Sydney Festival seeks to foster an inclusive and secure environment that extends to everyone involved in the celebration of the arts, including our audiences, artists, workers, and volunteers. Our commitment is to create an event that warmly embraces diversity and reflects the richness of our community.

We champion the rights of all individuals to enjoy freedom of speech and expression, recognising its centrality in the creation of great art.

At this moment there is distress within communities and across the nation caused by the tragic loss and suffering of innocent lives due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. We trust our community to be united in a call for the protection of all innocent lives caught in the conflict whilst acknowledging that there is deep division on how this is best achieved.

Recognising our collective duty to foster a safe and inviting environment for everyone, we urge all those involved in the Festival – be they audience members, artists, staff, or volunteers – to actively embrace this responsibility. We ask individuals to collaborate with us in building an atmosphere of safety and inclusivity, characterised by mutual respect and tolerance.

Sydney Festival acknowledges the 29 clans of the Eora Nation, the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Festival takes place. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities.

Embracing the art of summer since 1977, Sydney Festival is a city-wide celebration of culture, creativity and the questioning mind. From the streets to the beach, in stately theatres and in secret basements, it animates locations across Greater Sydney with a trailblazing free and ticketed program of theatre, music, dance, visual art and all the experimental in-between places of live performance.

As a dedicated commissioner of new Australian works, Sydney Festival showcases our nation’s diverse storytellers to the world, whilst drawing the world’s finest artists to Sydney.

Many of Australia’s most memorable productions have resulted from Sydney Festival commissions and premieres, including Cloudstreet (1998), Black Chicks Talking (2003), Three Furies (2005), uniquely Australian musical The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom (2007), the outrageous cabaret Smoke and Mirrors (2010), The Secret River (2013), Black Diggers (2014), contemporary circus ensemble Circa’s Humans (2017), multi-award-winner Counting and Cracking (2019), BLACK TIES (2020), Gravity & Other Myths’ The Pulse (2022), landmark First Nations production Wudjang: Not the Past (2022), Legs On The Wall’s epic work of scale THAW (2022) and Stephanie Lake’s critically acclaimed Manifesto (2023).

We're proud to have hosted major Australian musicians, performers and comedians including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Gotye, Regurgitator, Emma Donovan, Tex Perkins, Megan Washington, Meow Meow, Christa Hughes, Yana Alana, Celia Pacquola, Joseph Tawadros Quartet and Amyl and the Sniffers.

World-leading artists and companies that have shared work with Sydney Festival audiences in recent years include Lithuanian artists Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė, and Lina Lapelytė’s opera-performance Sun & Sea, James Thierry’s ROOM, and Spain’s formidable queen of flamenco Sara Baras’ Alma (2023); UK electronic legend Leon Vynehall’s Floors of Heaven (2022); Lars Jan and Early Morning Opera’s Joan Didion’s The White Album, performance artist Bryrony Kimmings’ I’m A Phoenix, Bitch, and choral choir Tenebrae (2020); Schaubühne Berlin and Complicité’s Beware of Pity, Ethiopian legend Mulatu Astatke, Neneh Cherry, and American artist Nick Cave’s epic exhibition UNTIL (2019); Wayne McGregor, Olafur Eliasson and Jamie xx’s ballet collaboration Tree of Codes, National Theatre’s Barber Shop Chronicles, The Wooster Group’s The Town Hall Affair, Pussy Riot Theatre’s RIOT DAYS, and DryWrite and Soho Theatre’s hit Fleabag (2018); Complicité’s The Encounter, Cheek By Jowl with Pushkin Theatre’s Measure For Measure (2017); James Thierry’s Tabac Rouge (2015); Sasha Waltz’s underwater dance opera Dido and Aeneas (2014); and Ludger Engels and Vivienne Westwood’s Baroque-punk Semele Walk (2013).

These works join a long roster and legacy of extraordinary work and artists including: Ariane Mnouchkine and Thèâtre du Soleil (Flood Drummers); Robert Wilson (The Black Rider); Robert Lepage (Far Side of the Moon, The Andersen Project, Lipsynch); Nederlands Dans Theater; Philip Glass; Ian McKellen (Dance of Death); Batsheva Dance Company; National Theatre of Scotland (Beautiful Burnout, Black Watch, Aalst); Al Green; Chaka Khan; Andrew Weatherall; AR Rahman; Angélique Kidjo; Kneehigh Theatre (Tristan & Yseult, The Red Shoes); and Fabulous Beast (Rian).

