Australia's Major Art Festivals - Dates. Details
21-Jul-2011Just 50 years ago, there was only one major arts festival in Australia. Today all Australian capital cities have multi-arts festivals that showcase the best of local and international artists and performers. There are also hundreds of smaller community-based festivals, and national and regional festivals that focus on specific art forms.
Australia’s first multi-arts festivals were
established in Perth in Western Australia in 1953 and in
Adelaide in South Australia in 1960. Festivals in other cities
and regional centres proliferated in the 1960s. Major
multi-arts festivals are now held in Sydney (January), Canberra
(February), Perth (February), Adelaide (March), Tasmania (March), Brisbane (September), Darwin (August) and Melbourne(October).
A major regional arts festival is held in Cairns (September), whilst Newcastle (NSW) hosts the independent This is Not an Arts Festival (TINA) in October.
Sydney Festival is held in Sydney for three weeks in January, this festival offers a rich and diverse program of events spanning all art forms, including dance, theatre, music, visual arts and film. Around 80 events involving more than 500 Australian and international artists
National Multicultural Festival—The National
Multicultural Festival is held in Canberra for two weeks in
February and features local, national and international music,
dance and creative arts. Major features include a Greek glendi
(a celebration of Greek culture), an international concert, a
Pacific Islander showcase, and international food and dance
events. A vibrant fringe component complements the 
mainstream
festival activities.
Perth International Arts Festival—Established in 1953, the Perth International Arts Festival is believed to be the oldest annual international multi-arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere. The festival is held in February and features contemporary international and Australian drama and theatre, music, film, visual arts, street arts, literature, comedy and community events. A key part of the festival is the Western Australian Indigenous Arts Showcase, involving up to 100 Indigenous singers, songwriters, musicians and actors.
Adelaide Festival of Arts—Established in 1960, this is the second-oldest multi-arts festival in Australia after Perth’s, and over the years it has established a strong reputation for innovation. The festival is held in March of every ‘even’ year and presents a rich and diverse program of international and Australian cultural performers and events.
Adelaide Fringe began in 1960 as an alternative to the Adelaide Festival, which offered limited opportunity for local and smaller-scale artists. As an open access event, the Fringe allowed anyone with ideas and enthusiasm to register and be a part of the program, showcasing their arts to a welcoming public.
Ten Days on the Island—Tasmania’s major arts festival is held in March of every second year. Performing and visual arts events and activities are held in approximately 50 separate locations across the island state.
Brisbane Festival—Held in September, this is Queensland’s foremost multiarts festival. Its diverse program covers theatre, dance, music, opera, multimedia and free community events. The festival seeks to include the community in its program of activities by encouraging grassroots support and participation.
Darwin Festival—This festival celebrates unique
aspects of Darwin, including its multicultural community,
Indigenous culture and proximity to Asia. The festival is held
in August, and events include o
pera, cabaret, dance, music,
film and visual arts exhibits. There are exhibitions of
Indigenous art, and musical and dance performances by
Indigenous Australians and Indonesian and Pacific Island
groups.
Melbourne International Arts Festival—This 17-day festival, held in October, has a reputation for staging innovative international and Australian events in dance, theatre, music, the visual arts and multimedia. It also has free and outdoor events.
Festival Cairns is one of Australia’s leading regional cultural festivals. Staged in the heart of Far North Queensland, the Festival is a showcase for the region both nationally and internationally, featuring a strong program of creative, cultural and sporting events across a three-week period. Established in 2002 Festival Cairns has quickly established a position as North Queensland’s premier event.
Majority of Text courtesy of Federal Governement
Comment