Participant Information Hub

Welcome to the central information page for participants in the 2026 Craft + Design Canberra Festival. This page includes key dates, requirements, documents, program-specific information and staff contact information. Please review all sections relevant to your participation.

Please note: Not all sections apply to every participant and multiple sections may apply to some participants.

Each participation stream has its own timeline, deliverables and documentation requirements.

Additional information, marketing assets and downloadable resources will be added as they become available.

Key information:

Jump to your program:

Festival-wide dates + requirements

Key Festival Dates

  • Online information session | DATE TBA

  • Exhibitions | 1 - 30 November

  • Activations and events | 5 - 15 November

  • Open Studios | 7 + 8 November

  • Undercurrent Design Market | 13 - 15 November

  • Workshops | 9 - 12 November, 14 + 15 November

Contracts

A contract will be sent to you electronically for your signature. The contract will contain key information relevant to your participation in the Festival. Please take your time to read through all of the details before signing.

You will receive your contract in May 2026. Please contact festival@craftanddesigncanberra.org with any questions.

Marketing and Promotion

Participant marketing responsibilities

All successful applicants are responsible for promoting their Festival activity. Participants must:

  • Use official Festival branding in all promotional materials

  • Include the Festival logo (available in Dropbox linked below) and the following acknowledgement in all promotional materials:

  • Follow supplied brand guidelines

  • Share and promote their participation via personal and professional networks

  • Tag @craft_design_canberra and @craftdesigncanberrafestival where relevant

Marketing assets, templates and logos will be made available closer to the Festival via Dropbox here.

Festival Website

All approved exhibitions, events and programs will be listed on the official 2026 Craft + Design Canberra Festival website using the information supplied in your application.

Festival Highlights Brochure

Craft + Design Canberra will produce a curated Festival Highlights brochure featuring a selection of events that:

  • Strongly reflect the 2026 them of ‘Dissent’

  • Appeal to broad and diverse audiences

  • Represent a cross-section of the Festival program

Please note:

  • Not all events will be included.

  • Inclusion is at the sole discretion of Craft + Design Canberra.

Please direct all marketing enquiries to marketing@craftanddesigncanberra.org.

Undercurrent Design Market

13 - 15 November

The Undercurrent Design Market brings together leading contemporary makers from across Australia showcasing work in jewellery, glass, ceramics, textiles and diverse creative practice.

additional information (coming soon)

  • Venue information

  • Bump-in procedures

  • Stall allocation information

  • Safety guidelines

  • Marketing assets

Contact

Email: programs@craftanddesigncanberra.org

Phone: (02) 6262 9333

Open Studios

7 - 8 November 2026

This program invites audiences to visit the spaces where artists create. Craft artists, designers and arts organisations from across the region will open their studios to share insights into their practices and processes.

Additional Information (coming soon)

  • Marketing assets

  • Signage request form

  • Safety checklist

  • Tips for a successful open studio

  • Emergency management plan

Contact

Email: membership@craftanddesigncanberra.org

Phone: (02) 6262 9333

Graphic Intervention

Temporary graphic images created by artists and displayed across Canberra’s CBD. Sites may include shop windows, electrical boxes, construction hoardings, flags and tram wrapping.

Contact

Email: exhibitions@craftanddesigncanberra.org

Phone: (02) 6262 9333

Cross-Promoted Programs

Cross-promoted programs are independently funded and managed events that align with the Festival theme of ‘Dissent’ and celebrate Canberra as a global city of design.

Contact

Email: festival@craftanddesigncanberra.org

Phone: (02) 6262 9333

Workshops

Our workshop program sees artists delivering hands-on workshops throughout the Festival.

Contact

Email: festival@craftanddesigncanberra.org

Phone: (02) 6262 9333

NEST

NEST invites artists, designers and collectives to creative individual sculptures or micro shelters exploring themes of shelter, displacement and community resilience in our climate-changed world. Works will form a temporary public art installation featuring 6 to 12 pieces arranged as an integrated “village” constellation.

Contact

Email: exhibitions@craftanddesigncanberra.org

Phone: (02) 6262 9333

Frequently Asked Questions