Sydney Eisteddfod has been contributing to the evolving culture of the Australian nation by nurturing the performing arts at a grass roots level in an annual festival of music, song, dance and drama since 1933. Over the last eight decades an estimated two and a quarter million performers have tested their skills on its stages. The annual Festival runs from June to September and is now widely regarded as one of the largest and most successful competitive festival of its type in the world. The Festival has been sponsored by McDonaldÍs Australia since 1998 and is now known as the McDonaldÍs Sydney Eisteddfod. Each year the festival attracts some 30,000 participants who perform to over 150,000 people in a program of around 400 classical and contemporary events for singers, dancers, actors, musicians, composers, bands, choirs and orchestras in fifteen or more venues across the Sydney area. This annual event provides live performance opportunities for aspiring artists in front of expert adjudicators. Sydney Eisteddfod also serves as a reference point for public enquiries about other competitions and opportunities. It maintains close ties with other arts organisations and is constantly on the look out for performance opportunities for developing artists. Sydney Eisteddfod is an independent, community-based, non-profit organisation limited by guarantee. It is also a registered charity in New South Wales and is listed on the federal Register of Cultural Organisations eligible to receive tax-deductible donations.