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:
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.
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Bump-in: Friday 13 November | 10am - 1pm
Friday trading: 4pm - 8pm
Saturday trading: 10am - 4pm
Sunday trading: 10am - 4pm
Bump-out: Sunday 15 November | 4pm - 6pm
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Contract sent | 1 May 2026
Signed contract due | 1 June 2026
Membership registration* | 1 June 2026
Fee payment | 1 July 2026
Submit public liability insurance certificate | 1 August
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
8 - 9 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.
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Contract sent | 1 May 2026
Signed contract due | 1 June 2026
Membership registration | 1 June 2026
Submit public liability insurance certificate | 1 August
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.
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Concept development | 20 April 2026
Final promotional images and text | 20 April 2026
Contract sent | 1 May 2026
Signed contract due | 1 June 2026
Graphic intervention installation | Late October 2026
Contact
Email: festival@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.
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Contract sent | 1 May 2026
Signed contract due | 1 June 2026
Submit public liability insurance | 1 August 2026
Contact
Email: festival@craftanddesigncanberra.org
Phone: (02) 6262 9333
Workshops
Our workshop program sees artists delivering hands-on workshops throughout the Festival.
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Contract sent | 1 May 2026
Signed contract due | 1 June 2026
Submit public liability insurance certificate | 1 August 2026
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.
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Final promotional images and text | 20 April 2026
Contract sent | 1 May 2026
Signed contract due | 1 June 2026
Concept development | 1 June 2026
Artwork installation | Early November 2026
Contact
Email: festival@craftanddesigncanberra.org
Phone: (02) 6262 9333
Festival-wide dates + requirements
Key Festival Dates
Online information session | DATE | REGISTER NOW
Exhibitions | 1 - 30 November
Activations and events | 5 - 15 November
Open Studios | 8 + 9 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 by 1 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
Follow supplied brand guidelines
Share and promote their participation via personal and professional networks
Tag @craft_design_canberra where relevant
Marketing assets, templates and logos will be made available closer to the Festival.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If there are any changes to your event please let us know in writing as soon as possible by emailing festival@craftanddesigncanberra.org.
While we do our best to accommodate updates, changes to published materials (including the website, printed collateral and marketing assets) may not always be possible once production deadlines have passed.
Craft + Design Canberra reserves the right to edit submitted text for clarity, length and consistency across Festival communications.
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The information submitted to us is assumed ready for publication. Minor updates may be possible prior to publication deadlines but this is not guaranteed. Please contact us as soon as possible if changes are required.
Significant changes must be approved by Craft + Design Canberra to ensure alignment with the Festival program.
Please note that late changes may not be reflected across all promotional channels.
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If you miss or anticipate missing a deadline, please contact us as soon as possible.
Failure to provide required documentation or materials within a reasonable timeframe may result in:
Removal from certain marketing opportunities
Delays in publication
Withdrawal from the Festival program
We understand that circumstances can arise and early communication is always appreciated.
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When submitting your application you selected either to manage your own ticketing or to have Craft + Design Canberra manage ticketing on your behalf.
If you chose to manage your own ticketing, you are responsible for setting up, administering and reconciling your own ticket sales.
If you selected Craft + Design Canberra to host your ticketing, our team will be in contact with further details.
If you are unsure which option you selected, please contact us at festival@craftanddesigncanberra.org.
This applies to cross-promoted programs only. Ticketing for all other events will be managed by Craft + Design Canberra.
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If you need to cancel your event or withdraw your participation from a Festival program, please notify us in writing as soon as possible.
We will work with you to:
Update Festival listings
Communicate changes to audiences where possible
Adjust ticketing arrangements (where applicable)
Please note that cancellation may impact future participation eligibility, marketing exposure or contractual obligations, depending on timing and circumstances.
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Yes. All participants are responsible for ensuring that they hold public liability insurance. A certificate of currency is required prior to the Festival and should be submitted no later that 1 August 2026.
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