Event: Australia - Perth

Perth International Arts Festival

When:	13 Feb - 7 Mar 2009 (annual)
Where:	Perth
Costs:	Various
Opening Hours:	Various

Founded in 1953 by the University of West Australia, Perth's International Arts Festival is the country's oldest and largest multi-arts festival, far outreaching the city boundary that gives it its name.

The 2008 festival was Shelagh Magadza's first as artistic director and she will continue in the role until 2011, aiming to "create a global conversation on the streets of Perth", by dividing the event into four main sections: International Artists; Perth CBD and its wider metropolitan area; Western Australia and Indigenous Culture.

As an indication of the wide-reach of the festival in its search for international ensembles, in 2008 the theatre programme alone featured Tim Supple's Indian and Sri Lankan version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, in seven languages, as well as the equally acclaimed Blackwatch, performed by the National Theatre of Scotland.

Festival-goers can also expect extensive dance, music and visual arts programmes, as well as regular components - Meet the Artists sessions, Lotterywest Festival Films and the Perth Writers Festival.

Please visit the festival website for full details as they are released.