For ten days every May, the city of Perth becomes the gem in Scotland’s cultural calendar. One of the oldest, continuously-running independent arts festivals in Scotland, Perth Festival of the Arts is now in its 49th year. It started as an opera and classical music festival in the early 70s and now covers all art forms. We are all about top quality, bringing new arts experiences to Perth, and celebrating the arts with people of all ages.
We feature international and national artists and orchestras from the worlds of classical music, opera, rock, jazz, Celtic, comedy, theatre, dance and the visual arts. Over the years, we’ve hosted big names including Bryn Terfel, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Nigel Kennedy, Van Morrison, Nicola Benedetti, The Proclaimers, KT Tunstall, Calvin Harris, Sharleen Spiteri, Edwyn Collins, Dara O Briain, Russell Howard, Julian Clary, Paul Merton, Treacherous Orchestra and many more.
2019 saw Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra’s tenth performance at the Festival and a sell-out concert with chart-topper Lewis Capaldi. Most years we also stage a full-scale opera, with wonderful productions by English Touring Opera who have come to the Festival each year since 2001.
The Festival is a registered Scottish charity which raises financial support to bring the Festival programme to life and help keep ticket prices as low as possible. Our overall goal is to put on an amazing Festival each year and reach as many people as possible.
Future Festival Dates
21st – 30th May 2020
20th – 29th May 2021 (50th Anniversary)
19th - 28th May 2022
As a charity and company in Scotland, our Festival is directed by an Executive Committee of volunteer Trustees and Directors.
Chairman – Peter Rutterford
Vice Chairman – David Brand
Secretary – Paul Trodden
Treasurer - Jason Elles
Friends Membership – Craig Dennis
ArTay – Hugh Goring
Executive Committee: Mike Mullins, Alexis Sinclair, Jim Walsh, Councillor Beth Pover, Councillor David Illingworth
Festival Administrator: Helen MacKinnon
Sponsors Tickets: Penny Withers
We work very closely with the excellent teams at Horsecross Arts, St John’s Kirk, Flintriver and Red String Agency to support our Box Office, venues, design and marketing work.
Every few years, we commission an artist to work with us on the Festival’s visual brand and artwork. In 2018, we commissioned illustrator Jill Calder to design our new brochure and other artwork for the coming years.
The Box Office is currently closed except for early tickets for one show: Adam Kay: This is Going to Hurt. Festival Tickets will go on sale on 16 March to Festival Friends and general sale on 23 March 2020.
Book online, by telephone or in person.
Box office 01738 621031 Open 10am-6pm daily, closed Sunday.
Visit Perth Concert Hall or Perth Theatre, both Mill Street, Perth.
To contact the Festival Team:
Helen MacKinnon, Festival Administrator
info@perthfestival.co.uk t: 07739836994
Penny Wither, Tickets for sponsors/press
tickets@perthfestival.co.uk
Festival Friends
Craig Dennis, Friends Administrator
membership@perthfestival.co.uk
Festival Postal and Registered Office Address:
Perth Festival of the Arts, 3-5 High Street, Perth, PH1 5JS, Scotland.