For more information on Sydney Festival down the years, visit our archive.

Olivia Ansell was announced as the new Festival Director for 2022 by the Sydney Festival Board of Directors in June 2020.

Olivia, a highly accomplished arts professional with over two decades’ experience as a director, choreographer and performing artist, commenced her three-year tenure in November 2020, coming to the role after two and a half years as Head of Contemporary Performance at Sydney Opera House.

Voted one of Vivid Sydney’s Top 100 Creative Catalysts, Olivia possesses a vast breadth of art experience, including roles as co-Executive Producer and creative force behind the hugely-popular immersive experience Hidden Sydney; Artistic Director of Sydney Comedy Festival at Sydney Town Hall; Curator of Kings Bloody Cross for Vivid Ideas; producer of Richard Walley OAM and Nigel Jamieson’s large-scale concert spectacular, HOME for Perth International Arts Festival; Consultant Executive Producer for OzAsia Festival Adelaide; and inaugural Executive Producer of Shaun Parker & Company. She is also a lecturer in Movement for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s Con Opera School.

Since 2017, Olivia has curated and championed a diverse range of maverick storytellers to the Sydney Opera House stage, including Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow’s cult musical SIX; Hofesh Shechter’s critically acclaimed Grand Finale; Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights; A O Lang Pho by Cirque Nouveau du Vietnam; Natalia Osipova and David Hallberg’s Pure Dance and Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby’s hit show, Douglas.

The full announcement can be read here.

Previous directors were:
Wesley Enoch AM 2017–2021
Lieven Bertels: 2013–2016
Lindy Hume: 2010–2012
Fergus Linehan: 2006–2009
Brett Sheehy: 2002–2005
Leo Schofield: 1998–2001
Anthony Steel: 1995–1997
Stephen Hall: 1977–1994

Sydney Festival was conceived by the Sydney Committee, the NSW State Government and the City of Sydney to attract Sydneysiders into the city centre during the holiday month of January.

The first Festival took place in 1977 and it has since grown to become one of Australia's largest annual cultural celebrations with an international reputation for modern, popular and intelligent programming. Sydney Festival celebrates our city, and the Festival’s style and energy reflect the confidence, diversity and vigour of one of the world's most beautiful cities. 

The Festival has a rich history of bringing the world’s best artists and companies to Sydney stages, and showcasing and nurturing the best of Australia’s homegrown talent.

Many of Australia’s most memorable productions have resulted from Sydney Festival commissions and premieres, including highlights from Cloudstreet (1998) to Black Chicks Talking (2003), Three Furies (2005), uniquely Australian musical The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom (2007), the outrageous cabaret Smoke and Mirrors (2010), The Secret River (2013), Black Diggers (2014), contemporary circus ensemble Circa’s Humans (2017), multi-award-winner Counting and Cracking (2019) and BLACK TIES (2020).

The buzz of Sydney in January wouldn’t be the same without Festival appearances from major Australian musicians, performers and comedians including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Gotye, Regurgitator, Emma Donovan, Tex Perkins, Megan Washington, Meow Meow, Christa Hughes, Yana Alana and Celia Pacquola.

World-leading artists and companies that have shared work with Sydney Festival audiences in recent years include Lars Jan and Early Morning Opera’s Joan Didion’s The White Album, performance artist Bryrony Kimmings’ I’m A Phoenix, Bitch, and choral choir Tenebrae (2020); Schaubühne Berlin and Complicité’s Beware of Pity, Ethiopian legend Mulatu Astatke, Neneh Cherry, and American artist Nick Cave’s epic exhibition UNTIL (2019); Wayne McGregor, Olafur Eliasson and Jamie xx’s ballet collaboration Tree of Codes, National Theatre’s Barber Shop Chronicles, The Wooster Group’s The Town Hall Affair, Pussy Riot Theatre’s RIOT DAYS, and DryWrite and Soho Theatre’s hit Fleabag (2018); Complicité’s The Encounter, Cheek By Jowl with Pushkin Theatre’s Measure For Measure (2017); James Thiérrée'sTabac Rouge (2015); Sasha Waltz’s underwater dance opera Dido and Aeneas (2014); and Ludger Engels and Vivienne Westwood’s Baroque-punk Semele Walk (2013), to name but a few.

