Castlemaine State Festival announces new Festival Director

Castlemaine State Festival Glyn RobertsCastlemaine State Festival have announced Glyn Roberts as their new Festival Director designate who will take the helm of Victoria’s premier arts and cultural celebration from June 2017, replacing Martin Paten who will direct his fifth and final Festival in March of this year.

“We were delighted with the response to our call for a new Festival Director,” said Castlemaine State Festival Chair, Julie Millowick. “We received 22 applications for the position and the calibre of candidates was very high. Following an exhaustive recruitment process, we are thrilled to announce Glyn Roberts as our new Festival Director.”

“Glyn comes to Castlemaine State Festival with an impressive background in the Australian arts scene, including robust curatorial and programming experience. He enthusiastically embraces the multi-disciplinary aspect of our unique Festival and its strong community engagement. The Board looks forward to working with Glyn and assisting him to realise his vision for our 2019 edition.”

Currently the Creative Producer at La Boite Theatre Company and Curator of Brisbane Festival’s highly successful Theatre Republic, prior to moving to Brisbane Glyn was the Co-Creative Director of MKA: Theatre of New Writing (2010-2013). Glyn holds a BA from Monash University and an MA from the Victorian College for the Arts. He is also a graduate of the British Council’s International Festivals Academy (Edinburgh 2016) and the Atelier for Young Festival Managers (Gwangju 2015).

Glyn was awarded the Green Room Award for Special Contribution to Independent Theatre in Melbourne (2012), and the Keith and Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Fellowship for Theatre (2013), the latter which allowed him to broaden his experience by working within the dramaturgy department of the Munich Kammerspiele. Glyn also sits on the Board of the Perth based Theatre Company, The Last Great Hunt.

“The prospect of becoming the next director of the Castlemaine State Festival is truly thrilling. I am honoured and humbled by the Board’s decision and their faith in my vision for the future of this much-loved event,” said Mr Roberts. “Few festivals in Australia can boast a truly symbiotic relationship between its multi-faceted program and its audiences, to the point where the lines between creators, community and audiences are blurred.

“And yet, when I consider the Castlemaine State Festival, it is the dynamic relationship between the town that hosts the Festival, the artists and participants that immediately sets it apart from most other major festivals in Australia. What a privilege it is to lead such an event, I cannot wait to begin.”

Glyn will visit Castlemaine during this year’s Festival ahead of relocating with his family to the area and commencing his new position in June 2017.

The 21st edition of the Castlemaine State Festival will take place on 17 – 26 March 2017. For more information, visit: www.castlemainefestival.com.au for details.

Image: Glyn Roberts (supplied)