Former Adelaide Festival and Melbourne International Festival artistic director Sue Nattrass has died aged 81.
Nattrass became the first female artistic director of the Melbourne International Festival in 1998 and 1999 and was appointed Adelaide Festival’s artistic director in the lead-up to the 2002 event after US opera director Peter Sellars stepped down.
Nattrass received an AO in 2002 and has a Helpmann Award named after her.
“This trailblazing venue director, festival director, arts supremo and board leader par excellence, gave time and counsel to hundreds over decades,” former Adelaide and Melbourne festivals director Brett Sheehy said on Twitter.
“Australia is the poorer for our losing her.”
