Exit interview: Joseph Mitchell, Artistic Director, OzAsia Festival

After five festivals, Mitchell has moved onto new challenges. Just before he left, he spoke with ArtsHub about the highs and lows of his time in the role.

Joseph Mitchell not only programmed five OzAsia Festivals for the Adelaide Festival Centre; he also reshaped the Festival’s focus and style.

When he was appointed Artistic Director, the OzAsia Festival – held over three weeks every Spring – tended to focus on the cultural output of a different Asian nation each year. Mitchell reoriented the Festival to become a showcase of the best contemporary art from across Asia. He also ensured the program had a much broader scope than just the Asian countries to Australia’s immediate north.

Unlock Padlock Icon

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts