MEDIA RELEASE: AUSTRALIAN FESTIVALS ARE VITAL FOR AUSTRALIAN STORIES

Australia’s over 300 music festivals provide a platform for Australian artists, both new and established, to tell Australian stories. They are vital for a thriving music industry and provide people an opportunity to enjoy music, culture and community in a unique festival setting.

Today at Bluesfest I joined industry leaders and festival organisers at a roundtable discussion on the establishment of an Australian Festivals Association. A trade body which will represent the festival sector and aims to create a stronger and more unified sector by sharing of information, knowledge and advice amongst organisers.

It’s great to see this kind of initiative in Australia, building on the work of the international Association of Independent Festivals.

Australian music is the soundtrack to our lives. It plays a vital role in telling Australian stories and experiences in a way that is accessible and can be enjoyed worldwide. 

673,000* people go to festivals each year, with almost 15 percent of them attending four or five festivals a year.

Roundtable meetings are vital for the festival industry in Australia. Sharing Industry information, advice and knowledge is integral to keeping Australian artists active and spreading our precious Australian stories around the world. 

*According to Live Performance Australia Ticket Attendance and Revenue Survey for 2016 Survey

SUNDAY, 1 APRIL 2018