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Perth arts community mourns David Blenkinsop

Formerly the Artistic Director of Perth Festival from 1976 to 1999, Blenkinsop has died aged 77.

15 Dec 2014

Richard Watts

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Photo supplied by Perth International Arts Festival

David Blenkinsop CBE AM, the longest-serving Artistic Director of Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) has died aged 77.

Blenkinsop was the Festival’s third Artistic Director, having emigrated from the UK in 1976 to take over the reins from John Birman. During his 23 years at PIAF – then known as the Festival of Perth – Blenkinsop transformed it into an internationally respected multi-arts event.

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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