About Us

The Patrons, Members, Sponsors and Friends who support the Eisteddfod are committed to encouraging and fostering the pursuit of excellence in all disciplines of the performing arts.

The Australian National Eisteddfod was established in 1954 as a not-for-profit community organisation incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act of the ACT (Certificate A10). It is registered as a charity and as a deductible gift recipient under the Australian Federal Income Tax Assessment Act (ABN 32 452 693 087). There has been an eisteddfod in Canberra annually since 1955.

The Eisteddfod was preceded by the Canberra Eisteddfod Society, which was established in 1937 and held annual eisteddfods until 1941, when it went into recess because of the Second World War.

In recent years the annual eisteddfod has attracted about 5000 individual entries and 100 groups — local and interstate — in 200 event categories for ages 6 years and under to open.

The Eisteddfod has activities organised and presented almost completely through co–operative volunteer effort, supported by the generosity of many individuals and businesses.

Donations to the Eisteddfod are tax deductible, as it is a Registered Charity and Deductible Gift Recipient under the Australian Income Tax Assessment Act.

There are a number of categories of member of the society, including ordinary, life, community and corporate members.

The Eisteddfod is a collegiate organisation, drawing upon the contributions of many members of the wider community, including sponsors, artistic advisers, convenors, volunteers and members of the committee.

The Eisteddfod is fortunate in receiving wide and generous support from individual and corporate sponsors and from the ACT government. Without their generosity and encouragement it  would not be able to continue in its present form. See the Sponsors page for further details.

There are at present six competitions, in Bands & Orchestras, Choirs, Instrumental and Contemporary Music, Piano, Singing and Speech and Drama. Each of these has an eminent Artistic Adviser, who advises on artistic standards generally, including the content of the syllabuses and selection of adjudicators. The competitions are organised by teams of volunteer convenors. The convenors make practical arrangements for the competitions, including developing and managing  budgets.

An Executive Committee is elected annually by the Members, with responsibility for overall policy and strategic management of the Eisteddfod as a whole. It comprises a President, one or two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a number of other members. The current office-holders are detailed below.

Life members are admitted free to all competitions held by the Eisteddfod throughout the year.

Life Members

The Eisteddfod has awarded life membership to the following, in grateful acknowledgement of their long service and significant contributions:

Room 14a, Ainslie Arts Centre
cnr Donaldson & Elouera Streets
Braddon ACT 2612
Telephone and fax: (02) 6249 7421

PO Box 94
Civic Square ACT 2608
The office is managed by a part-time staff member.