Perth Festival

{{short description|Australia's longest-running cultural festival}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox recurring event |name =  |native_name = |native_name_lang = |nickname = |logo = Perth_Festival_logo.jpg |logo_alt = Logo of the Festival |logo_caption = |logo_size = |image = Crowd at the Beck's Music Box.jpg |image_size = |alt = Crowd at the Perth International Arts Festival Beck's Music Box, 2008 |caption = Crowd at the Perth International Arts Festival Beck's Music Box, 2008 |status = Active |genre = [[Arts festival]] |begins = February |ends = March |frequency = Annually |venue = |location = [[Perth]], Western Australia |coordinates =  |country = Australia |years_active = {{age|1953}} |first = {{start date|1953}}  |founder_name = [[Fred Alexander (historian)|Fred Alexander]] |last = 2025 |prev = |next = |participants = |attendance = |capacity = |area = |budget = |activity = |leader_name = {{ubl|Anna Reece|{{small|(Artistic Director)}}|Nathan Bennett|{{small|(Executive Director)}}}} |patron = |organised =  |filing = |people = |member = |sponsor =  |website = {{URL|https://www.perthfestival.com.au/|Perth Festival}} |current = |footnotes = }}

'''Perth Festival''', named '''Perth International Arts Festival''' ('''PIAF''') between 2000 and 2017, and sometimes referred to as the '''Festival of Perth''', is Australia's longest-running cultural [[Arts festival|festival]], held annually in [[Western Australia]]. The program features [[Popular music|contemporary]] and classical music, dance, theatre, performance, literature and ideas, [[visual arts]], large-scale public works. The main events of the festival take place every year, from February to March and the [[film program]] now known as Lotterywest Films runs from November to April, as part of the Perth Festival.

Perth Festival takes place and various indoor and outdoor venues across Perth. The festival is run by UWA in partnership with the [[Government of Western Australia|state government]] and the [[Perth City Council]]. From 2004, the Festival carried [[Lotterywest]] branding, and Lotterywest was acknowledged as the Festival's "principal partner". The artistic director for 2025 to 2028 is Anna Reece.

==History== [[File:Performers at Perth Arts Festival SMC.jpg|thumb|right|Street performers, ''Quidams'', walking through the crowd at the Perth International Arts Festival, [[South Perth, Western Australia|South Perth]] Foreshore, March 2007]] The festival was created in 1953 by the University of Western Australia, making it the oldest international arts festival in Australia,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://perth.citysearch.com.au/arts/1137630319318/Perth+International+Arts+Festival |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100117035138/http://perth.citysearch.com.au/arts/1137630319318/Perth+International+Arts+Festival |url-status = dead |archive-date = 17 January 2010 |title = Perth Festival |last = Hunter |first = Tim |publisher = Citysearch |access-date = 6 February 2010}}</ref> and the oldest annual international multi-arts festival in the southern hemisphere.<ref>{{cite web| last1=Wells |first1=Kathryn |title=Festivals in Australia |url=http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/festivals-in-australia|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626153142/http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/festivals-in-australia|archive-date=26 June 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=parl>{{cite web | title=Matters of Public Interest: Festival of Perth | publisher=Parliament of Australia|first=Alan|last=Eggleston | date=12 April 2000 | url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansards%2F2000-04-12%2F0041;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2F2000-04-12%2F0037%22 | access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

The founder of the festival was a then UWA professor, [[Fred Alexander (historian)|Fred Alexander]], Director of Adult Education, who was inspired by attending the [[Edinburgh Festival]] in 1951. Alexander's aim was "to offer the best cultural events that are available from British, European, American, Asian and Australian sources". The first festival, held in 1953, showcased theatre, [[ballet]] and film, drawing an audience of 42,000 people despite little publicity.<ref name=parl/> It was held over the summer school holidays in January, for [[Summer School]] students, arranged by [[John Birman]] as a more formal extension of his previous summer school programmes.<ref name=murdoch>{{cite web | title=Film Societies and Festivals in WA|first=Tom |last=O'Regan| series=The Moving Image: The History of Film and Television in WA 1895-1985|editor1= Tom O'Regan |editor2=Brian Shoesmith|publisher=Murdoch University: Culture & Communication Reading Room | url=http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/readingroom/film/image/oregan.html|date=1985|quote=Published in 1985 and edited by Tom O'Regan and Brian Shoesmith to coincide with an exhibition on Film and Television in Western Australia at the Alexander Library in Perth (WA)| access-date=13 July 2020}} [http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/readingroom/film/image/index.html Series page]</ref> The drama students would create outdoor productions starting in 1953 and continuing to 1969 directed by [[Jeana Bradley]].<ref name=jeana>{{Citation |last=Dunstone |first=Bill |title=Jean Isobel (Jeana) Bradley (1906–1991) |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bradley-jean-isobel-jeana-15712 |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |access-date=2023-11-10 |place=Canberra |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |language=en}}</ref>

