International arts festival in Melbourne

Culture vultures will find plenty to get excited about when visiting Melbourne on holiday in Australia.

The Melbourne International Arts Festival is Australia's premier celebration of international performing and visual arts and Melbourne's flagship cultural event.

This year it is being held between October 9th and 25th and with rock 'n' roll hall-of-famer Patti Smith headlining the festival, organisers are expecting over half a million people to attend.

As well as two major concerts, the 'godmother of punk' will also join composer Philip Glass on stage on Monday October 13th for a performance of music and poetry in tribute to the late Allen Ginsberg - one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.

The festival promises an unparalleled feast of dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia and outdoor events from renowned and upcoming Australian and international artists.

It will feature no fewer than 15 world premieres and will host acts from all over the world, from the UK and Holland to Turkey and Israel.

But the arts festival is only a taste of what's on offer so watch this travel video about the vibrant cultural scene in Melbourne.




For more information on holidays in Melbourne and the Australian state of Victoria visit the Victoria tourism website.