Arts Festivals

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for the Arts. Can the minister inform the house about some of the festivals taking place in Adelaide this winter?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:34): The Adelaide Cabaret Festival, which started on 6 June and goes until this Saturday, is the most comprehensive cabaret festival in the world. Under the guidance of the fabulous and very talented artistic director, Kate Ceberano, this year's program has featured over 470 artists and 173 performances. There are 71 international artists from across the world as well as the best from Australia.

The 2014 festival showcases 21 world premieres, 13 Australian premieres, 19 Adelaide premieres, as well as Adelaide exclusives. Last year, the Cabaret Festival launched their roadshow, which went to Port Pirie. I am pleased to report that they have built on this great event this year, adding a show in Mount Gambier. I understand that both the Mount Gambier and Port Pirie shows were sold out and by all accounts were huge success. I also have had the pleasure of meeting with the director of the 2015 Cabaret Festival, the renowned Barry Humphries. I can assure the house the festival is in very good hands.

I urge all members of the house to get along to a show, or even just the Winter Garden on the Festival Centre terrace, before it ends this weekend. If members are unable to get along to a show this weekend, the Adelaide International Guitar Festival, the most significant festival of its kind in the southern hemisphere, will take place from 17 to 20 July and will see 58 events, with over 300 local, interstate and international artists.

Curated by internationally renowned Australian guitarist Slava Grigoryan, who I also met with recently, this unique music event not only provides our audiences a chance to see some of the best national and international guitarists but also has a strong focus on local artistic development. This year, the Guitar Festival is embarking on a partnership with the Spanish Córdoba Guitar Festival, with Slava Grigoryan performing at their festival in early July, followed by one of Córdoba's greatest flamenco exports, José Antonio Rodriguez, performing at the Festival Theatre on the final night.

The Hon. J.R. Rau interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Do you think so? I understand the Spanish Ambassador to Australia, Mr Enrique Viguera, has announced his intention to attend the festival in 2014. Building on the success of our Fringe and Adelaide festivals, the Cabaret Festival and the Adelaide International Guitar Festival contribute to cementing South Australia as Australia's festival state, creating a vibrant Adelaide not just for mad March but all year round. I encourage all members to go along and support these great events.

Mr Pisoni: What about the Feast Festival?

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is called to order. The member for Mitchell.