In 1964, the Shakespeare's 400th anniversary, the [[New Fortune Theatre]] opened in the Arts Building with a production of Hamlet directed by Jeanna Bradley.<ref name=jeana/> The theatre was (then) the only [[replica]] of the 1599 London [[Fortune Playhouse]]. Another notable anniversary for the festival were its 21st anniversary coinciding with the opening of the [[Perth Concert Hall, Western Australia|Perth Concert Hall]], and in 1979 festival it celebrated the 150th anniversary of the [[Swan River Colony|founding of the colony]] in 1829. In 1987 the festival opened at the same time as the final races of the [[1987 America's Cup|America's Cup]] yacht race.<ref name=parl/>

The festival expanded off-campus citywide in the 1960s, and by 1980 had hugely increased its audience, with an increase of 300 percent in paid attendances between 1976 and 1980.<ref name=parl/><ref name=pm/> A publication produced in 1973 to inform UK citizens considering migrating to WA, described the festival thus: <blockquote> The Festival of Perth has been rightly described as "culture in shirtsleeves". For several weeks in summer, there is a feast of all types of entertainment - from jazz to organ recitals, poetry readings to film festivals. Much of it takes place in the open air. On balmy summer nights, informally dressed audiences sit on grassy lawns, under tall pines, to watch films, or in open amphitheatres to hear Beethoven or watch a Shakespeare play. Its uniquely summer setting provides some [[Wiktionary: piquant|piquant]] and refreshing contrasts of mood.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Western Australia. [[Department of Immigration]] |year=1973 |title=What Migrants Need to Know about Western Australia (Vol. 7, 1973) |location=[[Perth, Western Australia]] |page=80 |publisher=[[Government of Western Australia]] |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/What_Migrants_Need_to_Know_about_Western.html?id=qjgmAQAAMAAJ}}</ref> </blockquote>

Some sources refer to it as the Festival of Perth in the 1980s.<ref name=murdoch/> The festival broadened its appeal, and in 1999 the newly appointed artistic director, [[Séan Doran]], announced a change of name to the Perth International Arts Festival, leading up to its 50th anniversary in 2003.<ref name=parl/><ref name=pm>{{cite web | website=PM Archive|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |title=WA arts festival pursues international profile | date=24 December 1999 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s45479.htm | access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

In 2004, the festival started carrying the Lotterywest branding, and Lotterywest was referred to as its "principal partner" in all communications. With new artistic director [[Lindy Hume]] and a new four-year strategic plan, there was a significant shift in direction for the festival: towards increased community involvement, and developing stronger partnerships with local arts organisations and regional centres.<ref name=lwest2004>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/3622741a0619ec2408e441f748256f0f003c2c1c/$file/lotterywest+ar+2003-4.pdf|title=Annual Report 2004|author=Lotterywest|access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref>

The branding was changed to simply "Perth Festival" by then director [[Wendy Martin]] and the board in 2018,<ref>{{cite web | title=Perth Festival reveals its 2018 line-up | website=Limelight|first=Jo|last=Litson| date=9 November 2017 | url=https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/news/perth-festival-reveals-its-2018-line-up/ | access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> although the registered company name was {{as of|lc=yes|July 2020}} still Perth International Arts Festival, as "the organiser of Perth Festival".<ref>{{cite web | title=Privacy Policy | publisher=Perth Festival | url=https://www.perthfestival.com.au/privacy-policy/ | access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

