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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-05-07 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

Adelaide Festival of Arts

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Today I was pleased to announce the decision of the Festival Board appointing the artistic directors of the Adelaide Festival of Arts from 2017-19, Neil Armfield AO and Rachel Healy.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is called to order and warned a first time.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: It is a coup for Adelaide for our world-renowned festival to have secured these two highly regarded arts leaders, and it speaks of the high calibre of our national arts scene that, after an extensive global recruitment process, the Adelaide Festival Board could not go past the experience of these talented Australians.

Multi-award winning director Neil Armfield AO is widely acknowledged as one of Australia's greatest theatre and opera directors, and film makers. His artistic reputation both nationally and internationally comes from a 40-year career that includes 17 years as artistic director of Belvoir Street Theatre, where he and Rachel spent almost a decade together building Australia's prominent theatre production house. He recently won his 10th Helpmann Award as best director for Opera Australia's Ring Cycle and, relevant to this new role, his theatre and opera works have regularly featured in Adelaide Festival of Arts programs.

Rachel is one of the country's leading cultural professionals, with over 20 years' experience in multiple art forms, including theatre and ballet. Following her time at Belvoir, Rachel was Director of Performing Arts at the Sydney Opera House and, more recently, Executive Manager Culture at the City of Sydney, where she led the development of Sydney's first cultural policy and action plan, and was the driving force behind a comprehensive review of the live music scene.

Aside from her artistic credentials, I am pleased to inform the house that Rachel is an Adelaide girl—indeed, a St Dominic's girl—and I am sure that all of South Australia will be pleased to welcome her home. Neil also spent many years of his early career in Adelaide and it is fantastic to have him back here helping direct the Adelaide Festival of Arts. This will be the first time in the Festival's 55-year history that the role of artistic director will be shared. I am sure I speak for the house when I say I am eager to see what this dynamic duo will present for our annual premier arts and cultural event.

As I mentioned, the two will take up the reins from 2017, taking over from our current director, David Sefton, who is already well underway with planning next year's program. I would like to thank David for his time with us and look forward to finding out what he has up his sleeve for the 2016 Adelaide Festival of Arts.

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