House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-02-07 Daily Xml

Contents

Adelaide Fringe

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (12:58): I rise today to move:

That this house—

(a) acknowledges the important cultural, social and economic contribution that the Fringe Festival makes to the South Australian arts and the cultural sector of our state;

(b) recognises the importance of the Fringe Festival in showcasing some of the best South Australian acts across multiple art forms, whilst also welcoming interstate and international acts and thousands of festival goers from interstate and overseas; and

(c) congratulates those who will be named as winners of the 2024 Adelaide Fringe Awards.

The Adelaide Fringe is known globally as the second largest arts festival in the world. It is our pride and joy that brings our state alive in February and March. That is why the Malinauskas Labor government committed an additional $2 million annually to the Adelaide Fringe to further enable the Fringe to market the event interstate and overseas.

Just last year we saw the dividends of our investment. In fact, last year history was made, with more than one million tickets sold at the Adelaide Fringe. This was an extraordinary win for South Australia and an incredible achievement for everyone involved in the Fringe. Importantly, it meant more money in the pockets of artists, performers, venues and our arts industry.

As it grows, the Fringe has been steadily bringing in more visitors, and they are spending dollars in South Australia, which not just supports our local arts communities but also the broader South Australian economy. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00.