News

Australian festivals’ evolving conversation with Asia

Festival directors from around the country respond to recent criticisms that they have turned their backs on our closest neighbours.

30 Aug 2016

Richard Watts

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Writing and Publishing

Cambodia’s Phare Circus make their Australian premiere at this year’s OzAsia Festival. Photo credit: Camille Malafosse.

In a recent ArtsHub feature, the Artistic Director of Darwin Festival, Andrew Ross, criticised the Australian arts sector – and in particular the major festivals – for failing to engage with the artistic cultures of our geographic region.

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts