Festival History
Melbourne Festival is one of Australia's leading international arts festivals and has an outstanding reputation for presenting unique international and Australian events in the fields of dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia, free and outdoor events over 17 days each October.
First staged in 1986 under the direction of composer Gian Carlo Menotti it became the third in the Spoleto Festival series – joining Spoleto, Italy, and Charleston, United States. Known as Spoleto Melbourne - Festival of the Three Worlds, it changed its name to the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts in 1990. In 2003, the Festival was renamed Melbourne International Arts Festival, and is now commonly known as Melbourne Festival.
Artistic Directors:
1986-88 | Gian Carlo Menotti |
1986-91 | John Truscott AO |
1992-93 | Richard Wherrett AM |
1994-96 | Leo Schofield AM |
1997 | Clifford Hocking AM |
1998-99 | Sue Nattrass |
2000-01 | Jonathan Mills AO |
2002-04 | Robyn Archer AO |
2005-08 | Kristy Edmunds |
2009-12 | Brett Sheehy AO |
2013-current | Josephine Ridge |
- Festival Dates
- Festival History
- Past Festivals
- 1986 Festival
- 1987 Festival
- 1988 Festival
- 1989 Festival
- 1990 Festival
- 1991 Festival
- 1992 Festival
- 1993 Festival
- 1994 Festival
- 1995 Festival
- 1996 Festival
- 1997 Festival
- 1998 Festival
- 1999 Festival
- 2000 Festival
- 2001 Festival
- 2002 Festival
- 2003 Festival
- 2004 Festival
- 2005 Festival
- 20 Years of Melbourne Festival
- 2006 Festival
- 2007 Festival
- 2008 Festival
- 2009 Festival
- 2010 Festival
- 2011 Festival
- 2012 Festival
- 2013 Festival
- 2014 Festival
- 2015 Festival
- Staff
- Board of Directors
- Volunteering
- Apply to become a Volunteer
- Work with us
- Report to the Community
- Contact