The 2016 Melbourne Festival is
particularly exciting as it is our first
from Artistic Director Jonathan
Holloway, and for Kath Mainland, our
new Executive Director. This new team
will set the standard for the future.
For more than three decades,
Melbourne Festival has brought the
best of the international arts scene to
Melbourne and provided a platform for
our local talent to launch their work to
the world.
The yearly challenge is to create a
program that captures the vibrancy and
dynamism of the city while providing
the exhilarating swing from joy to awe
that great art gives. This is a festival
which does Melbourne proud and
continues the 30-year tradition of
challenging and entrancing audiences
and making a statement about where
we are as a society.
In galleries, public spaces and theatres
across the city, the Festival raises
the curtain on creativity, presenting a
stunning program of arts experiences
across 18 days.
Festivals like this could not happen
without the generous support of
our most vital partner, the Victorian
Government, as well as the City of
Melbourne, our corporate partners
and private donors. We are deeply
grateful to them all.
►► Maureen Wheeler AO
CHAIR
Proudly supported by the Victorian
Government, Melbourne Festival is
a celebration of art, a celebration of
the unique culture of our city and a
celebration of our creative state.
Melbourne Festival’s unique program of
high calibre international and local acts
has made it one of Australia’s leading
international arts festivals.
The City of Melbourne is proud to
support the Festival to help deliver a
variety of free and low cost events for
everyone to enjoy.
One of the highlights for 2016 is
Tanderrum: a gathering of the five clans
of the Kulin Nation as they welcome
audiences and artists on traditional
lands at Federation Square.
Festival-goers should not miss the
opportunity to indulge in some of
Melbourne’s finest culinary offerings
at one of the Festival Feasts partners
across the city.
Congratulations to the Melbourne
Festival team!
►► Martin Foley MP
MINISTER FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
►► Hon Robert Doyle
LORD MAYOR &
MELBOURNE FESTIVAL PATRON