10-year look back at major performing arts festivals shows some things haven’t changed
As some prominent performing arts festivals wrap up their programs for another year, we take a reflective look back on how they have performed over the long term.
Festivals often set out to capture the here and now. But looking back on their past performance also reveals a lot. Pictured is a scene from ‘Set Piece’ by Anna Breckon and Nat Randall at Sydney Festival 2022. Photo: Prudence Upton.
It’s not often we look back 10 years to think about the size and impact of Australian performing arts festivals as they were then compared to now.
Rather alarmingly, Brisbane and Sydney Festivals have both seen only a 10% (approximately) increase in their annual budgets and income levels over the past 10 years, compared to Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases that show that average prices for ordinary consumer goods in Australia have risen around 30% over the same period.
ArtsHub's Arts Feature Writer Jo Pickup is based in Perth. An arts writer and manager, she has worked as a journalist and broadcaster for media such as the ABC, RTRFM and The West Australian newspaper, contributing media content and commentary on art, culture and design. She has also worked for arts organisations such as Fremantle Arts Centre, STRUT dance, and the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA, as well as being a sessional arts lecturer at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
