The Bondi Festival Local program is for arts and cultural events. We are seeking proposals from local businesses, groups, venues and organisations to host events that respond to Bondi Festival’s values of celebrating:

• Arts
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Community, and
• Joy.

The program will not include projects that are deemed to be brand activations and/or marketing projects. If you are interested in these kind of sponsorship opportunities, please visit our Partnerships page. Please note, submitting your event does not automatically grant the event inclusion in the program.

Inclusion Criteria

• Artist-led: Bondi Festival Local is designed to showcase projects that have artists and creative ideas at their core
• Accessible: Free or affordable to attend, appealing, and highly accessible to a broad variety of demographics, including families, older people and people living with disability
• Opportunities: Provides opportunities for our vibrant local arts community
• Unique: Contributes something unique and appealing to the Bondi Festival Local program
• Vibe: Aligns with Bondi Festival’s values.

Examples of events suited to the Bondi Festival Local program:

• Live music gigs
• Open-mic nights
• Comedy nights
• ‘Meet the Author’ talks
• Food Safaris
• Theatre shows
• Art exhibitions
• ‘Meet the Artists’ gallery event
• Specially-themed edition of a regular arts and culture event, or an extension of your regular artistic/creative services.

Examples of events not suited to the Bondi Festival Local program:

• Regular events e.g. weekly pub trivia, book club, etc.
• Regular classes e.g. yoga, dance, pilates, etc.
• Regular workshops e.g. guitar lessons, etc.
• Brand launches and launch parties
• Brand activations and promotions
• Busking
• Set menus at restaurants.

By presenting your events as part of Bondi Festival Local, you will receive:

• Event inclusion and promotion via the Bondi Festival website
• Inclusion in the overall Festival marketing, social media and publicity campaigns
• Festival-branded digital assets to help promote your event
• Increased awareness of your business’ cultural cachet among a diverse range of event attendees, incorporating both locals and visitors
• Engagement with existing customers and potential new customers through direct access to thousands of participants
• Inclusion in an exciting and evolving local arts festival

I want to get involved. Now what?

1. Decide what event/s you want to present as part of the Bondi Festival Local program
   Reach out to your network or look at what events you already have planned across the Festival dates (5-21 July 2023). Before applying, ensure you have read through all the information in the menu below, as well as the Bondi Festival Local Terms and Conditions.
2. Submit events via the Bondi Festival Local EOI
   Click here to begin your registration. You have until 29 April. 
3. Confirmation of events from Bondi Festival
   Once Bondi Festival confirms your participation in Bondi Festival Local, a written agreement will be created between the Festival and your organization outlining the responsibilities of both parties.
4. Market your event (once the Festival has launched!)
   Bondi Festival will be in touch in the lead-up to all events going on sale, to ensure that you have everything ready to go on sale. During this time, Bondi Festival will provide you with Brand Guidelines and you should also work with your team to create a marketing plan and promote your events once tickets are on sale.
5. Delivery of your Bondi Festival Local events
   The fun part! Now is the time to deliver your event, ensuring you’ve covered not only the creative side of things, but things like venue set up, front of house management and risk management.
6. Post-Festival reporting
   After the Festival you will be required to report final attendance figures, as well as answer some evaluative questions about your events.

If you need any assistance in registering your event EOI, or have any questions related to the program, please contact bondifestival@waverley.nsw.gov.au

APPLY NOW

Are there any costs involved in being part of the Bondi Festival Local program?
There are no fees to be part of the program. All associated artist and event fees are the responsibility of the venue/organisation.

If I sign up to the program, will you program artists into my venue?
No. This is an opportunity for businesses/organisations to produce their own events as part of Bondi Festival Local.

Do Bondi Festival Local events have to give a cut of the ticket sales to Bondi Festival?
No! You retain all your own ticket sales.

Will Bondi Festival provide marketing and PR for Bondi Festival Local events?
Bondi Festival will provide overall marketing for the Festival which includes the Bondi Festival Local program of events. However, the Festival will not provide marketing for individual events. This is the responsibility of the individual event organiser.

Will Bondi Festival staff be available to help me deliver my event?
Bondi Festival staff will be at hand to assist with any queries that you have throughout the process, however they will not be available to assist in the delivery of your event. Please ensure you have the appropriate staff on board to deliver your event.

I am a local organisation but don’t have a venue in which to present my event. Will Bondi Festival help me arrange a venue?
Bondi Festival will not be able to arrange a venue for you. Businesses are encouraged to work together to present their Bondi Festival Local events.

Can my regular (weekly/monthly) event be included in the Bondi Festival Local program?
If your regular event aligns with the Bondi Festival values – and you can give it a specific Bondi Festival ‘twist’ – then please apply!

Will the Festival provide ticketing for my event?
Free and ticketed events are welcome! Bondi Festival will host your ticketing on the Festival website, however it is the responsibility of the event organiser to set up ticketing for the event.