AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Ted Baillieu MLA
PREMIER of Victoria
and Minister for the Arts
Melbourne’s arts scene is a multi-layered
and fascinating feast for the senses.
Melbourne is home to the country’s oldest
and most respected cultural institutions and
the most extensive and active independent
arts community. We have great festivals and
major events, and outstanding year-round
arts attractions. We draw the best artists from
around the world and we match them with our
extraordinary home-grown talent.
Our passionate audiences embrace everything
from blockbusters to pub gigs to cutting edge
art, music, dance and theatre.
Together these layers make Melbourne one of
the world’s great arts cities, and they can all
be explored at the 2012 Melbourne Festival.
With one of the most substantial local
programs in the Festival’s history, the
2012 Melbourne Festival is a wonderful
showcase of what makes the arts in this city –
and state – tick.
Twenty-eight Victorian arts organisations
and companies are involved, 11 of which
will stage world premieres at the Festival.
These range from Australian music icon Paul
Kelly performing with students from the
Australian National Academy of Music, to new
works from internationally acclaimed local
companies such as Chunky Move and family
favourites Polyglot Theatre.
I invite you to peel back the layers and enjoy
everything the 2012 Melbourne Festival has
to offer.
Akram Khan
Company (UK)
Desh
“DESH is a masterpiece,
the best thing that
[Khan] has ever done.”
The Observer (UK)
Ted Baillieu
“The most urgent,
beautiful and confident
work of his career.”
Principal Public Partner
16
The Guardian (UK)