Perth International Arts Festival’s 2016 offering celebrates homegrown talent alongside imported works.

On the cusp of entering its 64th year, the Perth International Arts Festival is the longest running of Australia’s major annual cultural celebrations. Old it may be, but it is by no means tired, as 2016’s offering, announced this evening, opens the latest chapter in the annals of PIAF’s six-decade history. This is the first of four programmes, from 2016 to 2019, that will be curated by the Festival’s latest steward, Wendy Martin, who succeeded Jonathan Holloway as Director earlier this year.

Unlike her predecessor, but in step with a trend that has extended to all but one other of Australia’s international arts festivals in the past year, Martin is Australian. Yet her personal legend offers a unique perspective on curating this West Australian event. Originally from Sydney, Davis was formerly the Head of Theatre and Dance at the Sydney Opera House before relocating to London to curate the Southbank Centre’s dance offering.  As an Australian but still a relative newcomer to Perth, bringing prestigious credentials acquired both at home...