Executive Director

A key cultural leadership role in ensuring that Adelaide Festival continues to evolve as the preeminent international arts festival in Australia.

• Australia’s pre-eminent international arts festival and a major cultural drawcard
• At the forefront of artistic innovation and creative excellence for 65 years
• Significant opportunity for a strategic Executive Director to lead one of the world’s top festivals

Taking place on the traditional land of the Kaurna Nation of the Adelaide Plains, Adelaide Festival is Australia’s International Festival.

For 65 years we have been the nation’s major cultural drawcard, attracting over 300,000 visitors annually: all making a pilgrimage to experience the finest international and national artistic endeavours. No other Australian festival has the capacity to present a program of works which can include epic international dance, opera, theatre and music.

Adelaide Festival is internationally recognised as Australia’s pre-eminent arts festival. Alongside Edinburgh and Avignon festivals, Adelaide Festival is cited as one of the top festivals in the world – providing audiences with the chance to see the most original and acclaimed artists working in the world today.

Our curated program includes the world’s largest free literary festival – Adelaide Writers’ Week – alongside a cross-section of theatre, opera, music, dance and visual art from artists of all backgrounds and cultures. Inclusivity, creativity, sustainability, trust and celebration drive our passion for delivering Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Writers’ Week.

Since 1960, Adelaide Festival has also stood at the helm of artistic innovation, commissioning and championing groundbreaking new works and presenting them alongside the greatest established companies and artists.

Following the recent appointment of Matthew Lutton OAM as our next Artistic Director, the Board is now seeking to secure an experienced arts leader as our new Executive Director.

The Executive Director, in partnership with the Artistic Director, plays a key role in ensuring that Adelaide Festival continues to evolve as the preeminent international arts festival in Australia.

Reporting to the Adelaide Festival Board, the Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the operational and financial sustainability of the organisation, and to actively seek areas for growth.

The ideal candidate will be a proven leader in the arts or a related field, combining strong business and commercial acumen with exceptional communication skills and a passion for the arts. A visionary strategist, they will have a deep understanding of the cultural landscape and a commitment to fostering diversity, inclusion and accessibility. They will be capable of contributing to the strategic direction of the Festival while ensuring robust organisational oversight, sustainability and alignment with the Festival’s purpose and values.

To access the information for Candidates site which includes details about the Adelaide Festival, the position description and application requirements, please contact the consultant advising the Board:

Tony Grierson

AEGEUS Executive Search    

P: +61 8 7160 2383

E: adelaidefestival@aegeus.asia