===Artistic directors=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * [[John Birman]] (1955–1974)<ref>{{cite web | last=Bolton | first=G. C. | title=John Birman|website= Australian Dictionary of Biography | via=Australian National University| date=2007| url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/birman-john-12213 | access-date=13 July 2020|quote=This article was in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 17, (MUP), 2007}}</ref> * [[David Blenkinsop]] (1975–1999) * [[Séan Doran]] (2000–2003) * [[Lindy Hume]] (2004–2007) * [[Shelagh Magadza]] (2008–2011) * [[Jonathan Holloway (artistic director)|Jonathan Holloway]] (2012–2015) * [[Wendy Martin]] (2016–2019) * [[Iain Grandage]] (2020–2024)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Office of Hon David Templeman |title=Acclaimed artist to take Perth Festival helm |url=https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2018/05/Acclaimed-artist-to-take-Perth-Festival-helm.aspx |agency=Media Statements |publisher=Government of Western Australia |date=10 May 2018 |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215074116/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2018/05/Acclaimed-artist-to-take-Perth-Festival-helm.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Anna Reece (2025–2028)<ref>{{cite news|title=Off limits for 44 years, Perth’s historic power plant erupts with a new kind of energy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/feb/10/perth-festival-east-perth-power-station-decomissioned-trains|work=[[The Guardian]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250225101901/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/feb/10/perth-festival-east-perth-power-station-decomissioned-trains|archive-date=25 February 2025|accessdate=26 September 2025|date=10 February 2025| first=Rosamund|last=Brennan}}</ref> {{div col end}}

===Executive directors=== {{As of|2017}} the executive director is Nathan Bennett.<ref>{{cite news |last1=UWA Forward |title=Making arts happen |url=http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201707069761/july-2017/nathan-bennett-making-arts-happen |agency=University News |publisher=University of Western Australia |date=6 July 2017 |access-date=19 September 2019 }}</ref>

==Description== Activities across the state include [[theatre]], dance, music, film, [[visual arts]] and [[literature]]. Artists from around the world have participated in the festival.<ref name=parl/>

== {{anchor}}Writers Festival == Earlier Perth Festivals had poetry and literature as a component of the larger festival. By the 1990s the '''Perth Writers Festival''' was titled and marketed separately, for some time known as the '''Alcoa Perth Writers Festival''' (named after its sponsor, [[Alcoa]]).<ref>{{Citation | author1=Writers Festival (Perth, W.A.) | title=Writers Festival programme | publication-date=1990 | publisher=The Festival] | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/7274261 | access-date=24 February 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Alcoa Perth Writers Festival (Perth, W.A.) | title=Free programme | publication-date=1990 | publisher=The Festival | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/33108789 | access-date=24 February 2019 }}</ref>

By the 2000s the Writers Festival was well recognised by publishers from interstate and overseas.<ref>{{Citation | title=Perth Writers' Festival 2009 | journal=Bookseller + Publisher Magazine | publication-date=2008 | volume=88 | issue=5 | pages=58 | issn=1833-5403 }}</ref> Keynote speakers and featured authors since then have included notable writers from Australia and overseas, such as [[Germaine Greer]], [[Hilary Mantel]],<ref>{{Citation | author1=Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Radio National | title=Germaine Greer opens Perth Writers' Festival | publication-date=2012-02-24 | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/189349647 | access-date=24 February 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Radio National | title=Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel at the 2015 Perth Writers Festival | publication-date=2015-02-25 | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/192768818 | access-date=24 February 2019 }}</ref> [[Ahdaf Soueif]] (2013 opener),<ref>{{cite web | last=McHugh | first=Jillian | title=Perth International Arts Festival brings buzz for 2013 | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=8 November 2012 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/perth-international-arts-festival-brings-buzz-for-2013-20121108-28zwg.html | access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> [[Ben Okri]], [[Esi Edugyan]] and [[Chloe Hooper]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Perth Festival Writers Week announces 2019 Program | website=Australian Arts Review | date=15 January 2019 | url=https://artsreview.com.au/perth-festival-writers-week-announces-2019-program/ | access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

