Support Us

The 2026 Festival will operate a Box Office and Festival Information desk from the Market Building. The Market Building Box Office opens in December 2025 and runs through to the end of the Festival. Confidence with digital ticketing sales/purchasing
is desirable.

● Provide information about events and venues
● Sell tickets via QR code
● Guide customers on how to purchase using our online digital ticketing platform
● Use box office digital technology
● Keep records of number of enquiries and customer interactions

Venues requiring box office support during the Festival are the Goods Shed, Phee Broadway Theatre, Town Hall, Music in Churches and other small venues. Confidence with digital ticket sales/purchasing is desirable.

● Welcome audiences and assist with general enquires, such as duration of show and location of facilities eg Bar, Toilets
● Sell tickets via QR
● Guide customers on how to use online digital ticketing platform
● Use box office digital technology 

NB: Each venue will have a Venue Manager to support volunteers

Venue Ushers assist attendees at events by performing the following duties:

● welcome audiences and assist with general enquires, such as duration of show and location of facilities eg Bar, Toilets
● viewing tickets
● assisting people to be seated

NB: Each venue will have a Venue Manager to support volunteers

The 2026 Festival will be presenting a Visual Arts Program in galleries and site specific locations. Exhibition attendants will be rostered throughout the 10 days of the Festival to perform the following duties:

● Welcome audiences and assist with general enquires
● Maintain the exhibition/installation eg checking equipment and artworks
● Provide information about the artist/s and artworks.
● Ensuring artworks and installations are not damaged

The 2026 Festival will be presenting a Schools Education program that will include Term One incursion workshops into school prior to the Festival commencing, as well as an excursion program during the Festival.

Education Volunteers will:

● Support the School Program Co-ordinator with general administration duties in the lead up to the Festival
● Welcome school audiences attending excursion program during the Festival and assist with general enquires
● Set-up and assist with artist led hands-on workshops

NB: An up to date Working with Children Check will be required for this role.

Hospitality Volunteers will:

● Assist with event set-up and service eg waiting tables, bar service etc

NB: An up-to-date Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate will be essential for bar duties.

Festival productions will be presented at indoor and outdoor spaces and this volunteer role works alongside the Festival’s production team in these locations. Duties with the Festival may include: 

● Set up and pack down of events and productions
● Movement of equipment
● Supporting the on day operation of events and productions
The Production team will be established well in advance of the Festival, and if
available volunteers may be called on to help when needed.

NB: Volunteers will need to be physically able to undertake Production support
roles.

Volunteers assist with Traffic Management and parking at the Festival’s opening and closing events. This would be an ideal role for community groups to be involved in. If you are a member of the CFA, SES, Lions, Rotary or similar and are interested in this role, please email volunteer@castlemainefestival.com.au . Your community group will of course be welcome to use the opportunity for fundraising.

Festival artists come from a range of destinations – be they locals based in Castlemaine, travelling from Melbourne or coming from interstate and overseas. This volunteer role assists in transporting artists around town or to and from the airport.
Petrol and parking costs will be covered for airport transport.

The role requires:
● a current Victorian Drivers Licence
● your own registered vehicle
● experience driving mini-buses – this may be desirable for larger groups

If you are able during the Festival, please consider hosting an artist/artists. Accommodation will be needed in the lead up to, and during the Festival. If you would like to help with this important role, please complete the form below and select Artist Accommodation in the volunteer role/tasks dropdown. 

Volunteers will work alongside the Marketing Manager in all aspects of marketing for the Festival including supporting general communications, audience research, proof reading, media (including social media) and administration duties.