Introduction: Festival Culture in Global Perspective

Abstract

According to the Australia Council, the 152 arts festivals held in that country during the season of 1993–4 had a combined operating expenditure of Australian $58.3 million and were attended by 2.2 million visitors. At the same time, these festivals provided 32,000 paid engagements for Australian artists. Considering this massive expansion of festivals in terms of artistic arena, national marketplace and international industry, the scholarly interest in this phenomenon has taken new directions. To study the productions seemed not to be enough, nor was it satisfactory to survey audience attendance or to investigate economic turnouts. Obviously festivals did something more than promote theatrical performances.