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2027 Community Arts Applications -

Community Arts Application for the 2027 National Folk Festival, Canberra, Ngunnawal Country

Thurs 25th -  Mon 29th March, Easter Long Weekend

 
We're thrilled that you are applying for the 2027 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 each application as we build an outstanding Festival for the folk community to enjoy! 

Artistic Directors Chris & Holly, with 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 traditions year after year. 

COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM OVERVIEW
  • The Community Arts Program is coordinated by a volunteer team alongside Festival staff to offer a rich program of hands on art and craft experiences for Festival attendees.
  • 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, with trestle tables, chairs and basic amenities available.
  • 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.
  • 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.) 
      • For participants, workshops range from free or low-cost options, through to more expensive offerings. Workshop bookings and payments are administered by the Festival in advance, with the Community Arts volunteer team facilitating bookings onsite. 
      • The facilitators and their workshops are featured in the hardcopy print program and on the Festival website, and included in general Festival promotion, including on social media.


        FEES, MATERIAL COSTS AND PAYMENT DETAILS  

        Applicants can select how they would like to be remunerated for the workshop/s they would like to run:    

        • Volunteer your time and expertise to deliver workshops in exchange for a Festival Season Pass or Day Pass/es. 
          • Be paid a fee as a professional artist in addition to your Festival pass. This can be either a flat fee or a variable fee based on workshop attendance.
          • Stallholders who apply to run a workshop/s can receive a partial refund on their Stallholder registration fee.

          The cost of any required workshop materials can be covered by the workshop participant fees, with either you or the Festival covering the initial outlay, or be included in you requested fee below as an incidental cost.

          Applications for 2027 Stallholders will open later in the year, but your Community Arts workshop/s will be considered now as part of the Festival programming. Selecting 'Stallholder' in your application below indicates your intention to apply to run a stall at the 2027 Festival.


              On the application form you below 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. The National Folk Festival offers an artist camping area (BYO gear) for all booked artists. A $50 charge per power cable/site will apply in 2027, first in best dressed, and will be collected from you directly at the camp site. There are also powered sites that artists can book separately, 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. 

               
              Community Arts Applications close: 19 July 2026, 11:59pm.

              FOR MORE INFORMATION   

              • If you have any further questions and can't find answers on our website, email us on artistic.director@folkfestival.org.au by 5pm, 13th July.
              • We will also be holding online information sessions at the following times, where any questions can be asked. Sign up to our mailing list and connect with us through our socials to receive further details, or visit the artist application page of our website on the day for a video call link.    

                Tuesday June 16th - 6pm  
                Thursday July 2nd - 6pm  

              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. You might like to include details about your experience as a workshop facilitator and any personal connections to cultural tradition/s that you want to share through your workshop/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 workshops aimed at passing on culturally specific crafts and skills, and 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
              Workshop Title
              Workshop 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 accommodate (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 a photo of a finished workshop item or a previous workshop 'in action'. If booked, this image will be used to promote your workshop.
              Workshop Photo
              (MAX SIZE 5MB)
              Please upload a high-quality image of yourself or the members of your group/organisation. This will be used 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 the artist fee (ex-GST) component of your total fee?

              If you have selected a variable fee above, please put your proposed minimum artist fee here.

              Do not include incidental costs such as travel, accommodation or materials here. 
              Artist fee
              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.               

              What is your requested total fee in $AUD?

              This is your workshop fee plus any incidental and/or material costs, excluding GST (Goods and Services Tax)

              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)


              Notes on requested fees and workshop costs/prices

              Please share with us how you built your fee proposal, particularly if you have selected the variable fee structure. Sharing further details on material costings, or your expected minimum workshop attendance numbers can assist in assessing your application. 

              The National Folk Festival negotiates fees. If we are interested in booking your workshop we may be in touch to clarify the details of your fee requests.
              Fee and Workshop Cost Notes (optional)

              Do you or anyone in your group identify               as:

              First Nations

              First Nations Artist/s?


              Culturally or linguistically diverse (non-English speaking background)
              Culturally or linguistically diverse?

              A person living with a disability
              A person living with a disability

              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)

              Have you or your organisation presented at the National Folk Festival before? Please select all that apply.
              Options

              How many workshop facilitators are in your group?

              e.g. just you, you and a helper, three guild members etc.
              Total number of people in your group
              How many of these are under 18 years old

              Contact details
              Contact Name
              Email
              Mobile Phone Number
              Postcode

              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