Rainbow Arts and Culture Foundation

For over a decade Rainbow Serpent Festival has provided a vehicle for many fringe artists to explore and develop their ideas. With our festival program growing each year, Rainbow is dedicated to supporting more artists of various styles to help them achieve the successful development and exhibition of their ideas.

There are many avenues to consider when visioning your artistic concepts for installation at Rainbow Serpent Festival. We encourage all artists and collectives to submit proposals for the following areas:

• Large scale independent installations throughout the festival grounds
• Gateway to the Festival (6m tall x 6m wide)
• Stage Decoration and Shade(50 meters in diameter) – Main Stage
• Stage Decoration and Shade(50 meters in diameter) – Market Stage
• Stage Decoration and Shade Structure(20m diameter) – Alternative Energy Stage
• Funambulists Playground decoration. This area features bands, performers and a gyspy themed ball (6x6m stage and circus tent)
• Entrance to the Lifestyle Area (gate or eye-catching and prominent installation)
• Sand Mandala for the Main Stage (10m in diameter and circular in shape)
• Visual Arts to be featured in the Art Gallery
• Arts Workshops

The majority of installations are administered through the Rainbow Serpent Community Arts Grants. Please see below for information on how to submit your application. It may seem like a behemoth – but it’s not. It just ensures that you have detailed your application so we can really grasp your concept. We want to see you get your art out there!!!

We look forward to viewing your applications!

Community Arts Grants

To achieve with the fundamental goals to support emerging and established artists, Rainbow has established the Rainbow Serpent Community Arts Grant Scheme. It is through this opportunity, new and established artists can apply for funding to assist them in realising their projects. We encourage everyone to bring their creative ideas and flavour to Rainbow and we hope this scheme will encourage even greater artistic expression and unique art endeavours to come to life.

Please take careful note of the selection criteria. You will need to address these points in your proposal for it to be considered. All sections of the online form are to be completed in order for your submission to be accepted.

We wish you the best of luck and look forward to reviewing your submissions.

Who is eligible?

The Rainbow Arts and Culture Foundations’ - Community Arts Grants are available to emerging and established artists who wish to display new artworks at next years' event. The funding round is intended to support individuals and groups in developing new concepts in their chosen art form and to exhibit it in a safe manner.

What we are looking for.

Rainbow Serpent is a celebration of music, art and lifestyle, a reflection of our vibrant community. We are looking for artists to decorate and enhance the avenues of the festival grounds. Please remember that it is the Australian outdoors, artworks have to be able to withstand extreme weather conditions. All installations must be well lit at night in order to be viewed throughout the entire event. Applications must be well thought out and use materials that are conducive to the harsh conditions of the Australian outdoor environment (eg. high winds and extreme UV(sun) and heat).

This includes but is not limited to the following mediums:

• Digital
• Lighting
• Sculpture
• Recycled
• Shade Structures
• Kinetic
• Functional
• Installation
• Interactive
• Social/ Environmental/ Political

Selection Criteria

• Applications must be for original works
• Innovative artworks that reflect the culture of Rainbow Serpent Festival.
• Weather resistant materials must be used.
• Artwork must be viable to produce in an outdoor environment.
• Proposal must demonstrate safety precautions are addressed.
• Installations must be transportable and be erected and dismantled by the applicant.

How much money is available?

Rainbow Serpent realises the potential in upcoming artists and innovative design. Therefore we are dedicating $25,000 to the Community Arts Fund.

This has been divided into the following packages

• 2 x 5000
• 2 x 3000
• 2 x 2000
• 1 x 1500
• 1 x 1000
• 5 x 500

Please specify in your application which funding stream you wish to apply for.

Support Material

It is important that adequate information is submitted with your proposal. This is so we can assess the applications with a clear and thorough knowledge of what you wish to produce and how it will be installed at the venue. Safety is the most IMPORTANT aspect of installing your work at Rainbow Serpent Festival. You must demonstrate how you will address this in an area with high wind and extreme heat for the duration of the event!

Please include the following information:

• Technical Drawings
• Ability to comply with safety requirements
• How and where you intend to install artwork
• Dimensions of installation
• Power Requirements (electrical equipment list and wattage)
• Budget
• Biography of artists involved
• Pictures of previous works

Additional Information

Art installations are to be installed onsite between Saturday 21st January and midday on Thursday 26th January, 2012. All art installations are to be removed by 6pm Tuesday 25th January, 2011. If you need to install your artwork at an earlier date, this is to be arranged before Friday 9th December 2011.

Applications must be submitted online by Friday 28th October. Successful applicants will be advised Friday 11th November 2011.  Any additional information to support your online application can be addressed to:

Art Director
Rainbow Serpent Festival
PO Box 23
Central Park
VIC 3145

Or by email here >> 

Rainbow Serpent Festival would like to thank-you for your interest in contributing to the event. We look forward to viewing your application!

Big love
Emma-lee Luther
Arts Director  

APPLICATIONS FOR RAINBOW SERPENT FESTIVAL 2012 ARE NOW CLOSED. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER 2011.  

Thank you to everyone who applied.