These works join a long roster and legacy of extraordinary work and artists including: Ariane Mnouchkine and Thèâtre du Soleil (Flood Drummers); Robert Wilson (The Black Rider); Robert Lepage (Far Side of the Moon, The Andersen Project, Lipsynch); Nederlands Dans Theater; Philip Glass; Ian McKellen (Dance of Death); Batsheva Dance Company; National Theatre of Scotland (Beautiful Burnout, Black Watch, Aalst); Al Green; Chaka Khan; Andrew Weatherall; AR Rahman; Angélique Kidjo; Kneehigh Theatre (Tristan & Yseult, The Red Shoes); and Fabulous Beast (Rian).

For more information on each Sydney Festival visit our archive.

PATRON
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales

Andrew Cameron AM
Andrew has served on the boards of the Biennale of Sydney, Belvoir, SCAF, ACCA, and Melbourne Art Fair and Foundation. He was Deputy Commissioner for Australia’s presentation at the Venice Biennale, is currently Chair of the Foundation at Art Gallery of New South Wales, Chair of Artspace, and is a member of the International Council of the Tate in London – as well as sitting on the Tate Asia-Pacific Advisory Committee. 

He holds the position of Executive Chairman for a group of private businesses and has had previous careers in architecture and merchant banking. In addition, Andrew was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for significant services to the performing and visual arts.

Paddy Carney 
Partner
PwC Australia

Paddy is a member of the Global Board overseeing the PwC international network and chairs its Risk & Operations Committee. She is also a member of the Board of Partners of PwC Australia and chairs its Finance & Operations Committee. She has over 25 years' financial experience with PwC in the UK and Australia advising a broad range of clients with a focus on retail, consumer, hospitality and agribusiness. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women.

Producer
Blackfella Films

Since joining Blackfella Films in 2000 Darren has produced many award-winning factual productions for SBS including the landmark multi-platform history series First Australians, feature documentaries The Tall Man, Deep Water - The Real Story and In My Own Words, two seasons of the Logie Award-winning First Contact, plus the series DNA Nation, How ‘Mad’ Are You? and two seasons of Filthy Rich and Homeless.

In collaboration with acclaimed UK writer Jimmy McGovern, Darren has also produced, with Miranda Dear, two series and a telemovie of the Logie Award and AACTA Award-winning Redfern Now for ABC1. He also produced with Miranda Dear the telemovie Mabo, commissioned by the ABC to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the landmark High Court decision, and the crime drama Deep Water for SBS.

He was Executive Producer on the Logie and AACTA Award winning teen drama series Ready for This for ABC3.

Darren currently serves on the board of NIDA and AFI and was previously on the board of Sydney Film Festival, Screen NSW and the Council of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). In 2012 he was the recipient of the prestigious AFTRS Honorary Degree.

Kate Dundas
Non-Executive Director

Kate has enjoyed a career in media, public policy and cultural leadership. She held senior executive roles in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in both corporate and content areas, including five years as Director of ABC Radio. She has also held several senior government roles including Deputy Secretary Arts & Culture in NSW and most recently Executive Director of Performing Arts at the Sydney Opera House. Kate is a mentor for emerging and established leaders, working both independently and with McCarthy Mentoring. Kate is Deputy Chair of the Board of Australia for UNHCR and chairs its Leadership and Nominations Committee. She also currently serves on the NSW Multi Arts and Festivals Board. 

Kate has previously served on other boards including the Australian Film, Radio and Television School where she also chaired the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. She is a Vincent Fairfax Fellow (Centre for Ethical Leadership, University of Melbourne), holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Charles Sturt University), is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Subject Matter Expert contracted by KPMG on specific arts and culture projects.

Dr Robert Lang
Director

Dr Robert Lang is a leader in city building, community engagement, strategic urban planning, economic development, creating great public places, transport infrastructure, place management, arts, tourism and energy.

He has extensive experience in the public service, gained within a combination of state & local government businesses.

He has a long involvement in the arts, theatre production and direction, music creation and performance, training young people in the performing arts, delivering arts to western Sydney audiences and significant experience in outdoor events.

He has a focus on place making and place development and bringing together the drivers for making great cities. He has a keen interest in the potential of western Sydney to provide business growth & economic development opportunities and the goal of making Sydney a livable city with more jobs closer to home.

As a former CEO for Parramatta City Council he understands local government, knows how to develop a compelling vision for the city and deliver major new city property & infrastructure developments. He brought major new events to Parramatta, implemented a new place-making focus and initiated the Western Sydney Light Rail project.

