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Four world and 23 Australian premieres are some of the highlights of the 2012 Perth International Arts Festival - the first program for Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway.

The Festival, about to celebrate its 60th year, is Australia's oldest arts festival and was initiated by The University of Western Australia.

The Festival brings together theatre, dance, music and visual arts from around the world and runs from 10 February to 5 March.  Co-events are the Perth Writers Festival, from 23 to 26 March, and the Lotterywest Festival Films, from 28 November.

Mr Holloway was Director of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, overseeing audience increases from 35,000 to 330,000.

"For many years I've admired the big Australian festivals which have inspired the world, and the chance to direct one is fantastic," he said.  "Many of the artists I've admired for years have said ‘yes' to the invitation to perform in Perth - one of the most beautiful places on Earth."

The Festival 2012 will begin with Dawn:Dusk .  Indigenous elders and performers will greet audiences and artists with a sunset Welcome to Country and hundreds of singers and musicians will greet sunrise with a celebration of the people, natural wonder and artistic life of WA.

The Festival will bring magic to Perth streets with the Australian premiere of Place des Anges from Les Studios de Cirque in France.  ‘Angels' will glide through the air leaving feathers in their wake before landing in St Georges Terrace.

For children and families, Australia's Barking Gecko theatre company will bring Academy Award winner and UWA graduate Shaun Tan's acclaimed book The Red Tree to life and Atishoo from the UK will thrill with puppetry, live performance and music.

Media references

Rania Ghandour (PIAF Media Relations Manager)  (+61 8)  6488 8618  /  (+61 4) 03 025 535
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783