The DreamBIG Children's Festival is an iconic arts festival for children and young people held every 2 years in South Australia.

The festival was originally known as Come Out Children's Festival, and started in 1974. Since then it's become an important part of South Australia's preschool and school calendar.

The festival includes:

• a poster competition, where the winning entry is used in festival materials
• an opening event involving around 2,000 children
• theatre, dance, music and circus performances
• interactive installations
• workshops
• statewide projects
• media and digital art installations
• exhibitions
• masterclasses for secondary school students
• teacher professional learning opportunities.

The festival has:

• a schools program, where students take part in events and performances through their school. The schools program is complimented with teacher resources and professional learning.
• a general public program for families.

2025 DreamBIG poster competition

• Entries are now open for all reception to year 12 students to enter the DreamBIG Children’s Festival poster competition.
• Entries close Thursday 11 April 2024 (week 11 term 1) for the 2023 festival poster competition
• The winner will have their artwork professionally incorporated into the festival poster and win a $500 gift voucher.
• In term 1 2024, you can explore the festival theme ‘I was, I am, I will be’ with your students. The Design on Demand integrated arts unit on Plink will support you to deliver this in your classroom.
• Entries are to be created during term 1 2024 and must be received by the closing date.
• Visit the DreamBIG poster competition page for more information.

When and where

The next festival will be held 7 to 17 May 2025.

Events are held all around the state, including at the Adelaide Festival Centre, Elder Park and throughout Adelaide. There are also several opportunities for schools (particularly regional schools) to participate in statewide projects and to host DreamBIG artist workshops and other events at their site.

DreamBIG teaching and learning resource

A teaching and learning resource is produced by the Department for Education for each DreamBIG Children’s Festival. The resource can be used to maximise the learning experience of students attending the festival and to generate DreamBIG activities at school. The resource is designed to be used by generalist classroom teachers at any time of year, regardless of festival attendance.

Using a learning design approach, resources are aligned with the Australian Curriculum (version 9) and the artistic program of the festival. They contain learning sequences covering the 5 artforms aligned to the festival’s theme ‘I was, I am, I will be’.

The 2025 resource will be distributed to all schools, and available online at the end of term 3 2024.  It will feature:

• information about the 2025 DreamBIG theme ‘I was, I am, I will be’, statewide projects, professional learning, Arts education, Arts curriculum and Department for Education programs and resources
• information and resources to run your own DreamBIG events
• ideas for developing learning in, through and about the Arts
• detailed learning sequences across dance, drama, media arts, music and visual arts
• additional materials, playlists, resources and equipment lists for the  learning sequences.

DreamBIG statewide projects

As part of each festival, a range of statewide activities will be on offer.

For notification of the statewide program email your details (name, school and contact details) to education.DreamBIG@sa.gov.au.

DreamBIG teacher professional learning

As part of the DreamBIG Children’s Festival, the department offers a range of practical workshops across metropolitan and regional centres in the few months prior to each festival.

For notification of the workshop program, register your details (name, school and contact details) to education.DreamBIG@sa.gov.au.

Professional learning opportunities will also be available during the 2025 festival.

Consent and entry forms

Student material submitted must be accompanied with the necessary consent and/or entry form. Students and teachers participating in festival activities will be required to complete a DreamBIG media consent form:

• student and adult media consent forms will be available at the beginning of the 2025 school year.
• 2025 poster competition entry form.

Become an arts ambassador

Arts ambassadors are educators in schools and preschools in South Australia who are interested in or are teaching the arts. Arts ambassadors assist in promoting DreamBIG at their site.

Arts ambassadors receive eNews each term including up-to-date information about DreamBIG, plus Arts specific professional learning and opportunities for teachers, schools and students.

Subscription to the arts ambassadors eNews is free.

To subscribe or update your contact details, email your name, school, year level(s) you teach and your role to education.DreamBIG@sa.gov.au.