Kennards Hire has signed on as the first Official Equipment Partner of the Darwin Street Art Festival (DSAF), helping bring the event’s milestone 10th year to life through practical support aimed at safely delivering large-scale public art across the city.
The partnership will see Kennards Hire provide essential equipment and operational support for the 2026 festival, including access equipment, vehicles and temporary infrastructure needed to safely complete murals and installations across multiple locations.
Practical support for a growing festival
The Darwin Street Art Festival has transformed the city into one of Australia’s most recognisable open-air galleries, with the 2026 program set to feature more than 20 artists contributing new works alongside exhibitions, workshops and community activations.
This year’s event will also mark the creation of the festival’s 150th mural since launching, cementing its impact on Darwin’s cultural identity.
For Kennards Hire, the partnership reflects a hands-on approach to supporting local communities and projects.
“As the festival’s first Official Equipment Partner, we’re excited to be playing a practical, hands-on role in enabling artists to safely and efficiently deliver large-scale works across the city,” Access Darwin at Kennards Hire Branch Manager Mike Randall said.
“This partnership is a practical example of how we support communities on the ground, helping ensure complex, large-scale projects can be delivered safely and effectively.”
“We’re looking forward to seeing the festival come to life across Darwin and being part of the impact it creates in the community.”
Safety and scale in focus
Beyond adding colour to Darwin’s streets, the partnership highlights the often unseen logistics required to safely deliver public art at scale.
From elevated work platforms to temporary fencing and site access, the support will help artists complete complex installations safely across the festival footprint.
David Collins, Director of the Darwin Street Art Festival, said the partnership had long been on the festival’s wishlist.
“We are excited to have Kennards Hire on board this year — it’s been one of our dream partnerships,” Mr Collins said.
“Being able to align with an Australian, family-owned business that genuinely values community projects is important to us, especially when it’s such a natural fit for the festival.”
“With their support, providing essential equipment like elevated work platforms, vehicles, and temporary fencing — we’re able to deliver the tenth edition of our festival both safely and at scale.”
More than murals
As part of the collaboration, the festival team has created a bespoke artwork for Kennards Hire, which will be displayed at the company’s Darwin Access Branch and featured across a limited run of merchandise packs for artists and crew.
The Darwin Street Art Festival 2026 will run from 22 May to 5 June across Darwin’s CBD and surrounding precincts, continuing its evolution as one of Australia’s most vibrant public art events.
In an environment where arts and cultural festivals increasingly face financial and operational pressures, partnerships grounded in practical support may prove just as important as the paint itself.
