WOMADelaide, Adelaide's annual, iconic four-day festival celebrating a world of music, arts and dance has secured a five-year license extension the South Australian Government has announced.
This will guarantee that the event, which delivers a $15.1 million economic impact annually to the state, will remain in Adelaide until 2024 with an exclusive arrangement with WOMAD Ltd in the UK. The announcement also includes a major development programme for the festival.
WOMADelaide Director, Ian Scobie, said he was thrilled to receive the news of this important on going commitment and support from the SA State Government.
Click here to read the 2017 event review.
"The new agreement has enabled us to confirm the presentation of two large-scale, landmark productions to the 2018 festival; the extraordinary French aerial spectacular, Gratte Ciel’s Place des Anges, and the music masterpiece from India, The Manganiyar Seduction," Mr Scobie said.
As darkness falls each night, Gratte Ciel’s ‘angels’ will appear high above the treetops in Botanic Park, flying high above and descending into the festival crowd in a cascade of white feathers; dancing across the sky in a magical performance set to music that will delight both young and old.
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This will be the first time that Place des Anges, which features a 32-strong French cast and crew working alongside multiple local crew and volunteers, will be presented outside an urban environment.
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This will be the first time that Place des Anges, which features a 32-strong French cast and crew working alongside multiple local crew and volunteers, will be presented outside an urban environment.
The Premier of South Australia and Minister for the Arts, The Hon Jay Weatherill, said that the new agreement is a genuine coup for the state, and one that further cements SA’s reputation as the arts and festival capital of Australia.
"Guaranteeing WOMADelaide's place in South Australia is not only a boost for the arts sector, but also for tourism and the associated industries, as 45 per cent of the festival’s audience comes from interstate."
Click here to read the first line-up announcment for 2018 WOMADelaide.
At the opposite end of Botanic Park will be The Manganiyar Seduction, a stunning visual and musical spectacular composed of 43 musicians performing within a 36-windowed, multi-level, purpose-built ‘jewel box’ stage.
The 60-minute performance, also to be held after dark each night at the 2018 festival, transposes the songs and traditions of the Manganiyars, a caste of musicians from the heart of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan and is the creation of Roysten Abel whose more intimate work the Manganiyar Classroom delighted WOMADelaide audiences this year.
The 60-minute performance, also to be held after dark each night at the 2018 festival, transposes the songs and traditions of the Manganiyars, a caste of musicians from the heart of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan and is the creation of Roysten Abel whose more intimate work the Manganiyar Classroom delighted WOMADelaide audiences this year.
WOMAD’s founder, musician Peter Gabriel said: "Over the past 25 years, WOMADelaide has not only evolved into a great Australian event, but also a great WOMAD event.
"WOMAD festivals have always flourished in beautiful surroundings, and the location in Adelaide next to the Botanic Gardens is still one of my favourites.
The Manganiyar Seduction"WOMADelaide has its own, unique style and consistently brings its loyal audience new delights from all over the world under the inspired guardianship of the Ian Scobie and his excellent team.
"We really appreciate our partnership with the South Australian Tourism Commission and this big vote of confidence in our future."
