Festival on track in new format
THE Darwin Festival has secured core government funding and appointed a new board after financial struggles left the festival’s future in limbo last year.
The Northern Territory Government reinstated the festival’s funding of $1 million a year and the festival is now transitioning out of statutory management to a new board.
Darwin Airport chief Ian Kew has been appointed chair of the organisation and will be joined on the board by three directors including award-winning playwright Mary Ann Butler, financial adviser and partner at Deloitte Karen Green, and legal practitioner Avril Vaughan.
After years of compounding debt the Director-General of Licensing appointed a statutory manager to take over functions of the board in June last year.
An interim audit of the Festival’s 2016 results revealed that the Festival Association ended the financial year in good financial health.
General manager Emily Mann said this year’s festival would still remain an 18-day event from August 10-27 but the size of the festival was still shaping up as sponsorships and grants were finalised.
“As we secure sponsors and grants to help us get it across the line that dictates exactly how large or small the festival will be,” she said.
“It promises to be a very dif-
“It promises to be a very different festival this year” EMILY MANN
ferent festival this year full of vibrancy and fun.”
Ms Mann said the festival would still feature top international, national and local acts from across the arts sector.
Chairman Ian Kew said the board would ensure the festival was not at risk of the same financial issues faced in previous years.
“We won’t be crying poor and putting our hand out for money from the government in the future,” he said.
“We’ve changed the structure of the way the festival is organised.
“It’s a company limited by guarantee now and that gives us a lot more control.”
Mr Kew said the board was looking forward to helping the festival management deliver a successful and sustainable festival this year and into the future with the support of local business and the community.
“The festival occupies a special place in people’s hearts in Darwin, we just need to get them to come to more shows and love it a bit more than they have in the past,” he said.