PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE
The 2013 Melbourne Festival was
the final Festival in my tenure as
President.
8
I am delighted that it received critical
acclaim for the collection of extraordinary
programs, including nine commissions, 16
international premieres and 13 Australian
premieres.
The 2013 Festival saw the continued growth
and consolidation of several important
strategic, long-term collaborations and
partnerships, be they local, national and/
or international. A few important ones
that immediately come to mind are the
collaborations with the National Gallery of
Victoria, Yarra Trams, Federation Square,
Theatre Works, Multicultural Arts Victoria,
Ilbijerri Theatre Company, the Foxtel Festival
Hub and China Southern Airlines with the
inaugural China Southern Airlines Concert
in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. We couldn’t
deliver such a diverse and high quality
program without our partners and we are
grateful to each and every one of them.
I was also pleased to note increasing
levels of participation and engagement of
audiences, with one in five festival-goers new
to the event. Indeed, throughout October
there was a palpable sense around town
of connecting the Festival with the life,
character and spirit of Melbourne.
I congratulate the new leadership team of
Josephine Ridge and Katie McLeish on the
success of their first Festival together. I also
wish to acknowledge my wonderful board
colleagues and the incredibly dedicated
staff.
There were so many shows I loved in the
program this year from Australia, Europe
and North America. Looking ahead, I think
the Melbourne Festival should also be a
leader in the presentation of exciting Asian
programming and in providing increased
opportunities for children and families
to enjoy high calibre arts in the Festival
context.
During my term we have had really
heartening increases in private and
corporate support as well as big increases
in box office. It is my great hope that our
Government stakeholders – Local, State
and Federal – will continue to increase
their investment in Melbourne Festival, and
indeed the Creative Industries as a whole,
in order to substantiate Victoria’s claim
to being a cultural capital, not only for
Australia, but on the international playing
field as well.
That said, I am proud to leave the Festival
organisation in good heart and on a revived
trajectory towards a vibrant and sustainable
future.
Best wishes for the continuing journey.
CARRILLO GANTNER AO, President