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OzAsia Festival

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OzAsia Festival
GenreArts
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Adelaide, South Australia
Years active2007–present
Organised byAdelaide Festival Centre
Websitehttp://www.ozasiafestival.com.au/
OzAsia Festival moon lanterns in Elder Park in Adelaide, South Australia, 2015.

OzAsia Festival, or simply OzAsia, is an Asia-focussed arts festival in South Australia, presented by the Adelaide Festival Centre for two weeks in late October to early November each year. It features theatre, dance, music, film and visual arts from across Asia as well as outdoor events and food stalls. In some years it has focussed on specific regions or countries in Asia.

Since 2017, the festival has included the Lucky Dumpling Market, comprising numerous food stalls set up along the river bank. Since 2018, the event has included "JLF Adelaide", an offshoot of the Jaipur Literary Festival.

History

After the Government of South Australia wiped a A$28-million debt from Adelaide's Festival Centre in the 2005–2006 State Budget, the Festival Centre began a five-year financial rebuilding programme. OzAsia Festival resulted from the Government of South Australia and the Adelaide Festival Centre partnering in 2007 to create a new arts festival of national and cultural significance, and was one of several ideas to revive the Adelaide Festival Centre.[1]

The inaugural OzAsia Festival was held 21 September – 7 October, 2007, and stood on two key guiding principles: the contribution of Australian artists and performers who identify with an Asian cultural heritage and the constant stream of collaboration between Australia and its regional neighbours. Its program was built on four key pillars: performing arts, visual arts, cultural debate, and community involvement.[2]

The first OzAsia Festival program was produced by Executive Director, Nick Skibinski, who was succeeded by Jacinta Thompson as Festival Director the following year. From 2010 – 2015, the festival undertook a country of focus initiative, each year emphasising a particular country to grow stronger cultural ties between Australia and key countries in the region. 2010 it was Korea; 2011, Japan; 2012, India; 2013, Malaysia; and 2014, Thompson's last program, China.[3]

In 2015, Joseph Mitchell became the OzAsia Festival Artistic Director. He shifted the program rationale from focussing on a single country each year to instead showcase the best contemporary art and artists from across Asia, including the Middle East (Western Asia).

Artists such as Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Ryoji Ikeda, Meng Jinghui, Melati Suryodarmo and Teater Garasi have all presented Australian premieres at the OzAsia Festival.[citation needed]

Hong Kong Dragon from Moon Lantern Parade as part of the 2016 OzAsia Festival opening in Elder Park, Adelaide, South Australia.

In May 2020 Annette Shun Wah was appointed director of the festival, taking over from Joseph Mitchell. With the November 2020 festival being cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, her first full festival will be in 2021.[4]

Events

The Moon Lantern Parade is a free public event and an integral part of OzAsia Festival that celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is an official harvest festival traditionally celebrated by the Chinese and Vietnamese. The Moon Lantern parade begins after sunset, and is followed by fireworks over the River Torrens.[5]

OzAsia films are shown at the Mercury Cinema in Morphett Street.[6]

In 2015, Adelaide's Riverbank Precinct was transformed for the first time into a hawker-style market with Asian food, themed bars, roving entertainers and free performances every night of the OzAsia Festival. The Adelaide Night Noodle Markets featured for the first time in 2015 at the Adelaide Festival Centre Precinct as part of OzAsia Festival. For eleven nights, patrons were able to sample Asian cuisine from the variety of Asian food stalls. It was the first time the Night Noodle Markets have run in South Australia, following successes in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.[7][8]

In 2016, OzAsia Festival presented a special outdoor live music concert series in the riverbank precinct's Elder Park to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. The free event ran for ten days and featured top international performers from across Asia.[9]

In 2017, the team behind Adelaide Fringe's "Gluttony" venue hub created and presented The Lucky Dumpling Market for the 2017 OzAsia Festival, which was located on the Adelaide Riverbank Lawns beside the Riverbank Footbridge. The Lucky Dumpling Market showcased authentic Asian cuisine, market stalls, premium wines and beers, and played host to local and international musicians.[10]

For the first time in 2018, OzAsia Festival hosted the South-Asian institution Jaipur Literature Festival, the world's largest free literary festival.[11][12][13] It is intended to be an annual recurrent part of the festival.[14]