Dr Lang currently serves on the Riverside Advisory Committee and has a number of interests in the not for profit sector including disability services, affordable housing, education and the arts.

Karen Mundine 
CEO and Company Secretary, Reconciliation Australia

Karen Mundine is from the Bundjalung Nation of northern NSW. As the CEO and Company Secretary at Reconciliation Australia, Ms Mundine brings to the role more than 20 years’ experience leading community engagement, public advocacy, communications and social marketing campaigns. Over the course of her career she has been instrumental in some of Australia’s watershed national events including the Apology to the Stolen Generations, Centenary of Federation commemorations, Corroboree 2000 and the 1997 Australian Reconciliation Convention.

Ms Mundine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Technology Sydney and is a Director of the Gondwana Choirs and the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre.

Previous roles include Mary Mackillop Board Director, Deputy Chief Executive and General Manager Communication and Engagement, Reconciliation Australia; Senior Consultant, CPR Communications; senior public affairs and communications roles with federal government departments including Prime Minister and Cabinet and Foreign Affairs and Trade.

If you have any feedback we'd love to hear from you.

Sydney Festival Office Details

Level 5, 10 Hickson Road
The Rocks NSW 2000
Australia

Phone: (+61) 2 8248 6500
Fax: (+61) 2 8248 6599
Email: mail@sydneyfestival.org.au

Ticketing and box office inquiries
Email: ticketing@sydneyfestival.org.au

Volunteering inquiries
Email: volunteer@sydneyfestival.org.au

Media Releases

• Sydney Festival 2024 Opening Day
• Sydney Festival BANANALAND Press release
• Sydney Festival Music Program Updates
• Sydney Festival expands free program
• Sydney Festival Smashed: The Nightcap cast announcement
• Sydney Festival 2024 Program Launch
• Sydney Festival reflects on recent success as Olivia Ansell’s tenure as Festival Director extends to 2025
  
  

For any Sydney Festival Corporate Communications enquiries, contact:

Nia Jones
nia.jones[at]sydneyfestival.org.au
0436 100 201

Sydney Festival's 2024 Media Centre

Each January Sydney Festival shakes up our city with a summer festival of art, music, dance, theatre and immersive experiences. We are proud of our long history of commissioning ground-breaking new Australian art, and we're equally proud to be a great place to work, with many of the seasonal team members returning year after year.

The team, which swells to over 100 during festival season, is tight, and the environment supportive. The harbour views from our office are to die for and our coffee machine best in show. 

Sydney Festival is committed to equity and inclusion. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability and people from the LGBTQI+ community. Sydney Festival strives to make reasonable adjustments to provide a supportive and barrier-free workplace. If you require any adjustments before or during the selection process, please mention this with your application.

---

Global Recruitment for Next Festival Director

Sydney Festival is thrilled to commence our worldwide recruitment for the next Festival Director. As part of this exciting initiative, we are inviting the industry’s top talent to consider leading our Festival into its next chapter of excellence.

Join us in shaping the future of Sydney Festival

Are you passionate about the arts and dedicated to fostering cultural vibrancy? Do you have a flair for creativity and a vision for innovative programming? Sydney Festival invites you to be part of our dynamic team as we embark on an exciting journey to embody the essence of summer through vibrant and transformative artistic expressions.

Position Available: Festival Director

Sydney Festival is seeking a visionary leader who will play a pivotal role in shaping the artistic and creative direction of our esteemed Festival. As Festival Director, you will have the opportunity to curate an extraordinary summer experience, blending diverse and vibrant art forms that engage, inspire and leave lasting memories.

Why Join Sydney Festival?

Cultural Brilliance: Be part of an organisation that has been a beacon of cultural excellence for over four decades, captivating audiences and igniting Sydney with innovative and thought-provoking performance.

Artistic Excellence: Curate a bold and exuberant contemporary program encompassing a diverse array of artistic disciplines, ensuring that each offering contributes to the Festival's reputation for delivering top-notch artistic experiences.

Global Impact: Foster connections with acclaimed international artists and companies, presenting works that enrich Sydney's cultural landscape and enhance its cosmopolitan appeal.

Community Engagement: Actively involve the broader community through strategic partnerships, outreach programs, workshops, and free events, ensuring that the Festival remains deeply rooted in and connected to the diverse communities it serves.

What We're Looking For:

• Proven expertise in developing imaginative, original and engaging arts programming.

