“My Last Hurrah” Sundowner with David Sefton

David Sefton is set to become the first Artistic Director to deliver four consecutive Adelaide Festivals after being offered the opportunity to curate the 2016 festival.

Adelaide Festival Chair, Richard Ryan AO, said: “Since David moved to Adelaide in 2011 the board has been impressed with his shrewd mixture of bold programming and his determination to deliver a unique festival that stands as the premier Arts event in Australia”.

David began his career as a publisher, music journalist and promoter, based in his hometown of Liverpool. In 1993 he founded the annual Meltdown Festival at London’s Royal Festival Hall, now credited with re-writing the rules by putting musicians in charge of programming.

The last decade he spent heading the nine-month long Arts Festival, UCLA Live, in Los Angeles, an annual international theatre festival alongside a program of music, dance and spoken word. David is also the recipient of awards including the Chevalier des Artes et Lettres, presented by the French President in May 2010, Time Out’s award for outstanding contribution to the Arts (twice) and the LA Weekly Outstanding Contribution to Theatre Award.

David will highlight some of the outstanding performances coming to the 2016 Adelaide Festival, 26th February to 14th March.