AustLit

'Growing out of western European medieval traditions of travelling players and carnivalesque anti-rule, the performing arts festival has become an increasingly global phenomenon. Almost each state in Australia has a capital city performing arts festival that claims to be international in scope, innovative in selection, and excellent in product. Similarly, in Europe, and now increasingly in South-East Asia, city performing arts festivals have become a significant part of local and national cultural development, as well as a magnet for cultural tourism. This is particularly evident in the Adelaide, Avignon, Edinburgh and Singapore Festivals.' (Introduction)