Call for 2025 Festival Coordinator
National Young Writers Festival (NYWF) is looking for emerging arts leaders to present the 2025 festival
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Wednesday 12 February 2025, 5pm AEDT.
About National Young Writers Festival
National Young Writers Festival (NYWF) is an annual gathering of young writers. It’s a place to show work, share ideas, and learn. Our programs are free, and made by and for young writers working in all forms and genres. In 2025, the festival will take place 3–6 October on the land of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples in Newcastle, NSW.
NYWF is a significant professional development experience. Previous NYWF crew have gone on to professional success in writing, publishing, journalism, programming and arts management.This role is ideal for emerging arts professionals who would love to get their hands on an exciting national festival, give it their own flavour, and take it to the next level.
We Want You!
NYWF is seeking a highly organised Festival Coordinator to ensure the smooth delivery of the festival. The Festival Coordinator is responsible for day-to-day administration, oversight of timelines and budgets, and leads the production of the festival, including relationships with venues, in collaboration with the full festival team.
Position: Festival Coordinator
Tenure: March to November 2025
Fees and allowances: This is a voluntary role with an honorarium payment of $10,000 and per diem allowances. Approved travel, accommodation and other expenses are met by the organisation.
Location: National/remote, with time in Newcastle required for a planning weekend in May and for festival delivery in October.
Reports to: NYWF Board
Applicants from culturally diverse and First Nations backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, as are applicants based in Newcastle.
Role duties
- Management of the day-to-day administration of the organisation
- Oversee operational workflows and schedules for the smooth delivery of the Festival
- Lead Festival production and venue management
- Manage and monitor budgets, payment of invoices and other Festival expenses
- Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to the Treasurer
- Maintain and develop relationships with funding bodies and sector colleagues
- Update NYWF manuals and documentation after each Festival
- With support from the Board, prepare grant applications, acquittals, and funding proposals
Selection criteria
The ideal NYWF Festival Coordinator will have:
- Exceptional organisational and time management skills
- Great communication skills
- Experience in the production of events
- Experience tracking and reporting on budgets
- Terrific team-work skills and a sincere desire to work collaboratively
The following will also be viewed favourably:
- Awareness of or direct experience with NYWF
- Experience coordinating teams
- Connections with Newcastle’s artistic community, venues and cultural organisations.
Application process
Please send a CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria in one document to info@youngwritersfestival.org with “NYWF Festival Coordinator” in the subject header.
- Applications due Wednesday 12 February 2025, 5pm AEDT
- Interviews will take place 17–19 February 2025 via Google Meet
- Team induction meetings will take place in the week of Monday 3 March 2025