From indigenous and early immigrant art and culture through to a vibrant and modern music scene, Adelaide has always inspired people. The city celebrates and supports live music to such an extent that Adelaide is one of the few cities around the world to have been awarded the title "UNESCO City of Music".
South Australia is known as the "Festival State" and when you take a look at Adelaide's festival calendar alone, it's easy to see why. Amazingly, the state capital now hosts over 500 festivals each year. "Mad March" is peak time for big international events.
Three of the city's finest, the Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide and the Adelaide Festival all do their magic in March. The Adelaide Fringe has become the Southern Hemisphere's largest open access arts festival with an amazing mix of theatre, comedy, music and cabaret. WOMADelaide celebrates music from around the world, combined with a rich blend of food and culture. The Adelaide Festival has been bringing together theatre, music, dance and visual arts from local and international artists for over 50 years now and is still going strong.
The big festivals are great for sampling a range of the arts, but there are also more niche festivals, such as the Cabaret Festival in June, and the Spirit Festival, which focuses on indigenous history and culture.
Adelaide seems to have art and culture woven into the very fabric of the city and the many talented locals don't limit themselves to large events and established venues. Local and national artists have used a surprising range of styles and subjects to create street-side masterpieces, including large murals and quirky sculptures.
What's more, Adelaide is also home to a renowned and extensive array of galleries and museums. North Terrace, which runs along the northern edge of the CBD, is known as the "Cultural Boulevard" of Adelaide and is home to its largest cultural institutions. Art lovers head straight to the inspiring Art Gallery of South Australia which has over 38,000 works of art and receives nearly 800,000 visitors each year. The South Australian Museum has been going for over 150 years and, with its extensive indigenous collection, is one of the most precious museums in Australia. Other notable cultural centres include the State Library of South Australia, with its iconic French Renaissance-style Mortlock Wing, and The Jam Factory, a contemporary gallery where you can watch the artists work.
The large art galleries of the city are complemented by many smaller, independent galleries as well. You can find a wide range of quality contemporary and indigenous art of many styles and mediums year round.
So, now you know: Adelaide offers up an irresistible smorgasbord of art and culture, guaranteed to satisfy the taste buds of any culture vulture. Whether you enjoy the ancient and the classics or like to discover something new, Adelaide will deliver.
