Artists - Expressions of Interest

Feature artist role and responsibilities

The successful feature artist will be selected by Maroondah City Council to enter into an agreement with Artists for Kids Culture to design a creative arts activity to be delivered at the Maroondah Festival 2026.

The activity will be inclusive, innovative and inviting to attract family audiences at the festival. An activity that can be undertaken at a variety of levels would work well to attract all ages. The activity will be hosted on-site, in an outdoors, undercover setting and supported by the AKC artsbus Program Manager and Council staff. 

The successful artist will:

• Design a creative activity to engage the Maroondah community, estimated to be up to 500 people accessing the activity across the day. The activity may involve several parts or options and should be appropriate for ages 5 to 15 and suitable for a drop-in festival context. (Based on previous events, the activity can provide space for up to twenty to twenty-five people at one time, who spend between fifteen to sixty minutes in the space doing the activity)
• Develop a creative activity that is participatory, innovative and celebrates community connections
• Consider large crowds attending the festival, ensuring the approach to the activity is simple and can be self-directed
• Be considerate of waste and take a modest and sustainable approach to materials required for the creative activity (i.e. up to $150 of new purchased items)
• Attend three 30-minute meetings (online and in-person) in the lead-up to the event, with at least one in-person meeting prior to the festival
• Attend the Maroondah Festival on Sunday 8 November 2026 from 9am to 5pm to deliver the creative activity (this includes lunchbreak, set up and pack down)
• Co-develop a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) with Artists for Kids Culture
• Co-promote the activity and Festival across agreed channels

Maroondah City Council will:

• Coordinate an agreement between the artist and Artists for Kids Culture to provide an Artist Fee of $1,541 (excluding GST) plus superannuation which will include pre-festival preparation and attendance for activity on the day of the festival, as required and in line with NAVA rates
• Supply Maroondah City Council staff to support artist and AKC artsbus at the Maroondah Festival on Sunday 8 November 2026 from 10am to 4pm
• Co-promote the activity, artist and Festival across agreed channels

The artsbus Program Manager will:

• Co-design and support the creative activity
• Supply the Artist with agreed materials and equipment within budget
• Co-promote the activity and artist (and check in with you about how you would like the activity to be described and marketed)
• Support connections between local community, artists and young creative kids
• Organise volunteers to assist with the creative activity and area
• Provide the AKC artsbus and set-up and pack-down the creative activity area and equipment on the day
• Co-facilitate on Festival Day, supporting the artist, activity and audiences

Feature artist selection criteria

1. Connection to Maroondah (ie. work, live, study or play in the Maroondah City Council local government area)
2. Current Public Liability Insurance to the value of $20 million
3. Valid Working With Children Check
4. Experience
5. Quality of work
6. Ability to deliver

Image: 2023 Maroondah Festival activity with Opal and the AKC artsbus

About Artists for Kids Culture (AKC) artsbus

Artsbus is a mobile arts studio, theatre and music space, enabling Artists for Kids Culture to facilitate meaningful, thoughtful and therapeutic arts activities.  AKC is a for-purpose organisation that raises funds for children across Australia to access grants for arts and cultural activities.  

AKC artsbus programs are designed to support children to:  

• build belief in their own creativity through an open-ended and encouraging studio environment
• improve their wellbeing through social connection and the therapeutic benefits of the arts
• be inspired to challenge themselves and build confidence through inclusive and playful artmaking.

Further information

If you have any questions about the expression of interest or have any challenges with responding to the application requirements, please contact publicart@maroondah.vic.gov.au.