The AFC which opened on 2 June 1793, was built to house the Adelaide Festival of the Arts, which had been steadily outgrowing the city’s existing venues. The concept was first debated in the halls of government during the 1960s by Sir Arthur Rymill and the Premier, Sir Thomas Playford. A young backbencher named Steele Hall continued the debate through to his term as Premier, selecting the sloping banks of the River Torrens as a natural choice for the cultural heart of the city.

The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Robert Porter, with the support of Labor Premier and arts advocate Don Dunstan, launched a public appeal to raise funds to build a Festival Hall and put Adelaide, along with its fledgling festival, on the global arts map.

The Festival Centre was built by the people of South Australia. City tobacconist Laurie Lawrence put the first $10 into the public appeal and wrote to The Advertiser “…a Festival Theatre is the least our generation can provide for the future of a city we are proud to belong to.” Most of Adelaide shared this vision and the appeal raised its target of $100,000 within a week. It was soon over-subscribed and the surplus was set aside to create a world-class collection of artworks to grace the new State icon.

Designed from the inside out by architect John Morphett, work began in Elder Park in 1970, with the completed Festival Centre proving so successful it became a role model for many other performance venues that have emulated its functionality and versatility.

Over the years the Festival Centre has become more than a performance venue; it is impossible to imagine the city without the building which has come to symbolise the cultural and creative heart of South Australia. It has created employment opportunities for thousands of actors, musicians and backstage crew.

It is the place where people and ideas connect and where people learn, participate in new experiences and are challenged and entertained. The Festival Centre has enriched the lives of many South Australians and will continue to do so as people continue to visit the Centre and participate in creative and artistic activities.

Successful host of the 8th Australian Performing Arts Market

In Feb 08, Adelaide Festival Centre was also proud to host the 8th Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) presented by the Australia Council for the Arts. The event which was held from 25-29 Feb, was timed to coincide with the Adelaide Fringe and the Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts.

For the first time since its inception in 1994, the Australia Council for the Art's biennial Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) was "sold out". Registrations reached capacity and had been closed off 3 weeks prior to the event.
 
With 560 delegates and booth holders (including almost 200 internationals) registered, plus 62 Australian and New Zealand artists/companies being showcased in the Searchlight and Spotlight performance and pitch programmes, APAM was a successful event. The next APAM will be held in 2010 at the Adelaide Festival Centre.

More exciting festivals up and coming during Season 08

In her 35th year, Adelaide Festival Centre is presenting a new festival ‘Adelaide Contemporary Music Festival’ from 4 – 6 Apr 08. Presenting three innovative and engaging concerts featuring both popular classical works from recent years and exciting new music premieres by emerging and established Australian and international composers, many of whom will also be participating in a special forum on the last day of the festival, where audiences can hear the thoughts "behind the music" in an informal environment.

The Adelaide Cabaret Festival, into its 8th year, is held every June, incorporating the Queen's Birthday long weekend. The festival features a great programme of music, satire, comedy, performance art and dancing the night away. People come from across Australia and, increasingly, from overseas to join over 45,000 South Australians in kicking up their heels.

Each evening there is plenty of late night action in the Kool Kat Festival Club, where the drinks flow, the music is engaging, the dance floor is packed and many an artist can be glimpsed amongst the crowd letting their hair down.

AAPPAC congratulates Adelaide Festival Centre on its 35th Anniversary!