Question 1

What is Adelaide Climate Action Week?

Accepted Answer

ACAW is South Australia's first community-led climate action festival, running 27 July – 2 August 2026. It's an open-access platform — community, industry, government, research and First Nations leaders all organise their own events under the ACAW banner, contributing to a climate-resilient, net-zero future for SA.

Think Adelaide Fringe meets climate action: 100+ independently hosted events across seven days, anchored by curated flagship moments, with a total reach of 10,000+ expected attendees.

Learn more about ACAW

Question 2

When and where does ACAW take place?

Accepted Answer

27 July – 2 August 2026, with events spread across Adelaide CBD, the metropolitan area and regional South Australia. Festival hubs in Adelaide cluster activity at venues including Lot Fourteen, Ayers House and spaces overseen by Adelaide Venue Management. Regional events are programmed throughout the state.

Question 3

Who is behind ACAW?

Accepted Answer

ACAW was co-founded by Adelaide Xerri, Jen St Jack and Mark Rowland following South Australia's COP31 bid in 2025. Greg Hodgkinson is ACAW's First Nations Lead, and Marco at Cul-de-Sac Creative is brand strategist. The organising team is supported by an advisory team that meets fortnightly.

ACAW is a programme of GAIA Imperative Co Ltd (ABN 28 689 852 220), a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.

Meet the team

Question 4

How can I organise an event for ACAW?

Accepted Answer

Submit an Expression of Interest at acaw.org.au/get-involved. The EOI is designed to invite ideas — we don't need a fully-formed plan to start a conversation. Tell us what you're thinking and we'll work with you from there.

Question 5

What types of events can I host?

Accepted Answer

Almost anything: panel discussions, workshops, walking tours, film screenings, public lectures, garden tours, planting bees, cooking demos, kids' science workshops, networking events, climate comedy nights, performances, roundtables. Climate action isn't one thing — your format should match your audience and what you're trying to achieve.

Question 6

What are the five action areas?

Accepted Answer

Every ACAW event aligns with one of five action areas: Learn, Care, Use Wisely, Restore and Be Ready. Each area shapes a different thread of the festival's response to the climate emergency.

Question 7

Is there a cost to organise an event?

Accepted Answer

There's no fee to register your event in the ACAW programme. Event organisers cover their own event costs (catering, AV, venue if applicable). ACAW provides the platform, brand, promotion and support — you bring the event.

Question 8

What support does ACAW provide to event organisers?

Accepted Answer

Listing on the ACAW website, app and programme. Promotion across ACAW's media and social channels. Connection with venue partners through the ACAW venue directory. Acknowledgement of Country and partner acknowledgement scripts. Event signage and schedule templates. Programming and troubleshooting support from the organising team. Connection to other event hosts working in aligned spaces.

Question 9

What is the deadline for registering an event?

Accepted Answer

EOIs are open now, with two key dates: 15 June 2026 — early deadline for inclusion in the programme launch announcement and pre-festival promotion. 31 June 2026 — final hard deadline; submissions after this date won't be accepted. The full programme launches in June at acaw.org.au.

Question 10

Can events be held outside Adelaide?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely — we strongly encourage regional events. ACAW is a statewide festival and regional voices, places and stories are central to it. Regional event hosts get the same support as metro hosts.

Question 11

Can I host a virtual or hybrid event?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Virtual and hybrid formats expand reach, particularly for regional and interstate audiences, and we encourage organisers to consider hybrid where appropriate.

Question 12

Can I charge for my event?

Accepted Answer

Organisers can choose to make events free or ticketed. If there are costs, be transparent so attendees can plan. ACAW prioritises free, accessible events but recognises some events require ticketing to cover costs.

Question 13

What's the difference between a Venue and a Hub?

Accepted Answer

Venue Partners offer a single space for one or more events during the week — cafés, galleries, libraries, schools, halls, workplaces, regional centres. You're listed in the ACAW venue directory and matched with event hosts. Hub Partners open their space across the week (ideally daily) to host multiple events. Hubs are key destinations in the programme — typically with multiple spaces, AV, catering — and may co-curate events with ACAW. Both are essential. Hubs create focal points; venues expand reach.

Question 14

How do I register my space?

Accepted Answer

Four steps: 1. Register at acaw.org.au/get-involved/venue — tell us what you've got, when it's available and any costs. 2. We'll be in touch — venues go straight into the directory; hub partners get a call to talk through programming and logistics. 3. Hosts find you — your space appears in the directory, approved event hosts contact you directly. 4. Show up — ACAW signage, schedule templates and acknowledgement scripts arrive before festival week.

