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The University of Western Australia congratulates Perth International Arts Festival Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway on his appointment to the Melbourne Festival.

Mr Holloway will take over as Artistic Director of Melbourne Festival from 2016.

Since founding PIAF more than 60 years ago, UWA continues to support this fantastic annual event.

Perth Festival Chair E/Professor Margaret Seares AO said she was very pleased for Melbourne audiences, who would benefit most from Jonathan’s artistic leadership.

“Mr Holloway's contribution to the Perth International Arts Festival has been wide-reaching,” she said.

“Under his artistic leadership the Festival’s international excellence program has expanded, bringing more art of the highest quality to Western Australian audiences.

“Through the Vital Stages program, started in 2012, we have also seen a significant increase in collaboration with the local arts sector, with hundreds of local artists featuring in Jonathan’s three Festivals to date.”

UWA's Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson said: “I congratulate Jonathan on his appointment and the Melbourne Festival organisers on securing a world-class innovative and artistic leader. As Artistic Director of the Perth International Arts Festival, Jonathan’s work was both transformative and highly regarded and we wish him all the best in his exciting new role.”

Perth Festival General Manager Julian Donaldson congratulated Jonathan and thanked him for his contribution.
“Mr Holloway has been a fine artistic director with the vision to lead Perth Festival audiences into new arts experiences,” he said.

“Under his artistic direction we have reached a greater audience and also increased our support from government, corporate and private donors, together with increased accessibility across the program.

“The Perth International Arts Festival’s free public program has grown, with the Festival’s biggest ever event, The Incredible and Phenomenal Journey of the Giants to the Streets of Perth in 2015.

“We wish Jonathan the very best in his new role and look forward to continued cooperation between our two Festivals.”

Media references

Rania Ghandour (WA Media) +61 8 6488 8618 / 0403 025 535

Miranda Brown (National Media) +61 3 9419 0931 / 0411 568 781