Sydney Festival has announced the appointment of Olivia Ansell as the festival's new director.
Ansell will take over the role from current festival director Wesley Enoch. The 2021 festival will be Enoch's last in the role, with Ansell to take over in 2022.
Ansell joins the festival with two decades of experience as a director, choreographer and performing artist, and most recently from a two and a half year stint as head of contemporary performance at Sydney Opera House. Additionally, Ansell has been voted as one of Vivid Sydney's Top 100 Creative Catalysts.
“I’ve had a long obsession with Sydney’s irresistible charm and with the city’s untold stories, eager to be unleashed,” said Ansell.
“I am beyond thrilled for the chance to collaborate with Sydney’s dynamic cultural, community and tourism sectors, and for the chance to create world-class festival experiences that dare the audience to dream.”
“Sydney Festival is delighted for Olivia to take the artistic reigns as Festival Director in 2022," added Sydney Festival chair David Kirk MBE.
"Having conducted an extensive global search that unearthed a number of high-calibre candidates for the role, it was incredibly pleasing to appoint someone with the breadth of experience that Olivia brings. We have no doubt that her creative insight and deep passion for Sydney will shape the festival's next evolution in a way that is sure to thrill our audiences.”
“I am so excited to hear of Olivia’s appointment,” said Enoch.
"Her commitment to Australian artists makes her exactly the right person at exactly the right time steering Sydney Festival to remain the Festival of Sydney and Australia’s largest commissioner of new Australian works. Olivia is passionate, whip smart and has an eye for finding the popular, the adventurous and the stories we need to hear."
Find out more about Sydney Festival 2021 here.
