Revered Aussie Music Festival Secures Five Year Extension

The future of revered Australian music festival WOMADelaide is secure following the announcement that it has scored a five year license extension. 

The South Australian government today confirmed that annual event will remain in Adelaide until 2024, while it has also signed an exclusive arrangement with WOMAD Ltd in the UK. 

The increased State Government support, provided via the South Australian Tourism Commission’s Events, will ensure WOMADelaide can develop and expand its programming, while continuing to present one of the country's most diverse music and arts festival.

"Guaranteeing WOMADelaide's place in South Australia is not only a boost for the arts sector, but also for tourism and the associated industries, as 45% of the festival's audience comes from interstate," Premier of South Australia and Minister for the Arts, Jay Weatherill, said. 

"This unique festival delivers a $15.1 million economic impact annually, and with increased capacity from 2018, the value of WOMAD will continue to grow."

Meanwhile, WOMADelaide Director Ian Scobie said he was thrilled to receive the news.

"The new agreement has enabled us to confirm the presentation of two large-scale, landmark productions to the 2018 festival; the extraordinary French aerial spectacular, Gratte Ciel’s Place Des Anges, and the music masterpiece from India, The Manganiyar Seduction," Scobie said. 

WOMADelaide 2018 will be held in Adelaide's Botanic Park from 9-12 March and features a huge music line-up featuring names such as The Avalanches, Anoushka Shankar and Dan Sultan; click on theGuide for more details.