News

What you need to know

19 January 2022

The aim of the Bondi Festival Local program is to encourage more arts and cultural events within Bondi’s business community – supporting local businesses and local artists by encouraging more visitors to explore Bondi in winter. We are seeking proposals from local businesses to host events that respond to Bondi Festival’s values of celebrating:

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

We encourage you to think creatively about the events you would like to produce as part of Bondi Festival Local and pitch them accordingly. If you’re an artist with an idea for an event, you’re encouraged to partner with a local business to create a specialised performance opportunity.

The program will not include projects that are deemed to be brand activations and/or marketing projects. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please visit the Bondi Festival Partnerships Page.

Criteria for inclusion in Bondi Festival Local program

  • Artist-led: Bondi Festival Local is designed to showcase projects that have artists and creative ideas at their core
  • A sense of eventhood: Think ‘food safari tour around the suburb’ rather than ‘Festival-themed set menu’
  • Accessible: Free or affordable to attend, appealing, and highly accessible to a broad variety of demographics, including families, older people and people living with a disability
  • Opportunities: Provides opportunities for our vibrant local arts community
  • Unique: Contributes something unique and appealing to the Bondi Festival program
  • Vibe: Aligns with Bondi Festival’s values

NB: Please note, submitting your event does not automatically grant the event inclusion in the Bondi Festival Local program.

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. For example, rather than your regular life drawing classes, you could host a class where the model tells stories of their life.

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, cheese-making, etc.
  • Brand launches and launch parties
  • Brand activations and promotions
  • Busking
  • Set menus at restaurants