The purpose of these pages is to give information about the cost structure of a Bambuco project. All projects are different and the outline below should be used as an indication only.

Project fees

Bambuco fees vary enormously; it all depends on the nature and scale of the project. In the past we have done projects for as little as 30,000 or as much as 450,000 Australian dollars. The median figure is around 130,000 Australian dollars.
The following provides basic information about typical project costs and whether they are included in the Bambuco fee or not.


Covered by Bambuco are:

• All materials including bamboo (excluding concrete blocks, see below)
• Equipment and freight costs
• All wages for Bambuco crew (including all taxes and superannuation liabilities)
• Workcover insurance for Bambuco personnel
• Site preparation and restitution
• Fee for structural engineering
• Fee for design and modeling
• Public Liability insurance to $AU20 million
• International travel and local travel to destination
• Preproduction costs

Not covered by Bambuco and therefore costs to the Festival include:

• Accommodation for Bambuco personnel
• Per diems for Bambuco personnel or alternative by arrangement
• Local permits covering the installation
• Access to phone lines and Internet services
• Provision of amenities within range of work site
• Access to drinking water on the site
• Site security during non-working hours
• Lighting design and hire costs (if required)
• Temporary storage and handling costs of the bamboo between its arrival and commencement of work (This applies if a shipment arrives from China before the Bambuco crew is in town)
• Travel costs for crew to and from worksite, if the accommodation is distant from the site
• Wage costs for any locally employed personnel
• Costs incurred by guides or interpreters appointed by the festival
• Supply of concrete blocks, installation and removal.
• Hire of boom lifts or any other equipment (if required)

Other points important to clarify in advance:

• Bamboo ownership: unless other arrangements are made the bamboo used in any project remains the property of Bambuco after the conclusion of the project.

• Copyright: Bambuco maintains ownership of copyright of all projects at all times

• Insurance: Bambuco provides accident insurance for Australian personnel only; local crew must either be covered by the festival or have their own insurance.

• Documentation: Bambuco will be provided with copies of all publicity and media documentation of the company’s work gathered by the festival during the course of the project.

• Australian Government Arts Funding: frequently Bambuco’s work overseas has been assisted by arts grants. These grants usually cover only travel and freight costs and are never guaranteed in advance. Arts grants are only available if applications to government are made far enough in advance. Applications may be made only with a supporting letter of invitation from the festival.