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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 12:00

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 OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in early 2020. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association in 2021, and a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Photo: Fiona Hamilton. Follow Richard on Bluesky @richardthewatts.bsky.social and Instagram @richard.l.watts