Participation Policy

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Participation Policy

Objective of the National Multicultural Festival:

  • The key objective of the annual National Multicultural Festival is to provide a platform for the celebration of the rich cultural diversity of the Australian Capital Territory through the participation by members of multicultural community groups showcasing their respective cultural traditions and heritage.

Purpose of the Participation Policy:

  • The dual purpose of this Participation Policy is to provide a framework that ensures that the opportunity exists for all members of Canberra’s ethnic community groups wishing to showcase their respective cultural traditions can do so as stallholders or as performers as well as to ensure the financial viability of the event into the future.

Dates for the 2010 National Multicultural Festival

  • The 2010 National Multicultural Festival will be staged from Friday, 5 February 2010 to Sunday, 7 February 2010. A printed program of the 2010 event will be available in December 2009.

Guidelines for Stall Holders:

  • All stall holders in the 2010 National Multicultural Festival must be incorporated bodies and registered as an organisation under the Associations Act 1991 or under the auspices of an incorporated body.
  • All stall holders selling alcoholic beverages must include food for public consumption or heritage and traditional items at the point of sale.

Charging Regime:

  • For public safety reasons, the maximum number of stalls available in the Canberra city footprint of the 2010 National Multicultural Festival will be 200 stalls for each of the three days of the event.
  • Specifically, the following allocations will apply for the Food and Dance Spectacular (Saturday 6 February 2010):
    • community groups – total number of stalls 100
    • Diplomatic Missions – total number of stalls 70
    • commercial stall holders – total number of stalls 30
  • Stalls will be allocated based on demand for the Friday (5 February 2010) and Sunday (7 February 2010) of the event.
  • Where goods (food/craft) are being sold, the following charges will apply:
    • Community stalls 6X3 @ $450 (per day – Sat)
    • Community stalls 3X3 @ $230 (per day – Sat)
    • Community Stalls 6x3 @ $250 (per day – Fri/Sun)
    • Community Stalls 3X3 @ $120 (per day – Fri/Sun)
    • Commercial stalls 6X3 @ $2,500 (per day - Sat)
    • Commercial stalls 3X3 @ $1,800 (per day – Sat)
    • Commercial stalls 6X3 @ $1,500 (per day – Fri/Sun)
    • Commercial stalls 3X3 @ $1,000 (per day – Fri/Sun)
    • Information stalls 3X3 @ no charge (Fri/Sat/Sun)
  • Applicants wishing to seek a waiver of the stall charges should do so in writing to:
    • Director
      Office of Multicultural, Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander Affairs
      Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre
      GPO Box 158
      Canberra ACT 2601
  • Written cases for waiver of the charges will be considered where community groups can demonstrate financial hardship and plausible reasons for not applying for financial assistance under available grants programs.

Implementation Timetable:

  • Expressions of Interest for participation in the 2010 National Multicultural Festival will close on 1 November 2009.
  • Stalls will be allocated in mid-November 2009. If the number of applications for stalls exceeds the available number of stalls, then a ballot system will be used to allocate the stalls for the Food and Dance Spectacular on Saturday 6 February 2010.
  • Applicants that do not receive a stall for the Food and Dance Spectacular will be able to negotiate stalls for the Friday or Sunday of the event and/or be placed on a reserve list for Saturday.
  • Stall allocations will be confirmed and letters/maps sent to successful applicants by mid December 2009.

Entertainment Policy Guidelines:

  • Local multicultural community groups who wish to showcase their cultural traditions through performances will be given preference in the allocation of performance slots on the three stages during the 2010 Festival.
  • All groups interested in participating in the Festival as performers must submit a brief description of their performance and provide information on the age range of the performers by 9 November 2009, including any special sound, lightening or other requirements.
  • Applications for performance slots are due to the Office of Multicultural Affairs by 12 November 2009.
  • Performance groups should be present at the pre-allocated stage on the day at least 30 minutes before the allocated time slot for the performance.