The City of Perth will sponsor three major festivals and events for 2022 and 2023, helping to cement Perth’s reputation as the events heart of Western Australia.
Iconic events including the much-loved FRINGE WORLD and Perth Festival will receive City support in 2022 while Transplant Australia will receive funding to stage the 2023 World Transplant Games in Perth.
City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said major events were critical for the City’s economy in attracting local and overseas visitors and supporting the arts and cultural industries.
“The City of Perth has demonstrated over the past week, with the AFL Grand Final being staged here, that we know how to attract people to great events,” he said.
“Much of the activations that were held, such as the People’s Parade, were due to the energy and drive of the City of Perth and a demonstration we are the events heart of Western Australia.
“Perth is already home to the third largest Fringe Festival in the world and to Perth Festival – the longest-running international arts festival in the southern hemisphere.
“We’re also known internationally for our world-class musicians and artists who thrive in the global music scene, and for the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.”
Despite restrictions on venue capacities and a COVID lockdown mid-festival, $5,970,479 was spent on ticket sales at FRINGE WORLD 2021, with a direct economic impact of $19.9 million.
Perth Festival 2021 also recorded attendances of more than 470,000 and a direct economic impact of $32 million, with City of Lights alone attracting 58,396 people.
Perth Festival Executive Director Nathan Bennett said he was delighted to be able to partner with the City of Perth once again to present another Perth Festival for people to enjoy this summer.
“Festivals and major events bring enormous social and economic benefits to Perth by boosting community spirit, attracting visitors and stimulating local businesses. We thank the City for supporting us in this way,” he said.
ARTRAGE’s FRINGE WORLD 2021 is another signature event supported by the City of Perth this year.
“ARTRAGE is thrilled to be continuing the partnership with the City of Perth to support the presentation of FRINGE WORLD Festival 2022,” ARTRAGE CEO Sharon Burgess said.
“The event is a huge driver of attendance to the city and we are proud of the dynamism that we deliver through the massive array of entertainment on offer and diverse audiences reached.”
Planning is underway for both Perth Festival and FRINGE WORLD to adhere to the State Government’s COVID-safe event guidelines at the time of each event.
Transplant Australia was also awarded $100,000 to hold the 2023 World Transplant Games in Perth.
Held across the globe, the 2023 event will be the third time the Games have come to Australia with events previously held in Sydney (1997) and the Gold Coast (2009).
“With attendees coming from all over the world, the World Transplant Games will certainly put Perth on the world stage as an events capital and tourism destination,” City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said.
“We hope the event will attract people to stay in our wonderful hotels and spend at our local bars, cafes and retailers.”
Transplant Australia Chief Executive Officer Chris Thomas said: “We are thrilled to partner with the City of Perth to host one of the world’s most inspirational sporting events in Perth and welcome more than 2000 international and interstate participants to the city.
“The World Transplant Games is the largest awareness event for the gift of life and the pinnacle event for the global transplant community.
“It carries a powerful message to encourage more people to register as donors, as currently more than 1700 Australians are desperately waiting for an organ transplant.”
