Adelaide is the fifth largest city in Australia and home to the second largest Fringe Festival in the World.  The Adelaide Fringe set up in 1960 but it was not until the 1970’s that the art scene in Adelaide really  took off.  It was during this period, when Don Dunstan was the Labour Premier of South Australia, that many legislative reforms were made to stimulate the artistic, social and cultural life of South Australia. This period has become known as the Dunstane Decade.

Aside from putting Adelaide on the artistic world map, Dunstan introduced land right for Aborigines, decriminalised homosexual acts, appointed a woman judge and introduced anti-discrimination legislation.   Without any doubt the charismatic and flamboyant Don Dunstan was an inspirational figure who put Adelaide’s art scene on the world stage.  Such as the politician he was his cookbook and MySpace web pages bear testament to a truly centered visionary.

And so from Dunstan’s Decade we turn to the Adelaide Fringe which is due to kick off on the 27th February with its superbly packed programme.  Festival Previews have set up Adelaide Fringe web pages and many artists and  performers have signed on to create their Virtual Flyers.  If you click the “List all the Previews” button you can check out many of the other Virtual Flyers currently in the process of being uploaded.

One venue which is particularly unique is The Garage International managed by Shakti.  She manages artists from all corners of the globe with highly diverse artistic genres that jump out at you as you scan the Adelaide programme.    Shakti is also Artistic Director of the Tokyo Fringe Festival and runs The Garage International venue at the Avignon Fringe in France.  Never one to sit still, Shakti is looking to expand her ventures, but I will leave that to Shakti to let you all know.

I have to confess that one of my favourite activities is interviewing the many talented artists and performers from around the world.  There is such a lot of talent out there it’s a real joy reading about their artistic journeys and what inspires their work.

Sheela Langeberg tells us about her show, Ndito the Masai Girl and the curshing remarks which she rose above to inspire her work.  From Brittany in France we’re fortunate enough to interview, Jean Lucas, founder of L’Institut Cie, a very successful juggling, clown and theatre group whose show Mr Wilson is a clown show with a difference.  Next we’re lucky enough to interview the charming, Darren Hassan whose show, Everynight, Everynight is based on the real life story of Pentridge inmate, Christopher Dale Flannery; a strong piece of theatre, not for the faint hearted.  Next the immensely funny commedian, Mark Butler grants us an amuzing insight into his work and life and tells us about his show “Lets talk about SEX”.   As so to the young talented artist, Joelie Croser whose exhibition, Once Upon An Intrigue is an interesting mix of visual art and music. If music be the food of love, we’re interviewing Yasmine Amber and Paul Hilton, the high-art-pop/electronic-folk rock duo who’ll tell us about their show, Orsino Nation.

So keep your eyes peeled, there’s some great reading  ahead.  We’ll be publishing their interviews and more to come during the Adelaide Fringe….