotion including social media.

FEES, MATERIAL COSTS AND PAYMENT DETAILS  

Due to the inherent variety of the factors listed above, there are a range of ways applicants can be remunerated detailed below:    

  • Volunteer to be part of the Community Arts team and deliver workshops in exchange for a full Festival ticket.
  • Volunteer your time and expertise in exchange for a day pass
  • Receive a partial refund on your Stallholder registration fee
  • Be paid a per-person fee charged to participants attending the workshop
  • Be paid a flat fee by the Festival as a professional artist

Similarly, there are a range of ways that the cost of materials can be covered:

  • Workshop participant fees covers the material costs, with either you or the Festival covering the initial outlay.
  • Material costs are inclusive of your fee.

On the application form you will be asked to to select from these options, with space to provide a breakdown or explanation. 

  • Booked artists and groups are paid a DELIVERED FEE, covering travel, accommodation, and any other costs incurred, unless explicitly negotiated. Include these costs in your fee requests as necessary. National Folk Festival offers an artist camping area for all booked artists who want to bring their own gear. A nominal charge for power may apply in 2026. There are also discounts offered to artists for on-site rent-a-tents, and local hotel accommodation. 
  • Artists and groups receiving a fee must provide their own Public Liability Insurance. Volunteers are covered by the Festival insurances after registering and completing their induction. 

 
Applications close: 30 Nov 2025

FOR MORE INFORMATION   

     

    Artist Name

    Artist Name

    Artist biography for application assessment 
    Please provide a brief overview of your artistic background and experience relevant to your workshop offering/s.
    Artist Bio

    What kind of workshop/s are you offering to present at the Festival?

    Please share descriptions of what workshops you are offering to present at the Festival. We are particularly interested in offerings that help us enact our Festival ethos. Refer to ‘What We Are Looking For’ above as a useful guide.
    • You can submit up to five separate items, click 'add another' for each item.
    • Maximum 300 words for each entry
    Event Title
    Event Description
    Please indicate the proposed length of your workshop, plus any extra time that may be required. (e.g. 90 mins, 10min set up, 5 min pack up)
    Workshop Length
    Please indicate the minimum and/or maximum number of participants each workshop can accomodate (e.g. 10-20 people, or no minimum, 15 max.)
    Participant Numbers
    Please let us know if your workshop is particularly suited to children and families or folks with access needs.
    Suitability
    Please provide details
    Please upload an image of your workshop and/or workshop outcome for publicity purposes
    Upload Artist Photo
    (MAX SIZE 10MB)

    Web links

    Please provide links to your website and social media channels if relevant
    Website
    Instagram
    Facebook
    Youtube

    Requested Fee

    Please refer to 'Fees, material costs and payment details' above as a useful guide. 
    Please select your applicant category
    Please select your proposed payment structure
    Please select how you propose to cover workshop materials


    What is your requested total fee in $AU (artist fee plus any incidental costs) ex-GST? Please enter 0 if volunteering.

    Total fee
    Please tick this box to indicate that you understand that unless otherwise negotiated, this request is an all-inclusive fee (this means accomodation, travel etc will not be paid for or provided on top of this fee)
    What is the artist fee (ex-GST) component of your total fee? Do not include incidental costs such as travel, accommodation or materials here. Superannuation, where applicable, will be paid on this amount. 
    Artist fee
    Please tick this box if you, or the members of your group, are Australian residents for superannuation purposes
    What are the incidental costs (ex-GST) component of your total fee? This may include travel or accommodation for example.
    Incidental costs
    What are the upfront costs of materials required to run your proposed workshop/s?
    Material costs

    Note: Artist fee + Incidental costs + Material costs must = Total fee.     


    Notes on requested fee

    If you would like to share with us how you built your fee proposal, or suggested workshop price per participant you can do so here. 

    Additional fee and/or participant price breakdown (optional)
    Please indicate what you would suggest as the workshop price for participants (per person)
    Suggested participant price

    Postcode
    Postcode

    Do you or anyone in your group identify     as:

    First Nations

    Please select


    Culturally or linguistically diverse (non-English speaking background)
    Please select

    A person living with a disability
    Please select

    What best describes your gender/s? This is an optional question that we ask to help us identify, support and celebrate gender diversity at the Festival.
    Gender/s (Optional)

    When were you last booked to present at the National Folk Festival?
    Options

    How many workshop facilitators are you applying for?

    e.g. just you, you and a helper, three guild members etc.
    Number

    Contact details
    Contact Name
    Email
    Mobile Phone Number

    Availability

    Which days are you available to present your workshop/s? The Festival begins on the Thursday at 5:00pm, with the Community Arts program commencing on Friday morning.
    Days Available:
    Optional participation opportunities

    Live Interview

    Are you interested in being part of an artist interview on stage during the Festival for audiences to learn more about your artistic practice?
    Artist Interview
    Festival Parade

    On the final day of the Festival, a fabulous parade takes place, with many artists taking part alongside our Family Festival and Community Arts teams who lead folks of all ages around the Festival grounds prior to the start of the Farewell Concert. If you would be interested in getting involved please let us know here.
    Festival Parade