Hide+Seek Pathways EOI

Moorabool Shire Council’s Arts & Culture team is inviting Expressions of Interest from artists, musicians, writers, performers and collectives connected to Moorabool, to participate in Hide + Seek Pathways, an Artist Development Program supporting the creation of new place-based work for the Hide + Seek Festival in October 2027 (dates to be announced).

Hide + Seek Pathways is a development program running July – October 2026, comprising six in-person and online mentoring sessions delivered by lead mentor Dr Donna Jackson, alongside guest contributions from Council and industry. The program culminates on Saturday 24 October 2026, when participants pitch their developed project proposals.

Successful proposals may be commissioned as part of Hide + Seek Festival 2027, and developed proposals may also be used to support grant applications by Council and participating artists.

The Hide + Seek Festival will also have a separate open EOI for all artists and creatives. Joining this development program does not guarantee Festival inclusion but supports participants to prepare a strong proposal for consideration for Hide + Seek Festival 2027.

Program vision

Hide + Seek Pathways focuses on stories, histories and living cultures of Moorabool Shire – not around a single art form or discipline. This cross-disciplinary approach means artists, musicians, writers, performers and collectives can all apply.

Program objectives

The program will:

support the creation of new, place-based artistic work grounded in the stories, histories and living cultures of Moorabool Shire

provide professional development for participants through mentoring, peer exchange and structured guidance

enable artists to develop strong, viable proposals for potential commissioning as part of Hide + Seek Festival 2027

encourage artists to work across different art forms

build sustainable pathways between artists, mentors, Council and the Hide + Seek Festival, strengthening local creative capacity

extend benefits to the wider arts community through open workshops and shared learning opportunities.

What the program offers

Participants in Hide + Seek Pathways will receive:

A structured development period running July – October 2026

Individual and group mentoring from Dr Donna Jackson, with expertise in narrative and cross-disciplinary arts

Peer connection within a small, intentional cohort.

Regular check-ins with Hide + Seek Steering Committee members and Moorabool Shire Arts & Culture staff

Guidance in developing a project proposal for presentation at Hide + Seek Festival 2027

Support in preparing funding applications.

Access to guest sessions on OH&S, technical planning, marketing and pitching

A participation fee of $1,000 (ex GST) / $1,100 (inc GST).

Key dates

EOI opens: Monday 1 June 2026
EOI closes: Monday 15 June 2026, 5pm
Artists announced: Week commencing 22 June 2026
Program runs: Saturday 18 July – Saturday 24 October 2026

Submissions

Please review the Hide+Seek Pathways 2026 brief for full details before submitting, linked below.