Deaf Festival Sydney is a vibrant, Deaf-led community event that celebrates the culture, language, and identity of the Deaf, Deafblind, and hard-of-hearing community. Held annually and free to attend, the festival brings together over 3,800 people from across NSW and beyond, fostering connection, cultural pride, and visibility for a community often underrepresented in mainstream spaces. ...
Deaf Connect
Deaf Festival Sydney 2025
GOAL
$9,385
Australia > National / Multi-state > Metro and Regional
Field of Interest
- Arts and culture
- Social inclusion and justice
Target Population
- People with a disability, illness or disease
- General population
Deaf Connect
Deaf Connect is the largest, whole-of-life service provider and social impact organisation for Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing Australians. We stand with the Deaf community to build capacity and influence social change while paying respect to history, culture and language.
We stand with the Deaf community to build capacity and influence social change while paying respect to history, culture and language.
Our focus is on community and empowerment, supporting Deaf Australians and their families to make choices and actions to thrive in life, while delivering on a national agenda to improve equity for the Deaf community, and to remove systemic cultural and language barriers.
Project Summary
Deaf Festival Sydney is a vibrant, Deaf-led community event that celebrates the culture, language, and identity of the Deaf, Deafblind, and hard-of-hearing community. Held annually and free to attend, the festival brings together over 3,800 people from across NSW and beyond, fostering connection, cultural pride, and visibility for a community often underrepresented in mainstream spaces.
The event features Auslan-interpreted performances, cultural workshops, family-friendly zones, community stalls, Deaf-led businesses, and accessible experiences for all ages. It is designed not only as a celebration, but as a platform for advocacy, inclusion, and education—promoting greater understanding of Auslan (Australian Sign Language) and Deaf culture across the broader public.
Organised by Deaf Connect, Australia’s largest Deaf-led not-for-profit service provider, the festival centres lived experience, community empowerment, and accessibility at every level. We proudly showcase diverse voices and identities within the Deaf community—including culturally diverse, LGBTQIA+, and faith-based groups—through curated performances, storytelling, and stallholder opportunities.
Grant funding will directly support core delivery costs such as staging, live captioning, Auslan interpreters, infrastructure, and volunteer engagement.
Deaf Festival Sydney is more than an event—it’s a movement for inclusion, identity, and Deaf pride.
Project Outcomes
Deaf Festival Sydney aims to create and celebrate connection, inclusion and culture —both within the Deaf community and across the wider public.
The festival fosters pride, visibility, and connection for Deaf, Deafblind, and hard-of-hearing individuals by celebrating language, culture, and identity in a safe, empowering space. It showcases the Deaf Ecosystem, promoting Deaf-owned businesses and community organisations, and improving access to important services and support networks.
The festival is designed to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone— including hearing people who may not have had the chance to engage with the Deaf community before. Through interactive workshops, Auslan visibility, storytelling, live performances, and opportunities to learn directly from Deaf presenters and artists, the event breaks down barriers and builds genuine opportunities for connections between communities.
In 2024, the festival welcomed a record 3,868 attendees. In 2025, we aim to exceed 4,000 attendees, expand community engagement, and attract new audiences across diverse cultural, linguistic, and generational backgrounds.
Volunteers, Auslan students, families, and allies will continue to benefit from the event’s accessibility-first design, gaining real-world experience and understanding in a vibrant, welcoming setting that flips the tide on inclusion and access by fostering a Deaf Space for all.
Success will be measured by attendance growth, positive participant feedback, visibility of the Deaf community in public spaces and media, and stronger partnerships that create lasting change beyond the event.
Deaf Festival Sydney is for everyone. It’s a festival of language, culture, and pride—and everyone is welcome.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $87,385
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sponsorship including Deaf Connect Contribution | $40,000 |
| Grants | $20,000 |
| Stall Holders | $16,000 |
| Food Vendors | $2,000 |
| Funding Gap | $9,385 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Advertising and marketing | $4,700 |
| Programing and Performers | $22,711 |
| Production | $53,474 |
| Travel | $5,500 |
| Miscellaneous | $1,000 |
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