It retained the branding as Perth Writers Festival, taking place for three days over a weekend,<ref>{{cite web | title=Perth Writers Festival | publisher=Perth Festival | date=22 February 2015 | url=https://2015.perthfestival.com.au/Whats-on-by-Genre/Perth-Writers-Festival/ | access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> until it was extended to a run for a full week in 2018, when it changed to '''Perth Writers Week'''. It took place not only at the University Club of Western Australia, but also in [[public libraries]], in bars and on the streets of the city.<ref>{{cite web | title=Perth Festival 2018 Programme Announced | website=scenestr | date=10 November 2017 | url=https://scenestr.com.au/arts/perth-festival-2018-programme-announced-20171110 | access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> This continued in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|website=Books + Publishing|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2019/01/15/121780/full-program-announced-for-2019-perth-writers-week/|title=Full program announced for 2019 Perth Writers Week|date=15 January 2019| access-date=13 July 2020 }}</ref>

In 2020 the programme was pared back to a weekend, and marketed as the Perth Festival's '''Literature & Ideas Weekend'''.<ref>{{cite web|website=Books + Publishing|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/01/20/144285/full-program-announced-for-2020-perth-festival-literature-ideas-weekend/|title=Full program announced for2020 Perth Festival Literature & Ideas Weekend|date=20 January 2020 | access-date=13 July 2020 }}</ref> The Literature & Ideas curator was author [[Sisonke Msimang]].<ref>{{cite web | title=A Word From Sisonke | publisher=Perth Festival | date=16 January 2020 | url=https://www.perthfestival.com.au/news/a-word-from-sisonke/ | access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perthfestival.com.au/media/qpejkjfl/lit-ideas-brochure_245x345_2020.pdf|title=Perth Festival: Love Money Sex: Literature & Ideas| access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>

==Film programs== ===1953–1985=== Films formed part of the Perth Festival's offerings since its inception in January 1953, being shown at the [[Somerville Auditorium]] at UWA. The first artistic director, John Birman, introduced many foreign films, and there was resistance at first.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} In 1957 a French film festival was held, and in 1959 the festival became for Birman "the establishment of an international film festival within the festival".

David Blenkinsop, taking over the reins of the Perth Festival in 1977, had a bigger budget to work with, and along with Sherry Hopkins, brought in a system whereby a committee would preview all films before deciding whether to include them in the film festival. Audiences rose from 21,000 in 1977 to 65,000 in 1985, but the festival was no longer bringing new films into the country, leaving that to Sydney and Melbourne. It did, however, make the Festival of Perth unique, being the only arts festival that had a successful film component attached to it.<ref name=murdoch/>

===1986 to present=== With the Lotterywest rebranding and its acknowledgement as "principal partner" of PIAF in 2004,<ref name=lwest2004/> it was in this year that the film component took on the title of '''Lotterywest Films''', and variants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/ephemera/pr109602000.pdf|title=Festival of Perth Programmes (From 2000 known as Perth International Arts Festival)|author=State Library of Western Australia.| access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref><ref name=slwaephemera>{{cite web|url=https://slwa.wa.gov.au/pdf/ephemera/pr11094.pdf|website=State Library of Western Australia|title=2010 Film exhibitions and advertisements: Ephemera PR11094 |date=2010| access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref><ref name=write>{{cite web | title=Q&A: Madeline Bates, Lotterywest Film Festival | website=The Write Business | date=30 November 2012 | url=https://thewritebusinesswa.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/qa/ | access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref>

In 2010, Madeleine Bates, was appointed to the role of Program Manager: Film, after being head of film screenings at the [[Edinburgh International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Perth International Arts Festival appoints new film program manager | website=The University Of Western Australia: University News | date=28 May 2010 | url=http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201005282532/arts-and-culture/perth-international-arts-festival-appoints-new-film-program-manager | access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref><ref name=write/>

