EXIT INTERVIEW
In her fourth and final year as Artistic Director of Darwin Festival, a teary Kate Fell reflects on her time with a teary Tierney White. What a ride it’s been.
IMAGE GEORGE FRAGOPOULOS
INSET HELEN ORR
Look, we’re both a bit emotional, so I guess, let’s start with the fun stuff! What’s close to your heart in this year's program that you’re so excited to share with everybody?
Oh, it's always so much because there's 100 events and, all of them, we're so happy about. I think the two things that really stand out are Roller Coaster at Marrara Indoor Stadium – it’s going to be such a joyous, fun, musical spectacular, with heaps of Darwin people in it on roller skates. I'm always wanting to do things in new venues, so thought [doing] something at Marrara was one I wanted to pull off – a big show that involves amazing professional artists as well as the Darwin community. So that's going to be really, really fun.
Yeah, cute!
And then, I've always loved the Ski Club concerts. That's something that we started in my first year, and each year, they're just so special. It'll be the last weekend when I can just really picture all three of those concerts – Mama Kin Spender on the Friday night, TISM on the Saturday night, which is gonna be wild, and then just these incredible musicians with Hiatus Kaiyote, Caiti Baker, and Bumpy on closing night. So, yeah, they're the things I'm super excited about.
They sure are a good time, those Ski Club nights! Being your outgoing year as Artistic Director, are there any moments that happen at Darwin Festival that you're gonna hold onto? Like the moments you share – nothing to do with the program – just being there in the space?
Yeah, I think for me, there is always something about being in Festival Park. Some of those music nights particularly, they are always so special. Just that sense of being outdoors, you look around and there's just such a mix of Darwin there, the artists are loving it. Like, it's just the energy of watching live music. It impacts INPEX Sunset Stage, in Festival Park, and you just don't get that anywhere else, you know? You see music in other cities, and it just isn't the same. It's better when you see it here.
So yeah, that just that collective energy, and something about everyone coming together and the feeling that's always in the air. It's always really magical.
Totally. And the scene is set – we have our beautiful balmy weather, the ‘yes attitude’ from Festivalgoers, the festoon lights, the atmosphere – it’s just electric. Do just wish you could get a jar and just catch it and put the lid on? Maybe you should do that.
Yeah, that would be beautiful!
Reflecting on your time as Artistic Director, when you look back, how do you feel about the whole experience?
I mean, it's been an absolutely incredible experience. What feels really special is that I came to Darwin as a completely new person to this place, and I can see the depth of understanding and connection and sense of place that has grown and grown and grown.
But I also look back and think that what I wanted to do at the start is the same as what I want to do now, so I can really see that four years in its kind of entirety.
There's been these three programming pillars that have never shifted – Magical Moments, as we've talked about those beautiful, magical, ephemeral moments in these really special locations, Territory Stories – look at the four years of those amazing Territory artists and the stories we've been able to help share – and then Community Connect – the family program that just keeps building, the schools program that more and more students are involved in. Those things have just been super close to my heart. And so that was the start and that's kind of the end. And, even though it's evolved, it didn't pivot in the middle. It's been a really beautiful four-year story.
Lovely, Kate. Let’s have a quick chat about the incoming Artistic Director, Ben Graetz.
I am so thrilled. I'm so thrilled that it's Ben, I could not be happier! Ben is an incredible artist and curator and programmer, and I’ve worked with Ben the last few years on different shows, so I know him really well. He's from here – what an absolute, wonderful thing, for him and for Darwin and the Festival. I think, especially leading into the 50th anniversary of the Festival, that really, really just makes sense. I cannot wait to see what he does with the Festival.
Beautiful, Kate, beautiful. My final question for you is about Darwin. As you said, you were a total newbie, and things have changed significantly for you during this time. Could you share with our readers what Darwin means to you now?
I think, Darwin is a place that lets you become yourself. And that is such a special thing – you can strip away a bit of the past and baggage and just let yourself be you, or who you want to be. It’s a place of connection. It's a place people find love. It’s a place people find great friendships. The experiences that you can have here – social, cultural, and in nature. They're just those things that will stay with you. Always. I just absolutely have loved this place.
Would you say it’s been a highlight of your life, coming to Darwin, doing this job?
Yeah, it has. I'm in 40s, in that midlife time where those big questions pop up. Beautiful Dr. Emily, who's on The Imperfects podcast, talks about this being a time of questions of the soul, and a time of reawakening and reimagining and who you can be, and Darwin has just been this perfect place to do that for me.
Oh, beautiful, Kate. It's never too late to redirect your life, it's never too late to give yourself another chance, a new direction, and that's resulted in some intense happiness, for you, I know.
Absolutely. The other thing with Darwin and doing this job in Darwin, is that special place the Festival has in the hearts of so many people in Darwin. And that's been such a beautiful gift, too, that I've been able to connect with so many people. And that they've shared with me the things they love about the Festival, and the shows they've loved and the shows they've not loved so much.
That constant conversation between me and the community. It's such a gift, and it has helped me so much. The program every year is so shaped by those conversations I have, not just during the Festival, but all year ‘round.
What stays in people's minds and what's memorable for them and what they're looking for. I think the size and nature of Darwin means that conversation happens in a way that you might not get in a big city, like Sydney or something. That has been so special.
Very special. Big chookas for your last one, Kate, and thank you for your service
Darwin Festival
WHEN WED 5 – SUN 23 AUG
INFO darwinfestival.org.au
