New artistic director for Perth Festival

The director of one of the UK's largest and oldest arts festivals, Jonathan Holloway, has been appointed to take over as artistic director of the Perth International Arts Festival from 2012.

Mr Holloway is the artistic director and chief executive of the 238-year-old Norfolk and Norwich Festival.

He will assume his new role at the Perth International Arts Festival following the departure of Shelagh Magadza after the 2011 Festival.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said Mr Holloway would further strengthen the Festival's reputation as one of the most exciting festivals in Australia, and the world.

"Our Festival has an international reputation built up over many successful decades. We look forward to working with Mr Holloway in continuing to enhance our reputation for international excellence in the arts," Professor Robson said.

Chair of the Festival Board Mr Mike Smith welcomed the appointment, noting the strength of Mr Holloway in mounting festivals which match the highest artistic standards with outstanding community support and engagement.

"I am thrilled to have been invited to lead artistically one of the world's great festivals, in one of the world's most beautiful places," said Mr Holloway.

"I have had a fantastic time in Norwich, working and playing with a community of remarkable people.

"Perth International Arts Festival has a great energy and Western Australia has a growing appetite for the arts. I look forward to four years of great collaborations."

Mr Holloway will commence work in Perth later this year, observing the full 2011 program, before guiding the artistic direction of the next four festivals.

The Perth Festival, established by The University of Western Australia's Professor Fred Alexander as the 'Festival of Perth' in 1953, is Australia's oldest international arts festival.