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Outdoor Performance & Art installations EOI

City of Parramatta is seeking expressions of interest from artists and organisations for the presentation of installation and performance works for Parramatta Lanes 2026.

EOIs close 24 May. 

Parramatta Lanes is a multi-site festival that seeks to temporarily transform urban spaces in the Parramatta CBD by reimagining them as themed outdoor food and entertainment sites, activating new spaces for art installations, music, and performance work.

Parramatta Lanes was conceived and delivered for the first time in 2012 and 4 event sites were included in the inaugural event. Since then, the festival has grown into a key event on the Western Sydney calendar and now includes 20+ sites and attracted over 330,000 people last year.
 

What we're looking for

Parramatta Lanes aims to support high-quality, meaningful, interactive, and innovative visual and/or performance-based works that truly engage and affect Lanes attendees. Because of the large geographical footprint and visitor scale, works should visibly standout, capture interest and draw attention. The work must be appealing and effective in both day and night conditions and be suitable for outdoor presentation.

All disciplines are eligible, including (but not limited to): structural interactive art installation; inflatable artworks; digital installation; light installation; physical/visual mobile street performance; puppetry; immersive theatrical experiences; dance; movement; physical theatre and performance art.

Click the artists below for examples of previous Parramatta Lanes artworks

Key Considerations  

Outdoor Art Installations  

  • Works are temporary and they will not become permanent installations.    
  • Works should aim to draw in festival patrons, be immersive and act as a point of contemplation.  
  • Works should consider audience engagement and interaction, as well as patron access and flow through busy event sites.  
  • Works should consider requirements for lighting/sound and footprint/space requirements.  
  • The festival hours bridge a variety of light conditions, from afternoon daylight to dusk and dark, so the work will need to operate and be visible in these transient light states.  
  • Most potential sites for artworks are exposed to the weather and hence works should be able to withstand a variety of weather conditions.  
  • The festival will appoint an installation manager who will work with the artists to develop lighting solutions for the installations.  

Performance Works    

  • Does not include musical acts such as bands and street musicians. These will be programmed separately.
  • Can be roving or static.  
  • Should consider audience engagement and interaction, as well as patron access and flow through busy event sites.  
  • Should consider needs such as power requirements for sound and lighting, specific sound and/or lighting needs and footprint/space requirements.  
  • The festival hours bridge a variety of light conditions, from afternoon daylight to dusk and dark, so the work will need to operate and be visible in these transient light states.  
  • Length of work should be considered: i.e. a short work that occurs 2-4 times a night, a durational work, or a longer work that would occur once per event night.  

Festival Footprints

To get a sense of possible artwork locations, please click here to see the 2025 festival footprint. We're keen to hear your thoughts on where your artwork would best live within the festival: be it in the heart of Parramatta Square, within an empty shopfront, over a floor of Eat Street Carpark or on Lennox Bridge overlooking the Parramatta River - or a site we have yet to consider. 

Download Parramatta Lanes 2025 Map.
 

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be assessed within the category they have been nominated for. All proposals will be assessed using the following criteria:

  1. The artistic calibre of the proposal;
  2. Originality of concept and its compatibility as a work for the Parramatta Lanes festival
  3. Demonstrated capacity to deliver the project, including coordinating fabrication and installation (if applicable) and management of the project, within budget and timeframes.

Enquiries

If you would like to arrange a site visit, discuss your application or would like to make a video application please contact Senior Event Producer, Jesse Hilford on jhilford@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

Submit your EOI
Are you or your organisation based in the City of Parramatta?
Are you available for the dates of Parramatta Lanes and the week prior for installation/tech rehearsal (14 October - 27 October 2026)?
What category best describes your project? You may select mutiple categories
What is your preferred location?
City of Parramatta will program from a range of different fee categories, based on EOI submissions and curatorial programming. If shortlisted, you will be requested to provide a detailed budget.

Please provide links to any supporting documents and images including:

  • A top level budget
  • Schedule of materials and proposed installation methods
  • Plans and or sketches of the proposed work
  • A resume and examples of previous works. (Can include images or links to other works)

Please double check that any Google Drive or cloud hosted links are set to public viewing access, so the assessment panel can open files without requesting permission.

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 ©2026 City of Parramatta Council / ABN: 49907174773

City of Parramatta Council acknowledges the Dharug people who are the traditional custodians of the land of Parramatta. Council pays respect to the elders past and present of the Dharug nation and extends that respect to other Aboriginal people visiting this site.