Host an Event

Expression of Interest guidelines to host a fringe event as part of the 2026 Benalla Street Art Festival

 

About the Festival

Our annual Benalla Street Art Festival will be celebrated over three days on

17 – 19 April 2026

The Benalla Street Art Festival promises a captivating experience for art enthusiasts and visitors alike. This annual event transforms the city into a vibrant outdoor gallery, showcasing the talents of local and internationally renowned street artists. The Benalla Street Art Festival is run by the Council and overseen by the community-based Benalla Festival Advisory Committee.

The Benalla Street Art Festival Advisory Committee is now accepting applications to host events or activities as part of the Benalla Street Art Festival. We want to hear from interested businesses, community groups, social groups, sporting groups, schools, and service organisations. Our aspiration is for the Benalla Street Art Festival to evolve into a nationally renowned celebration of contemporary arts and culture.

Expressions of interest close Monday 1st December 2025.

 

We’d love fringe event applications to align to our aspiration:

● Celebrate Street Art, host live painting demonstrations, feature graffiti artists from diverse backgrounds, and integrate the existing street art as a backdrop for music, performances, or temporary art installations.
● Enhance Benalla Rural City’s reputation as a leading regional destination for world-class street art and public art, generating positive media attention.
● Direct visitor spending towards local cafes, restaurants, and retail, and provide a platform for local artists, creatives, and artisanal vendors to sell their work or offer creative workshops and experiences.
● Draw a greater number of art enthusiasts, visitors, and families to Benalla Rural City and encourage them to explore the broader High-Country region by offering unique, compelling street art experiences and tours.

 

WHAT WILL the Benalla Street Art Festival provide for your event?

Events will be promoted through the Festival’s program, highlighting activities across Benalla and surrounding townships during the festival.

 Those interested in hosting an event can apply for a $750 Quick Response Grant or a Major Event Funding of up to $2,000 to help bring their ideas to life. 

For more information on eligibility and how to apply, visit Council’s website.


Expressions of interest close Monday 1 December 2025.


Marketing

We provide marketing, advertising and media opportunities that promote each of the events that comprise the Festival. Event organisers are encouraged to take out their own additional advertising or sponsor the Festival for additional benefits (download the Sponsorship Prospectus).
Events will be promoted through the Benalla Street Art Festival’s digital channels which includes the Festival’s website and Socials (i.e. Instagram, Facebook).

Expressions of interest close Monday 1st December 2025.

 

Support

We support organisers to obtain Council permits required to deliver events.

 

Grant opportunities

Quick Response Grants of up to $750 and Major Event Funding of up to $2,000 may be available to eligible groups. Grant funds can be used to hire or purchase equipment, subsidise venue hire, or support larger community events. For details and to check eligibility go to https://www.benalla.vic.au/grants

 

Economic and social returns

The Benalla Street Festival offers a host of economic and social benefits to the community. Those who participate help showcase the many facilities and attractions that make Benalla Rural City a great place to live and to visit. Well-managed events create opportunities for financial returns to the event facilitator.

 

What is my role if I am part of the Benalla Street Art Festival?

As a host of an event or activity, you are responsible for managing your own activity or event and associated costs. You are responsible for organising the necessary venue and equipment, ticket sales, bookings enquiries, Public Liability Insurance and permits if necessary. Events are self-managed, self-funded, self-staffed, and will not be part of the official printed program if submitted after Monday 1st December. Benalla Street Art Festival will aid with the marketing and promotion of events via digital channels.

Once your event is approved and published, if for any reason you are considering the cancellation or postponement of your event you must liaise with the Benalla Street Art Festival Advisory Committee in the first instance to discuss alternate options. The Benalla
Street Art Festival program of events is distributed widely.

 

How do I get involved?

Complete the Expression of Interest form online or in person and return it to the Council’s Customer Service Centre by Monday 1st December 2025.

 

What do I need to submit?

At this initial stage, the Benalla Street Art Festival Advisory Committee is only seeking a completed Expression of Interest form. Every effort will be made to accommodate requests for inclusions. Priority will be given to those proposals that best fit the Benalla
Street Art Festival program and aspirations. If successful, we will then require you to submit the following:
▪ A signed MOU approving the inclusion of your event
▪ A copy of your Public Liability Insurance certificate
▪ Working with children and police clearance if hosting a children’s activity
▪ A community event application may be required pending the scope, location and size of the event. The Events Department can assist with support and advice.

 

More information

For more information contact the Council’s Events Coordinator on 03 5760 2600 to discuss your event proposal.

Submit your Expression of Interest

Contact Details

Details of Event/Activity

The 2025 Benalla Street Festival’s aspirations include:

• Fringe events to celebrate artistic and creative diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility. eg. music, installations, galleries • Enriches the profile of the local community/businesses • Contributes to boosting the local economy. eg. local artisanal produce, crafts, activities that encourage artistry and creativity • Contributes to raising Benalla’s profile as a tourist destination • Attract visitors to the high country region.

Insurance Details

Photographs of your event/activity

Photographs are an essential marketing tool to promote the Benalla Street Art Festival and individual events. If you have any photographs that could accompany your entry please or email/Dropbox to benallastreetartfestival@benalla.vic.gov.au High resolution photo files are required with a minimum of 300DPI or 1-5MB.

Alternatively you can provide them on a USB flash drive and deliver to:
Council’s Customer Service Centre,
1 Bridge Street East, Benalla 3672

Please return the completed form no later than Monday 1st December 2025

CONTACT:
For more information contact the Council’s Events Coordinator on (03) 5760 2600 or
email benallastreetartfestival@benalla.vic.gov.au

Volunteers: Register your interest