{{as of|2020}} and for some years previously, the film festival part of the Perth Festival is known as '''Lotterywest Films'''.<ref>{{cite web | title=Summer of Cinema | website=Lotterywest | date=15 July 2020 | url=https://www.lotterywest.wa.gov.au/lotterywest/the-winning-experience/summer-of-cinema-1 | access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Perth Festival Lotterywest Films at UWA Somerville | website=X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth | date=13 August 2019 | url=http://xpressmag.com.au/perth-festival-2020-lotterywest-films/ | access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> Tom Vincent was film manager from 2014 to 2024.<ref>{{cite web | author=The West Australian | title=World films for Perth Festival | website=The West Australian | date=20 November 2018 | url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/movies/world-films-for-perth-festival-ng-b881016511z | access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Perth Festival 2019">{{cite web | title=Meet the 2020 Programming Team! | website=Perth Festival | date=8 April 2019 | url=https://www.perthfestival.com.au/news/meet-the-2020-programming-team/ | access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> He was succeeded by Madeline Bates, who returned to the Festival as Film Curator in mid-2024.<ref>{{cite news|title=Perth Festival cinema season a summer classic|url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/piaf/perth-festival-cinema-season-a-summer-classic-c-16813005|work=[[The West Australian]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207152656/https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/piaf/perth-festival-cinema-season-a-summer-classic-c-16813005|archive-date=7 December 2024|accessdate=26 September 2025|date=22 November 2024| first=Ben|last=O’Shea}}</ref>

==Funding== The festival was founded by and has operated from the University of Western Australia [[Nedlands, Western Australia|Nedlands]] campus since 1953. The University of Western Australia further supports the festival through the provision of services and resources. [[Lotterywest]] has supported the festival financially since 1992.

The festival also relies on corporate sponsors and partnerships for funding, with new organisations becoming involved each year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Corporate Partnerships|url=http://corporate.perthfestival.com.au/Support-Us/Corporate-partnerships|publisher=Perth International Arts Festival|access-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107133455/http://corporate.perthfestival.com.au/Support-Us/Corporate-partnerships/|archive-date=7 November 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Corporate partners== [[File:Perth International Arts Festival SMC 2010.JPG|thumb|right|[[La Fura dels Baus]] display at the 2010 opening night]] [[File:During a performance of Driving into Walls.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Driving into Walls]]'' dress-rehearsal, February 2012]] [[File:The Giants, Perth International Arts Festival 2015.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Royal de Luxe]]: ''The Incredible and Phenomenal Journey of the Giants to the Streets of Perth'', 2015]] The array of corporate partners changes each year, however some partners have committed to long term sponsorship of the festival. The partners are separated into six distinct groups: #Partners #Leadership partners #Major Partners #Public Funding Partners #Trusts #International Partners

Significant long term partners include Lotterywest and [[Wesfarmers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Corporate Partners|url=https://corporate.perthfestival.com.au/Support-Us/2014-Corporate-partners|publisher=Perth International Arts Festival|access-date=21 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714112909/https://corporate.perthfestival.com.au/Support-Us/2014-Corporate-partners|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Festival venues== Venues for festival events have included:<ref>{{cite web|title=Venues|url=http://2012.perthfestival.com.au/en/What%27s-on/Eat-Drink-Go/Venues/|publisher=Perth International Arts Festival|access-date=24 June 2014}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Somerville Auditorium, [[University of Western Australia]] * Joondalup Pines * [[His Majesty's Theatre, Perth|His Majesty's Theatre]] * [[State Theatre Centre of Western Australia]] * Festival Gardens, [[Perth Cultural Centre]] * [[Regal Theatre, Perth|Regal Theatre]] * [[ABW (TV station)|ABC Perth Studios]] * [[University of Western Australia|Octagon Theatre UWA]] * [[Subiaco Arts Centre]] * [[Perth Concert Hall (Western Australia)|Perth Concert Hall]] * [[St Georges Terrace]] * Nedlands Park Masonic Hall * [[Fremantle Arts Centre]] * Red Hill Auditorium * [[Cottesloe Beach]] * [[Quarry Amphitheatre]] * Winthrop Hall, [[University of Western Australia]] * [[Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery]] * John Curtin Gallery, [[Curtin University]] * [[Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts]] * [[Crown Perth]] Theatre * [[Western Australian Museum]] * [[State Library of Western Australia]] * Former [[The Playhouse Theatre (Perth)|Playhouse Theatre]] * [[State Theatre Centre of Western Australia]] * [[East Perth Power Station]] {{div col end}}

