Board sacked but 2016 Darwin Festival 2016 to go ahead 'as planned'

The Darwin Festival’s newly-appointed administrator has said the upcoming 2016 event will go ahead "as it is planned at the moment”.

As of midday on 8th June, Hendri Mentz, of auditors Deloitte, took over as statutory manager of the financially troubled Darwin Festival Association Incorporated after the board, which was headed by former Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin, was sacked by the Territory's Director-General of Licensing.

Speaking on 1057 ABC Darwin, Mentz said he had met with current Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles and Arts Minister Gary Higgins and could confirm the 2016 program, due to start on 4th August, would run.

Mentz advised “the government has committed to financially supporting the deliver of the full planned festival for this financial year.

"It does not only entail bringing forward the current funding that is committed, it will mean additional funding that they have committed to."

Mentz added that the Northern Territory Government had indicated they were "very happy to support the festival as planned at the moment".

Mentz said staffing positions such as the general manager and artistic director would remain unchanged for now, but said it was "too early to say" what changes could occur under his watch.

He added "we've got highly committed people, highly committed to deliver the best possible festival for the people in Darwin ... that will be the aim, we'll get the festival delivered with the current staff in place."

Last week, Martin warned the festival would need $450,000 in future government funding payments brought forward to pay for artists' contracts or the 2016 event would have to be cancelled.

The move to place the festival into administration came despite the recommendation of the audit that was commissioned by the NT Government.

The audit report covered options for the festival's future, including bringing in an administrator and either cancelling the event or having someone else run it.

The audit said the impact of choosing the administration option would see "very high costs" incurred.

Images: The Darwin Festival (top) and  Peter Garrett, booked to appear at the 2016 Darwin Festival (below).

10th February 2016 - NORTHERN TERRITORY TOURISM A ‘BEACON’ FOR THE ECONOMY

5th May 2015 - ENTA PARTNERS WITH THE DARWIN FESTIVAL