Question 15

Is there a cost to host events at my venue?

Accepted Answer

We ask venues to offer space at low or no cost in exchange for promotion across ACAW's website, programme, app, media and social channels. If there are unavoidable costs (catering, AV hire, security), be upfront so hosts can plan.

Question 16

What does ACAW ask of venue partners?

Accepted Answer

Accessibility — meet accessibility standards or clearly disclose limitations. First Nations engagement — if your venue programmes events involving First Nations culture or IP, those events must include First Nations people who are properly paid for their work (contact Greg Hodgkinson, ACAW First Nations Lead). Safety and insurance — maintain current public liability for the venue; event hosts cover their own event insurance.

Question 17

I'm in regional SA. Can I be a venue?

Accepted Answer

Yes — regional venues are strongly encouraged. The festival reaches across the state and we want a network of regional spaces participating.

Question 18

What are ACAW's flagship events?

Accepted Answer

Flagship events anchor the festival programme — they're the moments designed to amplify the ACAW story, gather audiences across sectors, and represent the breadth of climate action across all five action areas. They include opening and closing ceremonies, large-format public events, awards, cultural programming and headline gatherings spread across the week. The 2026 flagship line-up is being confirmed and will be published in the programme launch.

Question 19

Can my organisation host or sponsor a flagship event?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we're actively looking for partners across the flagship programme. Whether you want to host a flagship event, sponsor one, or co-produce something with the ACAW team, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch at collaborate@acaw.org.au to start a conversation.

Question 20

How are flagship events chosen?

Accepted Answer

Flagships are selected by the organising team based on: tangible contribution to climate conversations and priority action across themes and sectors; ability to amplify the ACAW story, identity and platform; embodying the ACAW ethos — collaboration, innovation, inclusiveness; demonstrated commitment to climate action by the host organisation.

Question 21

How does partnering with ACAW work?

Accepted Answer

ACAW takes a conversation-first approach to partnerships rather than fixed sponsorship tiers. We start with what your organisation cares about, what you can bring, and what you want to take away — then shape the partnership around that. There are four partnership roles: Theme Partners — align with one of ACAW's five action areas, with deeper involvement in shaping that thread of the programme. Flagship Event Partners — present or support a specific flagship event. Impact Partners — fund participation, accessibility and travel support, particularly for First Nations, Pacific and regional voices. Venue Partners — provide space at low or no cost. Partnerships can be cash, in-kind, or both. To start a conversation, email lisa@acaw.org.au.

Question 22

Can my organisation host events and be a partner?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most partners do both — they organise events under the ACAW banner and contribute to the festival's wider infrastructure through partnership.

Question 23

What is ACAW's stance on fossil fuel sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

ACAW does not accept sponsorship or direct financial support from organisations whose core business is antagonistic to climate action and a net-zero future. This includes fossil fuel companies and organisations primarily engaged in fossil fuel extraction, refining or distribution.

Question 24

Does ACAW engage in greenwashing?

Accepted Answer

No — and we're explicit about it. ACAW is not a festival for gold stars or PR exercises. We talk about SA's climate progress accurately (for example, SA generates 74% of its electricity from renewables — we don't conflate this with 'use' or 'consumption'). We expect partners and event hosts to do the same.

Question 25

What about diversity and inclusion?

Accepted Answer

ACAW is shaping a 'whole of society' response to the climate emergency. We expect event organisers to embrace the diversity of South Australia — across ethnicity, gender, disability, age, geography and lived experience. First Nations and Pacific Island leadership and voice are central, not additions. Pacific Island and Global South voices are never asked to self-fund their participation.

Question 26

How are decisions made within ACAW?

Accepted Answer

ACAW is run by a small organising team supported by an advisory team that meets fortnightly. Strategic decisions sit with the organising team. Programmatic decisions about events are made in collaboration with event hosts. First Nations programming decisions are made with cultural guidance from Greg Hodgkinson, ACAW's First Nations Lead. ACAW is a programme of GAIA Imperative Co Ltd, a registered charity with DGR status. Financial governance follows charity reporting requirements.

Question 27

Do you use AI tools?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we're transparent about it. We use AI tools to support website development, content drafting, design iteration and project coordination — always with human oversight, and always in service of a small team trying to do a lot with limited resources. We don't use AI to replace human voice, lived experience or cultural knowledge, and First Nations and community content is always developed with the people whose stories they belong to.

FAQ

About ACAW

Organising Events

Venues & Hubs

Flagship Events

Partnerships

ACAW Ethos

Governance & Transparency