Homecoming for new Festival Centre boss
An Australian arts leader who co-founded Tasmanian arts festival Dark Mofo will return to Adelaide to replace outgoing Festival Centre CEO Douglas Gautier in June.
The state government today announced Brisbane Powerhouse CEO and artistic director Kate Gould will make the move down to South Australia in June to helm the Adelaide Festival Centre.
Gould will succeed Douglas Gautier AM who finishes his tenure in June after almost 19 years in the role.
Gautier’s replacement is an Australian arts leader who was chief executive of the Adelaide Festival from 2002 to 2012.
She’s also been a director of the Adelaide Football Club and the Rundle Mall Management Authority.
Kate Gould has been appointed CEO of the Adelaide Festival Centre. Photo: File
Most recently, Gould was the CEO and artistic director of Queensland performing arts and cultural centre Brisbane Powerhouse – a role she’s been in since 2021.
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Prior to that, Gould was chair of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
She also co-founded Hobart arts festival Dark Mofo and was executive director of the event from 2012 to 2021.
Gould’s appointment will see her return to Adelaide “bringing with her experience from Australia’s iconic arts organisations”, said Arts Minister Andrea Michaels.
“Her appointment is a coup for Adelaide Festival Centre, Australia’s first major arts centre, and I’m very much looking forward to working with her,” Michaels said.
“Kate Gould is an exceptional talent who has already delighted us with her leadership at the Adelaide Festival.
“I’m excited to welcome Kate back to Adelaide as work gets underway on Adelaide Festival Centre’s $35 million redevelopment following the Malinauskas Government’s significant investment into its future.”
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Gould said she was “pleased to return to Adelaide to lead one of the nation’s great arts centres and festival producers”.
“With its impressive renovations and further developments ahead, Adelaide Festival Centre and Her Majesty’s Theatre are beacons of arts and culture in Australia,” she said.
“I look forward to building on the organisation’s achievements, with perhaps a few surprises inspired by my experiences with Brisbane Powerhouse, Dark Mofo and Adelaide Festival.”
Adelaide Festival Centre Trust chair Karlene Maywald said Gould was selected following an international search “with enormous interest”.
“Kate is an exceptional talent whose vision, innovative skills and experience will help drive Adelaide Festival Centre’s next phase of artistic, commercial and precinct development,” Maywald said.
Outgoing CEO Gautier announced his retirement in October last year, having been in the role for 19 years.
Gautier took on the position of CEO and artistic director in 2006 and initiated a “program-led” revival of the Adelaide Festival Centre, securing major productions such as Disney’s debut of the stage musical of Aladdin.
Other actions during his tenure included the redevelopment of Her Majesty’s Theatre and the introduction of acclaimed festivals like OzAsia, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and DreamBIG Children’s Festival.
First Nations programming, including OUR MOB, was another achievement.
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