Awards and nominations

OzAsia Festival
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2008 Hong Kong Australia Business Association (SA Chapter) Award Importing of Services Adelaide Festival Centre for OzAsia Festival Won
Ruby Award Best Community Event Moon Lantern Festival Won [15]
2009 Helpmann Award Best Chamber Music Recital Ecstatic Dances for OzAsia Festival (Gabriella Smart) Won [16]
Ruby Award Best Event OzAsia Festival Won [15]
2010 Australia Business Arts Foundation Award ABAF National Award for Partnership of the Year Adelaide Festival Centre, shared with Santos, for OzAsia Festival Won [17]
ABAF National Award for Australian ABAF Partnering Adelaide Festival Centre, shared with Santos, for OzAsia Festival Won [17]
ABAF State Award for South Australian ABAF Partnering Adelaide Festival Centre, shared with Santos, for OzAsia Festival Won
Australian Event Award Australia's Most Exceptional Event Adelaide Festival Centre, shared with Santos, for OzAsia Festival Won [18]
2011 Governor's Multicultural Award Arts and Culture OzAsia Festival Won [19]
2012 Hong Kong Australia Business Association (SA Chapter) Award Contribution to Tourism, Hospitality or Recreation Adelaide Festival Centre for OzAsia Festival Won
2013 Art Music Award Excellence in Music Education Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and OzAsia Festival Won [20]
Hong Kong Australia Business Association (SA Chapter) Award Contribution to Tourism, Hospitality or Recreation Adelaide Festival Centre for OzAsia Festival Won
Hong Kong Australia Business Association National Award Business Development Adelaide Festival Centre for OzAsia Festival Won
2014 The Australia-China Achievement Award Arts Adelaide Festival Centre for OzAsia Festival Nominated
Hong Kong Australia Business Association (SA Chapter) Award Contribution to Tourism, Hospitality or Recreation Adelaide Festival Centre for OzAsia Festival Won
Governor's Multicultural Award Arts and Culture Organisation Adelaide Festival Centre for OzAsia Festival Nominated

References

  1. ^ Staff writer, ABC News (26 September 2007). "OzAsia meeting performance targets". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  2. ^ "OzAsia Festival 2007 Programme Guide" (PDF). OzAsia Festival. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  3. ^ "OzAsia Festival History". OzAsia Festival. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  4. ^ Marsh, Walter (4 May 2020). "OzAsia Festival appoints new artistic director following 2020 program cancellation". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  5. ^ Staff writer, Play and Go Adelaide (8 July 2015). "Moon Lantern Festival 2015". Play and Go Adelaide. Play and Go. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Film Fiestas". Mercury Cinema. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  7. ^ Staff writer, Inside South Australia (20 August 2015). "Adelaide Night Noodle Markets". Inside South Australia. Brand South Australia. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  8. ^ Staff writer, Glam Adelaide (21 September 2015). "Adelaide Night Noodle Markets Rock the City!". Glam Adelaide. Glam Digital Pty Ltd. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  9. ^ Staff writer, Broadway World (8 August 2016). "OzAsia Festival Will Feature South Australia's Largest Ever Showcase of Hong Kong Arts and Culture". Broadway World Australia- Adelaide. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  10. ^ Staff writer, Play and Go (6 August 2017). "OzAsia Festival 2017". Play and Go – Adelaide. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  11. ^ Brooker, Ben (18 July 2018). "OzAsia Festival 2018: Beyond borders". Realtime. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  12. ^ Keen, Suzie (13 July 2018). "Dancing grandmas to show their moves at OzAsia". InDaily. Solstice Media. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  13. ^ Staff writer, Broadway World (13 August 2018). "Adelaide Festival Centre Launches 2018 Ozasia Festival Programme". Broadway World. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  14. ^ "About JLF in Adelaide". JLF in Adelaide: Each other's stories. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Fiona Hall wins Lifetime Achievement Ruby Award". news.com.au. News Corporation. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  16. ^ "Past Nominees and Winners". Helpmann Awards. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  17. ^ a b Staff writer, Pro Bono Australia (12 October 2011). "ABAF Awards Recognise Best Arts/Business Partnerships". Pro Bono Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  18. ^ Staff writer, Hong Kong Australia Business Association (SA Chapter) Award (7 October 2011). "OzAsia Festival named Australia's best business/event partnership". Hong Kong Australia Business Association (SA Chapter) Award. HKABA SA Chapter. Retrieved 19 September 2016. {{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ "2011 Governor's Multicultural Award Winners" (PDF). Multicultural SA. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  20. ^ "2013 Art Music Award Winners (State Awards)". Art Music Awards. APRA AMCOS. Retrieved 19 September 2016.

Official website

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=OzAsia_Festival&oldid=956048874"