Celebrating 25 Years of Garma Festival: A Purposeful Partnership – Case Study with Doug Switzer and Dany Gruosso
Since 2022, Sticky Tickets has partnered with the Yothu Yindi Foundation to deliver streamlined ticketing for the Garma Festival – Australia’s leading Indigenous cultural event.
In 2025, we’re proud to support the festival’s 25th anniversary, having worked closely with the YYF team for the past three years to improve ticketing, check-in, and guest management year after year.
A Growing Festival with Evolving Needs
When Sticky Tickets began partnering with YYF, the Garma Festival had reached its capacity attendance and was a sell-out event. The demand for tickets highlighted the urgent need for a scalable, user-friendly ticketing solution that could support efficient entry processes for large groups, including international visitors, Indigenous leaders and other dignitaries, local communities, and corporate stakeholders.
Doug Switzer recalls, “The Yothu Yindi Foundation needed more than just a ticketing platform – they needed a hands-on partner who could deliver a seamless guest experience at scale.”
Our Approach
Sticky Tickets is committed to understanding the unique dynamics of the Garma festival.
“We began with in-depth conversations to understand Garma’s history, audience, and objectives,” said Doug. “This helped us develop an end-to-end ticketing solution tailored to the needs of the festival.”
Key improvements made over the past three years include:
- Streamlined ticket types and distribution for general admission, corporate, and community groups
- Enhanced front gate check-in tools for faster, more reliable entry
- The ability for ticket holders to update their details and their attendees directly online
- Custom invoice functionality for corporate partners
- Refined camping allocation and logistics management
Dany Gruosso added, “Each year, we’ve made meaningful enhancements based on direct feedback and onsite experience. By 2024, the improvements had already transformed the check-in process. And in 2025, we’re building on that momentum for Garma’s 25th anniversary.”
The Results
The transformation has been tangible. Average check-in times were significantly reduced. Organisers noted greater control over reporting, guest data, and on-the-ground coordination.
Doug said, “The professionalism of the online ticketing process and the responsiveness of our tools have elevated the entire experience—for organisers and guests alike.”
According to Dany, “What makes this project special is the depth of collaboration. The YYF team sees us as an extension of their operations, and we approach every Garma Festival as if it’s our own.”
Why Garma Festival Continues to Work with Sticky Tickets
The success of the partnership comes down to alignment and involvement.
Doug explained, “From day one, we were in the field with their team, understanding the needs, testing solutions, and being present at the front gate. That level of commitment builds trust.”
Dany added, “It’s also about values. Garma is more than a festival, it’s a national moment. We’re proud to play a part in supporting its growth with technology that stays in the background and just works.”
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate the 25th year of the Garma Festival in 2025, our partnership with the Yothu Yindi Foundation remains strong and forward-looking. We’re continuing to develop solutions to meet the needs of an ever-growing audience and ever-evolving festival.
What the Organisers Say
“Sticky Tickets combines an easy-to-use platform with prompt and personalised service that’s tailored to our needs, and we’ve enjoyed working with Doug and Dany to refine the ticketing and check-in process for Garma guests each year.”
Denise Bowden, CEO, Yothu Yindi Foundation
How Sticky Tickets Can Support Your Event
If you’re organising a major event and need a reliable ticketing solution that goes beyond software, we’re here to partner with you—just like we’ve done for Garma since 2022.
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Tickets for the 2025 Garma Festival have sold out, but keep an eye on our website for information regarding next year’s event. We recommend securing your tickets promptly, as availability is limited.
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