The iconic Adelaide Festival Centre plays an important part in the lives of many South Australians. It is visited by over 700,000 patrons every year and is the “hub” of numerous South Australian arts and cultural events every year, having developed a reputation for presenting world-class events, supporting local artists and connecting artists with audiences to be inspired, challenged, educated and entertained.

As the centre of festivals, the Adelaide Festival Centre is home to three of its own specially developed annual festivals, all featuring premier Australian and international artists and attracting thousands of visitors from around the country and the globe.

The Adelaide Cabaret Festival, which began in 2001, is recognised as one of the world’s best cabaret events, as the Centre’s venues are transformed into intimate storytelling spaces for 16 warm and wintry nights every June. In 2009, the Adelaide Festival Centre will present its ninth annual Adelaide Cabaret Festival from 5 – 20 June, under the new Artistic Directorship of Adelaide born David Campbell, whose international reputation will further enhance the festival, nationally and internationally. The 2009 Adelaide Cabaret Festival will be opened by musical theatre legend Bernadette Peters who is among the crème de la crème of live stage performers and a Tony Award-winning star on New York’s Broadway scene. Throughout her illustrious career, she has dazzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage, television, in concert and recordings.

Also in 2009, the Adelaide Festival Centre will host the OzAsia Festival from 3 – 17 October, which systematically explores the links through both traditional and contemporary work between Australia and the diverse and rich cultures of Asia. It involves both Australian and Asian artists in theatre, dance, music, film, visual arts and literature.

The third annual Adelaide International Guitar Festival will be held from late November and will once again present an enviable line-up of international guitar greats. The festival is a celebration of the world’s most popular and accessible instrument and will feature performances across a wide variety of genres, as well as artist forums, visual arts and artists in residence.

Along with these three major annual festivals, the Adelaide Festival Centre also produces a year long program of world-class theatre, dance, music and visual art, and is home to many of South Australia’s flagship performing arts companies, including the State Theatre Company of South Australia, Windmill Performing Arts, Australian Dance Theatre and State Opera of South Australia. 

For more information visit www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au