• Established artistic reputation, credibility and extensive networks within the arts and cultural sectors.

• Demonstrated experience in providing strategic leadership and effectively managing resources for cultural events or projects.

• In-depth understanding of current issues in the arts and cultural sectors, coupled with active engagement with various events, festivals and organisations.

• Exceptional abilities to collaborate successfully with government entities, commercial sponsors, and other stakeholders.

How to Apply

To register your interest for the Festival Director position, please email your details to peopleandculture@sydneyfestival.org.au to receive the Candidate Pack for the Festival Director role. Applications close by 5pm AEST, 31 May 2024.

Join us in shaping the future of Sydney Festival and contributing to its legacy as a cherished institution within Sydney's cultural landscape. We look forward to welcoming passionate and talented individuals who share our commitment to artistic excellence, diversity and community engagement.

Download info

Accessibility and Inclusion Advisory Panel – Expression of Interest

Who we are looking for 

Sydney Festival is looking for applicants with disability or who are d/Deaf, across a broad range of lived experiences. We also welcome applications from people who have close lived experience, relevant academic or professional experience in advancing the inclusion of people with disability and mental health conditions, including those who work for disability service organisations or peak bodies. We will prioritise people with lived experience. 

People with disability from diverse and intersectional backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. This includes: people from the LGBTIQA+ community, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, young people, older people and people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. 

About our Accessibility and Inclusion Advisory Panel 

This Advisory Panel is made of up to 10 members with disability, access and inclusion expertise and lived experience. We seek to represent a balanced and broad range of experiences, in terms of age, disability, gender and lived experience type, to reflect the widest access and inclusion perspectives possible. 

The primary objective of the Panel is to advise Sydney Festival on access and inclusion matters and represent the interests of all Sydney Festival stakeholders and patrons with disability. 

This Panel is an advisory body. It does not have formal decision-making authority and members cannot act as representatives for Sydney Festival. A Terms of Reference will be provided for this Working Group to outline its role and function. 

How to apply 

You can apply in these formats (please select one only): 

1. Standard online application form
2. Word version text form
3. Video application form, including videos in Auslan 

More info

Non-Executive Board Director

Sydney Festival seeks to expand its Board of Directors with new members who bring diverse perspectives, expertise and networks to the organisation. The appointed members will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of the Festival, and ensuring its continued growth and success.

The key responsibilities include providing oversight of the organisation's strategy to deliver an annual festival, to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, contributing to strong governance frameworks, collaborating on long-term planning and adaptation to cultural changes, ensuring strategic financial planning and the identification and mitigation of financial risks, exploring government investment opportunities and cultivating donor relationships, as well as maintaining relationships with stakeholders including government bodies and sponsors.

Successful candidates will have demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and decision-making, strong networks within the arts, cultural, business and/or philanthropic communities, a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and previous experience serving on boards or committees.

How to apply

Download the role description below.

The application deadline is 17 May by 5pm AEST. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews, which are expected to take place in late May. The successful candidate will assume the position in the second half of the year. Sydney Festival reserves the right to make an appointment via invitation.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application materials, including a cover letter and resume/CV, to board@sydneyfestival.org.au by 17 May 2024. Please include “Board Director Application – Sydney Festival” in the subject line.

Sydney Festival is committed to equity and inclusion. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability and people from the LGBTQI+ community.

Download info

Please join our newsletter or keep an eye on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to be the first to find out when new roles become available. 

Browse Sydney Festival annual reviews below or explore our Festival Archives.

Annual Review 2023
Annual Review 2022

Disability Inclusion Action Plan

The Sydney Festival Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) supports the Festival's commitment to welcome everyone in Sydney, regardless of accessibility needs, and provides our organisation with strategic direction in addressing accessibility issues.

Read our Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022 - 2024 in the following formats:

View PDF

View Word Doc

Reconciliation Action Plan (DRAFT)

Sydney Festival's vision for reconciliation is to formally and informally engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities, and to positively contribute to closing the gap between Indigenous and other Australians. 

Read our Reconciliation Action Plan (DRAFT) in the following formats: 

View PDF

View Word Doc

We are proud of the role Sydney Festival plays in introducing audiences to new and established work from across the globe, yet we recognise that staging such productions, especially international work, comes at a cost to the environment which we both cherish and rely on to create world-class live events.

The performing arts benefit the community in ways beyond measure, so it is imperative that the industry adapts in order to deliver these benefits without exacting an unacceptable environmental toll.

