Ten Days today unveiled a new name for its acclaimed biennial international multi-arts statewide festival, the Tasmanian International Arts Festival.
Ten Days Artistic Director David Malacari said the festival’s new title recognised exactly what the festival was about and firmly placed Tasmania at the centre of the arts world.
“The name “Ten Days on the Island” no longer told our story to new audiences and our new name says exactly where we are and what we do, not matter to whom we are talking,” Mr Malacari said.
“Tasmania is a fiercely proud island which is connected to the rest of the world through the vortex of the great Southern trade routes and a population which increasingly represents the cultures and homelands of people from all over the globe.
“The Tasmanian International Arts Festival will be presented in March 2015, and continue to offer Tasmanian audiences wonderful arts experiences which will now be drawn from the homelands of all of its communities.”
The Minister for the Arts, Dr Vanessa Goodwin, said she welcomed the move.
“It’s great to see the Festival taking steps to define itself more clearly and highlight to audiences exactly what it has to offer,” Minister Goodwin said.
“The State Government continues to support the festival and I look forward to the Tasmanian International Arts Festival in March. I hope this will be a sign of an exciting future for a significant cultural event.”
Mr Malacari said since the first festival in 2001, Ten Days has led the state’s creative sector with creative programming across the state. The 2015 Tasmanian International Arts Festival will be no exception.
“As an arts organisation, Ten Days continues to evolve; to be a leader, to provide economic value, cultural experiences, artistic inspiration and entertainment to the Tasmanian community,” he said.
“Economic impact studies have consistently demonstrated the value of the festival to the Tasmanian economy – it’s an important employer, industry training provider and a key component of the Tasmanian brand and the cultural tourism sector.
“A KPMG Economic Impact Statement revealed the 2013 festival injected an economic benefit to the community of some $27.25 million for an investment of just under $2.5 million – generating a return of $10 for every public dollar and supporting 87 Tasmanian jobs.
“However the economic impact merely complements the outstanding, though less tangible, cultural impact of a festival in a state which is seen as a national and international cultural gem.”
Mr Malacari said supporting the new festival name was a new and colourful visual image for 2015 representing the true global nature of the Tasmanian International Arts Festival, placing the state as the artistic hub of the world.
“This visual identity quite literally explores Tasmania’s connection to the rest of the world through the seafaring trade routes and an imaginative geographical placement inspired by the connections they make,” he said.
“The final touches are currently being put on the dynamic and exciting artistic program for the Tasmanian International Arts Festival to be released on 12 November 2014.”