==Selected festivals==

===2012 festival=== The 2012 festival was the 60th Perth International Arts Festival.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Holloway|first1=Jonathan|title=2012 Perth Festival|url=http://2012.perthfestival.com.au/en/About/Festival/|publisher=Perth International Arts Festival|access-date=20 June 2014}}</ref> This year attracted 194,522 paid audience members and a total attendance figure of over 700,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Events 2012 Western Australia|url=http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/Events/Documents/Corporate%20Events%20Calendar_2012_FINAL.pdf|website=Tourism WA|access-date=21 June 2014}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The opening of the festival featured a 'DAWN:DUSK' opening, where hundreds of people gathered on [[Cottesloe Beach]] to watch vocalists and musicians.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lotterywest Festival Opening|url=http://2012.perthfestival.com.au/en/What%27s-on/Event/Lotterywest-Festival-Opening--Dawn-Dusk|publisher=Perth International Arts Festival|access-date=24 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505023908/http://2012.perthfestival.com.au/en/What%27s-on/Event/Lotterywest-Festival-Opening--Dawn-Dusk|archive-date=5 May 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The festival was held from 10 February to 4 March, and was the first year led by new artistic director, [[Jonathan Holloway (artistic director)|Jonathan Holloway]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Perth Arts Festival|url=http://2012.perthfestival.com.au/en/|publisher=Perth International Arts Festival|access-date=20 June 2014}}</ref> A number of events sold out during this year's festival, including tickets to [[Bon Iver]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Selling fast/ sold out|url=http://2012.perthfestival.com.au/en/What%27s-on/Festival-Calendar/Selling-Fast-or-Sold-Out/|publisher=Perth International Arts Festival|access-date=21 June 2014}}</ref>

===2013 festival=== The 2013 festival was held from 8 February to 2 March. With 750 artists, 820 events and 250 film screenings, it is the biggest yet.<ref>{{cite news|title=Perth Festival Wrap Release|url=http://2013.perthfestival.com.au/About/News/ |agency=Perth International Arts Festival |access-date=24 June 2014}}</ref> This year marked the announcement of a new significant partner, [[Chevron Corporation]]. This partnership was recognised through the renaming of the Festival Gardens to Chevron Festival Gardens.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chevron International Partner Perth Festival 2013|url=http://www.festivalaustralia.com.au/announcements/chevron-international-partner-perth-festival-2013|website=Festivals Australia|access-date=24 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302005104/http://www.festivalaustralia.com.au/announcements/chevron-international-partner-perth-festival-2013|archive-date=2 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the 2012/2013 Lotterywest Films, 26 films were screened, with the winner of the BHP Billiton audience award being ''[[The First Grader]]'', directed by Justin Chadwick.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Miranda|title=News|url=https://corporate.perthfestival.com.au/About/News|publisher=Perth International Arts Festival|access-date=24 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716105347/https://corporate.perthfestival.com.au/About/News|archive-date=16 July 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> This year also featured sold-out event, [[Macklemore & Ryan Lewis]], who played at the Chevron City Gardens.

=== 2014 festival === The 2014 festival was the 62nd Perth International Arts Festival held from 7 February until 1 March 2014.<ref>{{Cite press release |url = http://media3.perthfestival.com.au/Documents/Media-Releases/6911_18492_Perth-Festival_Launch-Media-Release_-MR07112014.pdf|title = Perth Festival Launch |publisher = Perth Festival |access-date = 26 February 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220425/http://media3.perthfestival.com.au/Documents/Media-Releases/6911_18492_Perth-Festival_Launch-Media-Release_-MR07112014.pdf|archive-date = 3 March 2016|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

== Live @ The Watershed ==

=== 2001 Festival === The festival had an outdoor concert series that featured an elaborate venue that transformed a common area of the city into a water themed futuristic type atmosphere. It was held over the pond area outside of the Art Gallery Of Western Australia and the Perth Cultural Centre. The festival spanned 26 days and headlined by acts such as the [[Black Eyed Peas]] and [[Proton (band)|Proton]], both of which sold out the venue.<ref>Watershed Festival Program 2001</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=low |first=Catie |date=2000-12-19 |title=Watershed Rises Again For Festival |url=https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Watershed-rises-again-for-festival |website=Business News Australia}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Perth International Arts Festival}} * {{Official website|https://www.perthfestival.com.au/}}

[[Category:Festivals in Perth, Western Australia]] [[Category:Film festivals established in 1953]] [[Category:1953 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Film festivals in Western Australia]] [[Category:Literary festivals in Australia]] [[Category:Theatre festivals in Australia]] [[Category:Music festivals in Western Australia]]