Sydney Festival embraces the role it plays as a leading creative organisation in championing this evolution in operations, in raising awareness of climate change through the works we stage, and encouraging and empowering our local, national and international partners, staff, sponsors, vendors and audiences to adopt better practices.

We are striving to adopt greener ways of working by reducing our waste, using clean energy sources when available, partnering with sustainable companies and exploring the most impactful options for carbon offsetting that deliver a legitimate and evidence-based reduction of emissions.

At Sydney Festival we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and doing our utmost to support global change towards a sustainable future.

We also commit to ongoing improvement of our sustainability practices: we will evaluate achievements and review priorities annually to ensure our actions are making a real difference.

Read our Sustainability Plan in the following formats:

View PDF

View Word Doc

Sustainability Initiatives

The curatorial policy is a set of guidelines that underpins the artistic vision of the Festival.

Core Principles:

1. Artistic Excellence: Our primary focus is presenting high-quality artistic works that challenge, inspire and captivate our audiences. We uphold rigorous standards of artistic excellence in all our programming.
   
   
2. Diversity and Inclusion: We believe in the power of diverse voices and perspectives to enrich the arts and society. With First Nations people first our programming actively seeks out artists and works representing a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and viewpoints.
   
   
3. Equal Access: We are committed to removing barriers that prevent equitable access to the arts. Our Festival strives to be physically accessible, financially attainable and culturally sensitive,  ensuring that all members of our community can participate and engage with the programming.
   
   
4. Public Funding: We uphold the entitlement of all artists and entities to avail themselves of public funding, facilitating the inception and presentation of their creations. We also honour their choice to use public funds devoid of any political endorsement, intervention or sway.
   
   
5. Collaboration: We recognise the value of collaboration in fostering innovation and creativity. We will actively seek partnerships with local, national and international organisations, artists, and communities to create a dynamic and interconnected Festival experience.
   
   
6. Education and Engagement: In addition to presenting performances, we are dedicated to offering educational opportunities and engagement initiatives. Workshops, panels and discussions provide audiences with deeper insights into the creative process and the broader cultural context of the works presented.

Curatorial Guidelines:

1. Artistic Diversity: Our programming encompasses a wide spectrum of artistic disciplines, including but not limited to theatre, opera, dance, music, visual arts, spoken word and interdisciplinary performances. We strive for a balanced representation of genres and styles.
   
   
2. Representation: We actively seek out underrepresented artists and voices, giving priority to works that amplify narratives and perspectives often marginalised in mainstream spaces.
   
   
3. Curation Process: The curatorial team employs an open and transparent selection process that considers artistic merit, relevance to the Festival’s artistic vision, and alignment with our mission. The team includes individuals from diverse backgrounds to ensure a variety of perspectives.
   
   
4. Accessibility: All Festival venues and precincts are selected with accessibility in mind, including considerations for physical accessibility, sensory accommodations and affordability. We provide captioning, sign language interpretation and other aids to ensure inclusivity.
   
   
5. Community Engagement: We actively involve the broader community in the Festival through partnerships with local organisations and community groups. Outreach programs, workshops  and free events extend the Festival’s impact beyond the performances.
   
   
6. Feedback and Improvement: We are committed to continuous improvement. We gather feedback from artists, audiences and stakeholders to assess our programming’s impact and identify future enhancements.

Conclusion: Our curatorial policy reflects our dedication to excellence, diversity and equal access in the performing arts. By adhering to these principles and guidelines, we aim to create a Festival that showcases outstanding artistic achievements while nurturing a culture of inclusivity and understanding that celebrates the human experience.

Sydney Festival Revenue Guidelines and Principles

In the pursuit of its ambitious annual program, Sydney Festival relies not only on operational revenue generated from ticket sales, catering and merchandising but also on the support of diverse funding sources. These vital sources include public funding, corporate sponsorship and philanthropic fundraising. These essential activities are guided by three overarching policies:

1. Public Funding Policy

2. Corporate Sponsorship Policy

3. Philanthropic Fundraising Policy

These policies collectively ensure that Sydney Festival's public funding, sponsorship and fundraising endeavours are in harmony with its core mission, values and ethical principles. They also prioritise transparency, accountability and the positive impact on the community.

In summary, the key principles of these policies include:

Public Funding Policy

Introduction: This policy outlines ethical principles for seeking and using public funding aligned with Sydney Festival's mission.

