What is the Perth Festival?
The Perth Festival is an international arts festival held each February and March in Perth, Western Australia. First held in 1953, it is the oldest annual international multi-arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
The festival was founded by the University of Western Australia and was originally known as the Festival of Perth. It has grown into a major event featuring theater, music, dance, film, literature and visual arts.
Venues include theaters, concert halls, parks and outdoor locations. The festival often includes large free outdoor events that attract thousands of people.
Film and literature
The festival's Lotterywest Films program screens international films outdoors at venues such as the Somerville Auditorium at the University of Western Australia, surrounded by pine trees.
The Literature and Ideas program brings writers and thinkers to Perth for talks and discussions. The festival also features First Nations artists and stories from Western Australia.
Perth Festival opening events have included large-scale outdoor performances and installations celebrating Noongar culture, the culture of the Aboriginal people of southwest Western Australia. The festival plays an important role in Perth's cultural life.
Did You Know?
The Perth Festival's outdoor cinema season runs from late spring through the summer.