Melbourne Festival announces best box office results in a decade

The 2016 Melbourne Festival, which ended on Sunday (25th October), has posted a total box office take of approximately $3.3 million, the strongest result in over a decade.

The average ticket price was a low $46, reflecting a desire to be as inclusive as possible while free events, which made up almost half the program, were also well attended.

Highlights included 12 sold out performances of UK company Headlong’s adaptation of 1984; full houses for Belgian dance production 32 Rue Vandenbranden and Melbourne choreographer Antony Hamilton’s NYX; and 12,000 tickets to Flight Facilities with the MSO at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl being snapped within three hours of going on sale.

This year’s Melbourne Festival marked the event’s 30th anniversary, and was the last of three to be programmed by Artistic Director Josephine Ridge.

Commenting on her involvement with the Festival, Ridge stated “it has been a great honour to be the Artistic Director in this anniversary year and I am delighted that the Melbourne public have embraced the 2015 program so enthusiastically.

“Melbourne is an exhilarating and sophisticated city and I look forward to seeing how the Festival continues to reflect its unique character and beauty in the years to come.”

In addition to a successful box office result, revenue targets for corporate sponsorships were also exceeded, including securing new Major Partner UnionPay International to sit alongside Leadership Partners China Southern Airlines and Foxtel.

The Festival’s private giving program also achieved record results, helping the Festival to stage its broad program of free ancillary events. Presenting Partners and Patrons Circle support increased by 57% on 2014, with a 90% renewal rate to the Patrons Circle donor program. Of 2014 donors, 32% increased their donation in 2015, and 27% of Patrons Circle donors were new to the Festival in 2015.

Melbourne Festival Chief Executive Katie McLeish added “I am very proud of the team’s achievements over the past three years.

“The staff and board could not be more committed and this year, in particular, Melbourne’s international arts festival has resonated deeply with its diverse audiences and artists.

Commercial success flows from that engagement with the program.”

The 2016 Melbourne Festival will be curated by Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway, and will run from Thursday 6th to Sunday 23th October next year.

For more information go to www.festival.melbourne

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