Anna Reece named director of Perth Festival

Fremantle-born arts producer Anna Reece is to be artistic director of the Perth Festival from 2025.

Anna Reece has been appointed director of the Perth Festival from 2025-28. Picture: Duncan Wright

Arts producer Anna Reece is to be handed the reins of the Perth Festival, taking the artistic leadership of the nation’s oldest international arts festival from 2025.

Reece is currently director of Fremantle Arts Centre but previously has been the Perth Festival’s head of programming and then executive producer.

In those roles she managed major events including the oversize puppet parade The Giants, the Bon Scott motorcade Highway to Hell, and Bungul, a concert in honour of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunipingu.

‘The opportunity to creatively lead and care for the future direction of Perth Festival is both rare and extraordinary and the most incredible privilege,” Reece says.

“It is a role I have aspired to hold since I first began my professional career in the Australian arts sector almost 20 years ago.”

Reece left the festival in 2021 to become director of Fremantle Arts Centre where she led plans to redevelop the north wing of the historic building as a creative hub. She was formerly co-chief executive of the Darwin Festival and has freelanced with other arts organisations around the country.

At the Perth Festival she will succeed as artistic director Iain Grandage, who will deliver his penultimate program from February 10-March 5. Highlights include The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Carmen at the WACA, and Bjork’s Cornucopia concert. Opening the festival is an outdoor sound and light spectacular, Djoondal, a celebration of Noongar cosmology at Lake Joondalup.

Reece will helm four festivals through to 2028. Her appointment was announced by Perth Festival chairman Tim Ungar.

“She has a clear, bold vision, a strong sense of place and a commitment to artistic and audience development for a community with which she has a very close affinity,” he says.

Reece says: “I acknowledge the immense responsibility that comes with this role, to our Noongar community, to our vibrant artistic community and to all who hold a place for Perth Festival in their hearts.”