Principles and Objectives: Ethical practices and impact are key, with a commitment to transparency and accountability.

Guidelines for Seeking Public Funding: Public funding aligns with mission, values and guidelines. Limited to Australian governments and affiliated agencies.

Responsible Utilisation of Public Funds: Public funds used as agreed. Financial management is transparent and compliant.

Transparency and Accountability: Open communication with funders, stakeholders and the public. Regular reporting on fund utilisation.

Public Funding Recognition: Recognition is proportionate, separate from corporate sponsorships. Editorial control retained.

Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: Transparently manage conflicts of interest related to public funds.

Ethical Conduct: Adherence to ethical conduct in seeking and utilising public funds.

Accountability for Outcomes: Regular evaluation and improvement to ensure positive outcomes.

Corporate Sponsorship 

Introduction: This policy establishes principles and ethical standards for sponsorship activities by Sydney Festival to align with its mission and create positive outcomes.

Principles and Objectives: Sponsorships should enhance activities, align with values and uphold integrity. Positive revenue streams and reputation are essential.

Guidelines for Partnership, Sponsorship and Fundraising: Thorough reviews ensure alignment with principles. Opportunities should align with missions, values and strategies.

Review Process: Potential partners undergo transparent review based on ethical guidelines and alignment with values.

Review Criteria, Screens and Restrictions: Organisational alignment, qualitative criteria and exclusionary screens are used for evaluation. Recent performance and positive change are considered.

Criteria for Declining Sponsorships: Activities that contradict principles or misalign with values won't be pursued.

Agreement Process: Written agreements define roles, benefits, obligations and confidentiality.

Sponsor Recognition, Editorial Control, Exclusivity: Recognition and acknowledgment are proportional. Editorial control is retained. Exclusivity terms are based on support level.

Fundraising and Ethical Standards: Ethical fundraising practices are upheld, transparent, truthful and respectful.

Ethical Fundraising Procedures: Board oversees policies, approvals and financial risk assessment. Complaints are investigated transparently.

Philanthropic Fundraising Policy

Introduction: Ethical fundraising practices for the Board, staff and volunteers. Ensures ethical and responsible solicitation and management of funds.

Purpose: Outlines ethical fundraising practices and guidelines for solicitation and management of funds.

Policy: Upholds ethical practices, adherence to laws, diversity, truthfulness and respect for beneficiaries.

Responsibilities: Board oversees and reviews policy implementation.

Processes: Fundraising Sub-Committee ensures oversight. Approvals documented. Financial risks assessed. Complaints investigated.

At Sydney Festival our community expect our social media channels to be places that are safe and respectful. To maintain healthy interaction, the following house rules apply with all comments and users subject to moderation.

Be Respectful 
Diverse perspectives are part of robust discussions, and you may encounter differences of opinion. We ask that you respect other people’s views and beliefs and consider your impact on others.

We distinguish between constructive comments and content that is abusive, offensive, misleading or unlawful. Derogatory language, profanity and persistent trolling will be subject to moderation. 

Be Responsible 
Deliberate misinformation and expression of views that are hate speech or incite violence are not permitted on our social media platforms and will be reported and deleted, in line with platform guidelines.

Posts containing ticket reselling, third-party links, follow requests, unauthorised advertising or otherwise spam-like content will be removed.

Be mindful 
Be careful about what you share. Material that has the potential to be defamatory, infringe on copyright or breach personal privacy will be removed at the moderator's discretion. If we ask for any contact details (for example around your tickets) please provide this via direct message.

Moderation 
We reserve the right to remove posts or comments breach our community guidelines. Participants who seriously, persistently or wilfully ignore the community guidelines will be subject to blocking or removal from Sydney Festival community channels.

Our platforms are moderated by Sydney Festival. Recognising our collective duty to foster a safe and inviting environment, we urge everyone to embrace this responsibility and ask individuals to collaborate with us in building an atmosphere of safety and inclusivity, characterised by mutual respect and tolerance.

If you'd like to unsubscribe from Sydney Festival's e-mails, online advertising, or physical mail lists, feel free to e-mail us any time at mail@sydneyfestival.org.au specifying what communication you would like to stop receiving.

The Sydney Festival Limited (ACN 070 285 344) is bound by the National Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988. Sydney Festival holds personal information for the purposes of sending information about Sydney Festival events and other arts events.

You can download a copy of our Privacy Policy here.

You can read the Live Performance Australia Ticketing Code of Practice here.