REA arts + culture
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Darwin Festival is seeking a visionary Artistic Director to lead the next chapter of one of Australia’s most distinctive festivals.
Now entering its 47th year, Darwin Festival is the only major international arts festival in Australia held in August and occupies a distinctive place on the national events calendar.
Held during Darwin’s dry season, the Festival presents a vibrant multi-artform program spanning performance, music, cabaret, comedy, circus and community events across the city. Loved by locals and sought out by visitors, the Festival is where arts, culture and community meet in the Top End – and where Darwin itself becomes part of the experience.
The Festival contributes well beyond the stage. It brings audiences into the city, supports hospitality and local business, and strengthens Darwin’s dry season economy. In 2025, it generated an estimated $25.9 million in economic impact and more than 52,000 visitor nights. Its scale, timing and unique setting attract interstate and international visitors, while its strong community connection ensures the Festival remains firmly grounded in Darwin.
This is a rare opportunity to shape an award-winning arts festival with deep local connection, strong national standing and one that delivers significant cultural and economic impact. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, the Artistic Director is responsible for delivering an ambitious multi-artform program grounded in Darwin and the Top End, and compelling to audiences locally and beyond. The role will play a central part in the Festival’s future direction, strategic evolution and sector relationships across Australia and internationally.
The role’s key accountabilities include:
- Lead Darwin Festival’s artistic vision and contribute to its future direction, including through strategic planning, new artistic initiatives, city-wide activations and the strengthening of the Festival’s long-term cultural, civic and visitor economy impact.
- Shape and deliver a distinctive annual multi-artform program that reflects Darwin Festival’s strategic priorities, Darwin’s unique identity and the diversity of the Top End.
- Curate a program that reinforces Darwin Festival’s role as a major cultural and tourism event, with strong representation of First Nations arts and culture and work that resonates with local, interstate and international audiences.
- Translate strategic priorities into clear programming frameworks, partnerships and investment decisions across the Festival’s program, precincts and wider city footprint.
- Represent Darwin Festival publicly by building and sustaining strong relationships with artists, companies, agents, presenting partners, government, media and industry stakeholders to support collaboration, commissioning, co-presentation and sector influence.
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact REA arts + culture to obtain a copy of the key selection criteria and detailed Candidate Pack, and a confidential discussion about the role and their potential candidacy.
Applications are due before 6pm, Friday 17 April, 2026.
Vanessa Duscio & Richard Evans
REA arts + culture
Darwin Festival is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on being a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Location
Darwin Festival is located in Darwin, Australia, on the traditional lands of Larrakia and Saltwater people.
Contract entitlements
- Darwin Festival is offering a permanent full-time appointment based in Darwin, with a competitive salary, offered on a four-year term to lead delivery of Darwin Festival in 2027, 2028, 2029 (50th anniversary year) and 2030.
- The appointment includes five (5) weeks annual leave, plus one (1) additional week of Time in Lieu (TIL) in September following the Festival period.
- The role offers flexible working: 9-day fortnight available from October to March each year (six months), with no impact on salary package.
Other relevant information
The preferred commencement date is September 2026, with the incoming Artistic Director expected to attend Darwin Festival in August 2026 as part of the handover and orientation.
Given the profile of the Festival, the leadership position will involve irregular hours including evenings and weekends and flexibility will be required.
