A community-built music festival
that runs at break-even.
ZAOstock 2026 is the fourth chapter in the ZAO Festivals series. ZAO-PALOOZA in NYC broke even. ZAO-CHELLA in Miami brought together 16+ musicians and 100+ visual artists. ZAOville hits the DMV this July. Now we are taking the model to Ellsworth, Maine - on the road to Acadia, during Maine Craft Weekend.
- Date
- Oct 03 2026
- Venue
- Franklin St Parklet
- City
- Ellsworth ME
- Entry
- Free
One stage. All day. Free to listen.
A one-day outdoor music festival at the Franklin Street Parklet in downtown Ellsworth, Maine. Independent artists with DJs between every act. Part of the 9th annual Art of Ellsworth during Maine Craft Weekend.
Free to attend. The first round of crowdfunding is live - 20 people, $50 each, the next $1,000 toward the festival. Everyone who chips in gets a Pro Ticket and a 1:1 with the team.
Built by 27 teammates and 100+ ZAO community members. Run at break-even.
- Date
- Saturday October 3, 2026
- Time
- 12 PM - 6 PM Eastern
- Location
- Franklin St Parklet, Ellsworth Maine
- Series
- 9th Annual Art of Ellsworth
- Weekend
- Maine Craft Weekend
What came before.
The ZAO Festivals series tested the model in two cities before Ellsworth. ZAO-PALOOZA proved community could volunteer-organize a real festival in 6 weeks and break even. ZAO-CHELLA proved the model scales across communities and IP rails.
ZAO-PALOOZA
Community meet-up during NFT NYC. 12 artists. Volunteer-organized in six weeks. Broke even.
ZAO-CHELLA
Showcase in Wynwood during Art Basel. 16+ musicians, 100+ visual artists, 50+ music communities. ZAO HOUSE artist residency. Live WaveWarZ battle, cipher recorded on-site.
ZAOville
DMV chapter co-hosted with DCoop (founder of The VEC; performed at CHELLA 2024, returning for ZAOstock). Cross-promotion across the series. Lineup includes PROF!T, ELYVN, and more.
The crossroads of Downeast Maine.
Ellsworth sits at the gateway to Acadia National Park. The downtown received National Historic Register designation. The Heart of Ellsworth runs the Art of Ellsworth series, now in its 9th annual year.
Population 8,000. Awareness goal: 4,000 residents have heard of ZAOstock before October 3. The infrastructure to support a festival here already exists - we are plugging into it.
- Town population
- 8,000
- Status
- National Historic Register
- Host series
- Art of Ellsworth
- Year
- 9th annual
- Awareness goal
- 4,000 residents pre-event
What is real, today.
27
Teammates building this
100+
ZAO community members
2
Prior festivals (NYC + Miami)
501(c)(3)
Funding infrastructure via NMC / Fractured Atlas
Four ways the festival gets funded.
Free entry
The festival is free to attend. Sidewalk listening always free. Parklet entry free. We are not gatekeeping music.
$50 - round 1 of 20
First crowdfunding round: 20 people, $50 each, $1,000 total. Everyone who chips in gets a Pro Ticket - a 1:1 with the team and a real way to plug in. Direct support for artist pay.
3 tracks
Main Stage, Broadcast, Year-Round. Two paths: tax-deductible via NMC/Fractured Atlas, or commercial via ENTERACT. Custom packages for local + national.
Time + venue
Partners give time, venue, and infrastructure - not cash. Named credit in exchange. 5 partners locked.
Tax-deductible or commercial. Pick the one that fits.
Tax-deductible donation
Donor pays Fractured Atlas (501(c)(3)). FA takes admin (6-8%). Funds flow to New Media Commons (the fiscally sponsored project of FA). NMC routes production funds to ENTERACT (2% treasury fee). ENTERACT executes the production.
Sponsor gets a tax receipt. Best for donors who need the deduction.
Direct via ENTERACT
Client pays ENTERACT directly. 50% upfront, 50% before delivery. ENTERACT takes 2% treasury fee. Production executes against the brief.
No tax receipt. Best for commercial sponsors who do not need the deduction.
Same level of recognition. Pick by what fits your goals.
Main Stage Sponsor
01- 01Named credit on stage banner and signage
- 02Booth or table space on-site
- 03Welcome bag inclusion
- 04Live verbal credit during the event
- 05Co-presented in all printed materials
Broadcast Sponsor
02- 01Named credit on festival website with backlink
- 02Livestream overlay credit
- 03Sponsored segment plus interview feature
- 04Social campaign across Farcaster, X, and Bluesky
- 05Newsletter credit (400+ editions)
Year-Round Sponsor
03- 01Post-event thank-you feature and recap
- 02Advisory seat for Year 2 planning
- 03Priority placement in 2027
- 04Eligible support administered through New Media Commons, a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas
Five locked. More in conversation.
Heart of Ellsworth
Local promotion + Maine Craft Weekend coordination
Town of Ellsworth
Parklet venue
New Media Commons (via Fractured Atlas)
Fiscal sponsorship infrastructure for eligible initiatives
ENTERACT
Production + operational support
Web3Metal
Partnership integration + community surface
Built by these people.
Tap any name for full bio + links
Five doors. Pick yours.
Submit for the lineup. 25-minute set, real stage, full recording. Submissions close Sep 3.
See the door ->ArtistsVisual artists - we are taking interest. Bring posters, signage, photography, motion. Email to talk.
See the door ->OrganizersRun your own ZAO in your city. Next chapter under the ZAO Festivals umbrella.
See the door ->SponsorsThree tracks (Main Stage / Broadcast / Year-Round). Two funding paths - tax-deductible or commercial.
See the door ->SupportersFree to attend. Round 1 crowdfunding is live - 20 people, $50 each. Chip in, get a Pro Ticket + a 1:1 with the team.
See the door ->Write us. We respond.
ZAOstock is moving. The festival is October 3, 2026. The lineup window closes September 3. Sponsor and partner conversations are happening now. If any of this lands, write us.