Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival, Australia’s leading contemporary arts festival engaging with Asia, has been awarded a Creative Australia Asia Pacific Arts Award at the inaugural ceremony in Sydney, held on 23rd April.
The award, which celebrates cultural exchanges and collaborative partnerships in the Asia Pacific region, had its recipients chosen by a panel of industry advisors. The Asia Pacific Arts Awards recognise the work of remarkable Australian artists, organisations and groups connecting with the Asia Pacific, and promote continued engagement with the region. OzAsia Festival was recognised in the Connect category, for delivering an intersectional program to diverse audiences in Australia.
Held annually over three weeks in spring and revered by audiences and critics alike, OzAsia Festival presents a bold and exciting line-up of boundary-pushing contemporary artists, showcasing the best theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature, food and cultural events from across Asia.
In 2024 OzAsia Festival welcomed a new Artistic Director, Joon-Yee Kwok, who recently spoke with Glam Adelaide about the win at the Asia Pacific Arts Awards.
“For over 17 years, OzAsia Festival has been focused on strengthening connections between Asia and Australia through arts and culture. To receive this award and be nationally recognised for the work we’ve been doing in the region is so affirming. It acknowledges the value and importance of presenting and promoting Asian and Asian Australian artists and stories to Australian audiences.”
The OzAsia festival is world renowned and draws not just artists wanting to partake in it, but audiences from around the globe.
“What makes OzAsia Festival different from other festivals is the centring of Asian and Asian Australian voices at the heart of the festival. At OzAsia, you’ll discover these voices, our artists and communities taking centre stage, generously sharing their stories, ideas, cultures and creativity with us.”
Joon-Yee Kwok and the OzAzia team are in the process of finalising this year’s lineup of events, and it’s promising to be another outstanding three weekends this October.
“When OzAsia Festival returns this year in October, Adelaide audiences can look forward to another international program of theatre, music, dance, visual art, writing and ideas, food, and comedy from across Asia and created by Asian Australian artists. I’m also excited for the return of free family festival favourites, Moon Lantern Trail, Lucky Dumpling Market, and OzAsia Festival’s writing and ideas program, In Other Words. With blue skies and warmer weather ahead, I’m looking forward to spring and celebrating Asian and Asian Australian arts and culture with everyone!”
Photo credit: Simon Rogers
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